Lifestyles and Living Environments

Head of Unit Anne Hyvärinen

The unit

• Researches and supports healthy, safe and sustainable solutions in people’s lifestyles and living environments.
• Builds a knowledge base on lifestyle factors and environmental health risks and benefits and promotes evidence-based decision-making.
• Supports preparedness and prevention related to environmental health risks.
• Acts as an expert in planetary health.

The unit is divided into three teams.

Environmental Health

Teamchef Taina Siponen

The team acts as an expert in environmental health, with a focus on climate change, urbanisation and sustainability. The team produces and evaluates information on harmful environmental exposures and health-promoting factors, as well as the impacts of environmental change and sustainability solutions on health.

Chemical Risks

Teamchef Päivi Ruokojärvi

The team studies, produces and refines information on population exposure to chemical compounds and is specialised in analyses of persistent organic compounds and certain consumer chemicals. The team assesses health risks related to chemical exposure.

Nutrition

Teamchef Heli Tapanainen

The team acts as an expert authority in nutrition, monitors and evaluates population nutrition, researches sustainable, healthy and safe nutrition, and promotes the prevention of obesity. In addition, the team develops and maintains national nutrition infrastructure.