Health-environment connection

We're working to explore the means and public health advantages of environmental monitoring, such as wastewater-based surveillance and air sampling among vulnerable populations, such as prison settings.

Researchers

• Oscar O'Mara - Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex
• Dr Shadi Rahimzadeh - Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex
• Prof. Mariachiara di Cesare - Director of the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex
• Prof. David Graham - Professor at the School of Engineering, Newcastle University
• Andrew Singer - Principal Scientist, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
• Prof. Lian Lundy - Professor of Natural Sciences, Middlesex University
• Dr Francis Hassard - Senior Lecturer at the Cranfield Water Institute, Cranfield University
• HM Prison & Probation Service - GOV.UK

This project will use a wastewater surveillance system to detect SARS-CoV-2 and other public health markers in schools in England to inform public health response.

Researchers

• Dr Shadi Rahimzadeh - Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex
• Prof. Mariachiara di Cesare - Director of the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex
• Andrew Singer - Principal Scientist, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
• Prof. Lian Lundy - Professor of Natural Sciences, Middlesex University
• Dr Francis Hassard - Senior Lecturer at the Cranfield Water Science Institute, Cranfield University

We're working to evaluate the Environmental Monitoring for Public Health (EMPH) programme in terms of impacts on science, policies, beneficiaries and effects on decision-makers to understand if, how, when and where the EM value for money.

Findings are used to identify practicable and transferable lessons, including the development of an impact evaluation framework to guide the operation and strategic delivery of EMHP into the future.

Researchers

• Dr Shadi Rahimzadeh - Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex
• Prof. Mariachiara Di Cesare - Director of the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex
• Prof. Lian Lundy - Professor of Natural Sciences, Middlesex University
• Prof. Sally Priest - Professor in the School of Leadership, Middlesex University

This project will establish a methodology, through 'street conversations' with people in four local areas across Essex, to find out about people's local connections, the areas that they would to be locally developed or addressed, and their motivations and the support they would need to be involved in community development activities, based on local assets.

A multi-agency core group of organisations and people has led the direction of this project and is seeking funding to implement further.

Further information can be found here.

Researchers

• Clare Hammerton - Senior Research Officer in the School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex
• Rachel Williams - Essex County Council

Today everyone understands the benefits of being outside in the natural environment but it was Essex researchers who coined the phrase ‘green exercise’ and evidenced the positive impact on mental wellbeing.

Our Green Exercise Research Team has worked with national charities like Mind, RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts through to Care Farming UK, Trust Links and the Wilderness Foundation. Their research helped secure Big Lottery funding for Mind which led to Ecominds, a £7.5 million, five-year programme supporting 130 environmental projects that have improved the mental health of participants. This has helped more than 12,000 people living with mental ill-health to get involved in nature-based activities to improve confidence, self-esteem and their physical and mental health so they can then return to work and reduce feelings of social isolation.

A study co-led by the University of Essex on fruit bats in the Makurdi area of Nigeria revealed significant health risks and highlighted the dangers of hunting and eating bats, indicating a risk of disease transmission. This prompted initial government discussions about the need for regulations to protect wild animals and public health.

At Essex we apply our expertise in molecular microbiology to characterise the microbes (bacteria and fungi) in the air children breath. For example, on the EU funded InChildHealth project we have been investigating air quality in schools and homes across several European countries alongside local schools in Essex.

Also, supported by SNEE-ICS funding, we have a case study on the benefits of Miyawaki forest planting at a local school. Central to both of these projects has been engaging school students directly with our research to promote understanding of how the environment can enhance health and wellbeing.