Chronic exposure to indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can result in several adverse effects including cancers. We review reports of levels of VOCs in offices and in residential and educational buildings in the member states of the European Union (EU) published between 2010 and 2023. We use these data to assess the risk to population health by estimating lifetime exposure to indoor VOCs and resulting non-cancer and cancer risks and, from that, the burden of cancer attributable to VOC exposure and associated economic losses. Our systematic review identified 1783 articles, of which 184 were examined in detail, with 58 yielding relevant data. After combining data on VOC concentrations separately for EU countries and building types, non-cancer and cancer risks were assessed in terms of hazard quotient and lifetime excess cancer risk (LECR) using probabilistic Monte Carlo Simulations. The LECR was used to estimate disability adjusted life years (DALYs) from VOC-related cancers and associated costs. We find that the LECR associated with formaldehyde exposure was above the acceptable risk level (ARL) in France and Germany and that of from exposure to benzene was also above the ARL in Spanish females. The sum of DALYs and related costs/1,000,000 population/year from exposure to acetaldehyde, benzene, formaldehyde, tetrachloroethylene, and trichloroethylene were 4.02 and €41,010, respectively, in France, those from exposure to acetaldehyde, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene were 3.91 and €39,590 in Germany, and those from exposure to benzene were 0.1 and €1030 in Spain. Taken as a whole, these findings show that indoor exposure to VOCs remains a public health concern in the EU. Although the EU has set limits for certain VOCs, further measures are needed to restrict the use of these chemicals in consumer products.

During intercontinental shipping, freight containers and other closed transport devices are applied. These closed spaces can be polluted with various harmful chemicals that may accumulate in poorly ventilated environments. The major pollutants are residues of pesticides used for fumigation as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from the goods. While handling cargos at logistics companies, workers can be exposed to these pollutants, frequently without adequate occupational health and safety precautions. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among potentially exposed warehouse workers and office workers as controls at Hungarian logistics companies (1) to investigate the health effects of chemical pollutants occurring in closed spaces of transportation and storage and (2) to collect information about the knowledge of and attitude toward workplace chemical exposures as well as the occupational health and safety precautions applied. Pre-existing medical conditions did not show any significant difference between the working groups. Numbness or heaviness in the arms and legs (AOR = 3.99; 95% CI = 1.72–9.26) and dry cough (AOR = 2.32; 95% CI = 1.09–4.93) were significantly associated with working in closed environments of transportation and storage, while forgetfulness (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.18–0.87), sleep disturbances (AOR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.17–0.78), and tiredness after waking up (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.20–0.79) were significantly associated with employment in office. Warehouse workers who completed specific workplace health and safety training had more detailed knowledge related to this workplace chemical issue (AOR = 8.18; 95% CI = 3.47–19.27), and they were significantly more likely to use certain preventive measures. Warehouse workers involved in handling cargos at logistics companies may be exposed to different chemical pollutants, and the related health risks remain unknown if the presence of these chemicals is not recognized. Applied occupational health and safety measures at logistics companies are not adequate enough to manage this chemical safety issue, which warrants awareness raising and the introduction of effective preventive strategies to protect workers’ health at logistics companies.

Interventions for primary prevention are crucial in tackling type 2 diabetes (T2D) by offering a structured approach to implementing lifestyle modifications, such as community-based programs. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of primary prevention interventions in preventing or delaying the onset of T2D in the 28 EU member states (EU-28). The present systematic review is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020219994), and it followed the PRISMA guidelines. Eligibility criteria comprised original interventional studies reporting incidence of T2D in member states of the EU-28. A total of 23,437 records were initially retrieved, of which 16 met the eligibility criteria for inclusion. These interventional studies, published between 2003 and 2021, provided data from Spain, the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Thirteen studies were of low quality, two were moderate, and one was high-quality. Three studies focused solely on dietary interventions, twelve studies combined diet, physical activity, and lifestyle counseling, and one study applied repeated health checks with personalized feedback and lifestyle advice. Overall, 10 studies reported a significant reduction in T2D incidence exclusively among high-risk individuals following the interventions with HR: 0.4 (95% CI: 0.3–0.7) to 0.75 (95% CI: 0.58–0.96). Only a few studies reported that primary lifestyle interventions decreased T2D risk, thus limiting generalizability. While lifestyle improvements were noted on high-risk groups, significant risk reduction among healthy individuals was not observed. Multicomponent interventions combining dietary modifications, physical activity, and personalized lifestyle counseling were the most effective in reducing the incidence of T2D among high-risk populations in the EU-28.

Indoor air pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), include a range of hazardous substances that can accumulate in the indoor environments. As individuals spend 80–90 % of their daily time indoors, chronic exposure to VOCs has been recognised as an important public health concern. Therefore, measuring the concentration of indoor air pollutants is essential for improving indoor air quality and thereby reducing the associated burden of disease. Our objective was to generate a dataset on concentrations of VOCs measured in offices and in educational and residential buildings in the member states of the European Union between 2010 and 2023. Data were collected by means of systematic literature searches, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The search was carried out in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. In addition to data on VOC levels, information on types of buildings, seasons when the measurements were performed, heating and ventilation systems, humidity and temperature at the sampling points, and methods used for sampling and analysis was collected. The dataset contains information on 18 VOCs and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) from 101 original research papers. It consists of 19 worksheets, each with 46 columns, and the number of rows varies depending on the number of articles per VOC/TVOC, ranging from 11 to 576 rows. This dataset will be of use to public health professionals interested in using systematically collected data on VOC levels and corresponding reference concentrations to estimate the health risks associated with exposure to VOCs.

Background/Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a growing public health burden in the European Union (EU), largely driven by modifiable lifestyle factors such as diet. This systematic review aimed to synthesize observational evidence on the associations between nutritional exposures and incident T2DM across the EU-28, with a focus on regional heterogeneity and implications for EU-level nutrition policy. Methods: The review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020219994). Searches were conducted in different databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science) identifying 23,437 records, from which 104 observational studies were included. Eligible studies involved adults (≥18 years) without T2DM at baseline and assessed dietary exposures in relation to T2DM incidence. Data extraction and methodological quality assessment were performed in duplicate using the NHLBI tool in Covidence. Results: Most included studies were cohort studies (77.9%), primarily conducted in Western, Northern, and Southern Europe. Diets characterized by high consumption of whole and minimally processed foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and fermented dairy, consistently showed associations with lower T2DM risk. In contrast, high intake of red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, and ultra-processed foods was linked to higher risk. Adherence to Mediterranean or plant-based dietary patterns was associated with lower risk, whereas high animal-protein dietary patterns were detrimental. Conclusions: Nutritional determinants play a decisive role in shaping T2DM risk in the EU. Evidence supports prioritizing dietary patterns rich in plant-based and minimally processed foods while reducing ultra-processed and meat-based products. Tailored region-specific policies are needed to address the T2DM epidemic and guide effective prevention strategies.

Information generated by genetic epidemiology and genomics studies has been accumulating at fast pace, and this knowledge opens new vistas in public health, allowing for the understanding of gene–environment interactions. However, the translation of genome-based knowledge and technologies to the practice of healthcare, and especially of public health, is challenging. Because health impact assessment (HIA) proved to be an effective tool to assist consideration of health issues is sectoral policymaking, this study aimed at exploring its role in the translational process by a systematic literature review on the use of genetic information provided by genetic epidemiology and genomics studies in HIA. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases were searched and the findings systematically reviewed and reported by the PRISMA guidelines. The review found eight studies that met the inclusion criteria, most of them theoretically discussing the use of HIA for introducing genome-based technologies in healthcare practice, and only two articles considered, in short, the possibility for a generic application of genomic information in HIA. The findings indicate that HIA should be more extensively utilized in the translation of genome-based knowledge to public health practice, and the use of genomic information should be facilitated in the HIA process.