The conference brought 1,941 participants from 72 countries to Munich from 30 August to 2 September 2026. Prof. Annette Peters, Director of the Institute of Epidemiology at Helmholtz Munich and Chair of Epidemiology at the Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU), and Dr. Alexandra Schneider, Deputy Director of the Institute of Epidemiology, chaired the local and scientific organizing committees, respectively.
Health Effects from Heat, Cold & Air Pollution
Several findings concerned the health effects of heat and air pollution. Research presented at the conference estimated that heat was associated with around 145,000 work-related injuries per year across the countries studied, while cold was associated with around 82,000. The analysis used data collected up to 2023 and was particularly relevant in the context of the heatwaves experienced in Europe in 2026.
A study based on data from the German National Cohort, NAKO, reported around 30% more cardiometabolic multimorbidity among people living in highly polluted urban environments compared with those living in areas with low exposure. The study by Helmholtz Munich PhD researcher Asmaa Alselwi received one of the conference’s awards for students and early-career researchers.
Plastics and Cardiovascular Health
Plastics formed another focus of the conference. Researchers discussed possible direct health effects of micro- and nanoplastics as well as indirect effects, such as discarded plastic providing breeding sites for insects that transmit disease.
A systematic review by Dr. Fiona Niedermayer of Helmholtz Munich identified 31 studies on associations between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and cardiovascular disease. Across these studies, phthalate exposure was consistently associated with cardiovascular mortality.
The Environmental Footprint of Artificial Intelligence
The conference also examined the environmental footprint of digital technologies. Prof. Francesca Dominici of Harvard University presented research on the potential use of artificial intelligence to assess local climate and health risks.
Her presentation also included estimates of the environmental footprint of large data centers in the United States, including annual electricity use of 68 to 99 terawatt-hours, around 45 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions and approximately 300 billion liters of water use. These findings raised questions about how the environmental and health effects of AI infrastructure can be assessed.
Press Conference at the Deutsches Museum
On 3 September, researchers discussed selected conference findings with journalists at a press conference at the Deutsches Museum, held in connection with its Planetary Health exhibition. Participants from ISEE, Helmholtz Munich, universities and the World Health Organization covered topics including air pollution and respiratory infections in children, pesticides and Parkinson’s disease, and the use of scientific evidence in public health policy.
A nationwide study of more than one million children in Denmark, for example, reported an association between higher air pollution exposure and serious respiratory infections from infancy through adolescence, even at comparatively low pollution levels.
From Research to Public Health Guidance
The WHO contribution described how scientific evidence informs public health guidance. The WHO Air Quality Guidelines, which draw on systematic reviews of around 500 scientific papers, served as a reference for the revision of the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive adopted in 2024.
The conference and press briefing provided an overview of current environmental health research and its relevance for prevention and evidence-informed policy development.
Watch the Full Press Conference
A recording of the full press conference is available here: ISEE2026 Press Conference - Environmental Epidemiology in a Changing World.
