A monthly update for health and environment community in Europe

Editorial: Cancer prevention moves up the EU agenda

The current Slovenian presidency of the European Union has chosen tackling cancer as the health priority for their term (January-June 2008). A major conference will take place later this week (7-8 February) in Brdo, Slovenia entitled: “The burden of cancer: How can it be reduced?”. It offers policy makers an opportunity to work towards a new cancer prevention paradigm that addresses life style, occupational and environmental causes on equal footing, and contributes to the Community Environment and Health Action Plan.

In a second development on cancer prevention, HEAL has shown its immediate support for the European parliamentarian’s vote on a resolution to combat cancer in the enlarged EU. The environment and health committee have voted to support prevention strategies that reduce occupational and environmental exposure to carcinogens, in particular the timely implementation of the new EU chemicals’ safety policy called REACH. The motion for resolution will be voted on during the March plenary in Strasbourg.

HEAL’s own activities in 2008 also include a focus on cancer prevention strategies which will culminate later this fall in an international conference on Cancer Prevention and Healthy Environments - Science and Policy Frameworks for Moving Forward. This work will draw on the activities being developed by the World Health Organization, and other national cancer prevention plans across Europe.

Other important developments include the launch of the new Chemicals Health Monitor website in February, which will feature the latest science and news on the links between environmental exposures to chemicals and health problems for eleven diseases. Another important aim of the website is to track how REACH is contributing to eliminating or reducing those chemicals that are the most harmful to human health.

This year, HEAL will also continue to advocate for a healthy EU pesticides policy reform. Our aim will be to explore further with doctors, patient groups and other health stakeholders how current pesticide use may be contributing to ill health in their communities, and bring their voices to the EU and national policy discussions.

Looking ahead to the French EU presidency, human biomonitoring is expected to be a priority, following the strong support from the Environment Council in December. HEAL took part in a meeting last week on the EU Human Biomonitoring pilot project where preparations were discussed. The event brought together member state representatives and was hosted by the Belgian government.