Health and Environment Alliance

HEAL Newsflash - January 2012

Christina Reinards — 2012-02-01T09:45:28Z

Opportunities for health & environment under Danish EU presidency
EU biocides law considered a “standstill” by NGOs
HEAL signs onto joint statement about mercury-contaminated sites

Cutting emissions, boosts health, says UK doctor: Special feature in the European Voice - View details here

New HEAL Position open: Climate and Air Quality Policy Officer
New HEAL Call for tender: Consultant for EU chemicals campaign
View all details here

Opportunities for health & environment under Danish EU presidency

HEAL welcomes the health and environment priorities set to be addressed by Denmark in their presidency of the EU for the first half of 2012. All are exciting policy opportunities for health and environment. Learn more...

Proposal for new EU Health programme could strengthen environmental prevention opportunities

The Commission proposal for the EU Health programme 2014-2020 underlines that a healthy population is key for Europe's economic growth and prosperity. However, the current proposal misses out on fostering opportunities for health through environmental protection, especially for reducing chronic diseases and for promoting climate measures which produce the greatest gains for public health. Learn more...

How fracking threatens public health

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called for a study of the public health effects of fracturing of shale rock for natural gas, commonly known as fracking. HEAL strongly supports the call having already been long coordinating advocacy efforts on fracking and health at the European level. Learn more...

EU biocides law considered a “standstill” by NGOs

The new EU biocides regulation adopted at the European Parliament's plenary vote on Biocide Regulation on 19 January 2012 sounds ambitious but represents a standstill for health and environmental protection according to HEAL and other health and environment groups. Learn more...

Pesticides Alternatives Week: phasing out the use of hazardous pesticides

Pesticides Alternatives Week is coming up - 20 to 30 March - with many opportunities to raise awareness on reducing the use of pesticides and promoting non-chemical alternatives. HEAL is especially concerned about the continued use and potential re-authorisation of Metam, a soil fumigant. Learn more...

Commission's Staff Working Paper is good news for climate, health and the economy

The long awaited Commission impact assessment of going beyond 20% emission reductions is now out. HEAL's reaction is that good news on health benefits and savings boosts the case for stronger EU climate target. Learn more...

Energy efficiency and indoor air quality: ENVI opinion highlights health concerns

With their vote on the proposed EU Energy Efficiency Directive, Members of the European Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) have underlined the centrality of health concerns for energy efficiency decisions. Health impacts should also be taken into account when deciding on energy efficiency management plans and in energy audits. Learn more...

HEAL signs onto joint statement sent to Japanese government about mercury-contaminated sites

HEAL has signed on to a joint statement by civil society organisations which calls on the Japanese government to incorporate the lessons learned from Minamata into the Global Mercury Treaty. Minamata community residents and Japanese NGO colleagues are concerned about how the mercury treaty negotiation will address contaminated sites, particularly because many of the Minamata remediation and compensation issues have not yet been resolved. Learn more...

Events

• Indoor air quality: Radon Prevention and Remediation Workshop - 23 February
• Pesticide Action Week - 20 to 30 March
• Climate Change and Health Effects Workshop - 1 to 2 March
• European Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Coalition Launch - 21 March

Take Action

• Support a Strong Mercury Treaty

The International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN), a global network working towards the elimination of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), recently asked for sign-ons to a civil society organizations joint statement calling for stronger mercury treaty provisions. Learn more...

• Urge Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli to propose a full ban of the pesticide metam

Join HEAL, PAN-Europe and others who are concerned about the health and environment effects of the pesticide metam and contact EU Commissioner John Dalli in support of a full ban on metam, a pesticide that is listed as an endocrine disruptor. Learn more...

Media coverage

EuroNews, the EU's multi-language television station, broadcast an interview with Lisette van Vliet, HEAL Toxics Policy Advisor on health and fracking in an item reviewing the Polish presidency.

See all media coverage.

Member's News

• RES film recommendation: “The nine months that made you”

In a 4 part series, the film “The nine months that made you” by Horizon explores the secrets of what makes a long, healthy and happy life. Learn more...
• PAN Europe reports on EFSA

A new Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe report reveals that 10 out of 13 members of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) working group on TTC (Threshold of Toxicological Concern, a method to decide on the health impacts of chemicals), have a conflict of interest. Learn more...
• Natural England provides joint methodology on health economic assessment tools for walking and for cycling

The World Health Organization (WHO) just released a booklet supplying tools and guidance for facilitating the methodology of economic assessment of transport infrastructure and policies. One of HEAL's Executive Committee Members, Dave Stone of Natural England, was a co-author. Learn more...
• WECF warns women and children at greater risk of leukaemia if in vicinity of nuclear power plants

In the light of findings from the International Journal on Cancer published this January 2012 Sacha Gabizon, international director of Women in Europe for a Common Network (WECF), is calling for an immediate action to protect the population. Learn more...
• EPHA Briefing on EU Policies and their Impact on Children's Health

HEAL member The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) has just produced a Briefing on Children's Health that aims to provide an overview of this important policy where actions urgently need to be taken to deal with the social determinants of health inequalities in European societies. Learn more...

RES: Film recommendation: “The nine months that made you”

Christina Reinards — 2012-01-31T16:53:03Z

HEAL member Réseau Environnement Santé (RES) suggests the 4 part series film titled “The nine months that made you” by Horizon which explores the secrets of what makes a long, healthy and happy life. It turns out that a time you can't remember - the nine months you spend in the womb - could have more lasting effects on you today than your lifestyle or genes. It is one of the most powerful and provocative new ideas in human science, pioneered by a British scientist, Professor David Barker. His theory has inspired a field of study that is revealing how our time in the womb could affect your health, personality, and even the lives of your children. Watch the film here.

PAN Europe reports on EFSA

Christina Reinards — 2012-01-31T16:52:56Z

A new Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe report reveals that 10 out of 13 members of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) working group on TTC (Threshold of Toxicological Concern, a method to decide on the health impacts of chemicals), have a conflict of interest. The industry has been a strong proponent of the TTC approach. Read PAN-Europe's Press Release and download their full report here.

Hans Muilerman of PAN-Europe states “TTC does not take account of independent scientific findings of harm at lower doses and cannot protect vulnerable groups like children.” Further information here.

Natural England provides joint methodology on health economic assessment tools for walking and for cycling

Christina Reinards — 2012-01-31T16:52:49Z

The World Health Organization (WHO) just released a booklet supplying tools and guidance for facilitating the methodology of economic assessment of transport infrastructure and policies in relation to the health effects of walking and cycling, systematic reviews of the economic and health literature, and guidance on applying the health economic assessment tools and the principles underlying it. One of HEAL's Executive Committee Members, Dave Stone of Natural England, was a co-author. Further information and download the electronic version here.

WECF warns women and children at greater risk of leukaemia if in vicinity of nuclear power plants

Christina Reinards — 2012-01-31T16:52:43Z

In light of findings from the International Journal on Cancer published this January, Sacha Gabizon, international director of Women in Europe for a Common Network (WECF), is calling for an immediate measure for the protection of the population, especially small children, including legislation and support for resettlement of all families currently living in the vicinity of nuclear power plants. The Journal provides a new study from France, confirming an earlier German study (KiKK-Study Dec 2007) that the incidence of child leukaemia more than doubles near nuclear power plants for children below the age 5 living within a 5 kilometre radius of nuclear power plants, compared to children living further then 20 kilometres from a nuclear power plant. Learn more here.

EPHA Briefing on EU Policies and their iImpact on Children's Health

Christina Reinards — 2012-01-31T16:52:37Z

HEAL member The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) has just produced a Briefing on Children's Health. The briefing aims to provide an overview of this important policy fields where actions urgently need to be taken to deal with the social determinants of health inequalities in European societies, and from a "health in all policies" approach with a view to improving health throughout the life cycle.

The early, formative years of a child's life serve as the foundation for all of life's later endeavours. In the European Region on average, most children enjoy reasonably high standard of health and well-being. However, there are also huge differences in infant and child mortality rates between certain countries in the region. These differences betray vast health inequalities in Europe which the European Institutions and Member State governments must tackle from the very earliest stages if the interventions are to have any lasting effect on the health of Europeans. View the briefing here.

Opportunities for health & environment under Danish EU presidency

Christina Reinards — 2012-01-31T16:52:18Z

HEAL welcomes the health and environment priorities set to be addressed by Denmark in their presidency of the EU for the first half of 2012. These include extensive work on the foreseen 7th EU Environment Action Programme (with Council conclusions outlining the content scheduled for June 2012), tackling the problem of chemicals mixtures, and furthering agreement on the new EU LIFE+ programme for environment and climate project funding 2014-2020.

The preparations for the UN Sustainable Development conference Rio+20 (Council conclusions scheduled for March 2012), and discussions on the EU budget or the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy also fall under their Presidency. All are exciting policy opportunities for health and environment. Further information on the priorities of the Danish EU presidency can be found on the website for the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2012 at http://eu2012.dk/en.

EU biocides law considered a “standstill” by NGOs

Christina Reinards — 2012-01-31T16:52:11Z

In a joint Press Release issued just after the plenary vote HEAL, several Pesticides Action Network groups, and Women in Europe for A Common Future (WECF) set out their critique of the new biocides law. Namely, they cite that exemptions to the phase out hazardous biocides are too wide and the lack of action foreseen to address the sustainable use of biocides. Read the full press release here.

Commission's Staff Working Paper is good news for climate, health and the economy

Christina Reinards — 2012-01-31T16:52:05Z

The Commission Staff Working Paper “Analysis of options beyond 20% GHG emission reductions: Member state results,” released 30 January 2012, shows there is a clear opportunity to increase the EU's ambition for tackling climate change says that “the 30% reduction scenario has become considerably less costly” thus rebutting the arguments that have held Europe back from strengthening its emissions reductions target for 2020. It gives strong focus to health economic benefits, which it estimates at €3.4 to €7.9 billion annually from 2020 onwards due to reduced mortality (25% out of 30% reductions domestically, the remainder being met through use of international emission reduction credits).

“Governments should seize this good news on health benefits to raise the EU's climate ambition under the Danish Presidency. The health economic benefits for both the EU and member states are significant, and yet we know they are just the tip of the iceberg, and do not reflect the full public health benefits of moving to 30%, as recent studies have shown”, states Genon Jensen, HEAL Executive Director.

The even better news is that the Commission's analysis is probably an underestimation given they do not include morbidity (ill-health), nor do they include the full range of health benefits from climate mitigation measures in the transport and agricultural sector, such as from increased walking and cycling.

A joint report, Acting Now for Better Health, demonstrated that achieving the current 20% emissions reduction target in the EU would produce health benefits (including morbidity and mortality savings) equivalent to between €13 and €52 billion per year from 2020 onwards. Raising the target to a full 30% domestic reduction, with no ‘offsetting', would save an additional €10-30 billion per year.

“The EU member states must act quickly and put the EU on track to a low cost emission reduction pathway by 2050 by increasing its climate ambition for 2020.” Ms Jensen added, “Our findings showed that if we start today the overall benefits for citizens' health will be more than twice as big as they would be if we delay action until 2015.” HEAL believes this merits the serious attention of health ministers and EU Health Commissioner Dalli, and urges them to consider putting the issue on the agenda of the next Health Council and at a forthcoming EU meeting of chief medical officers.

More and more doctors and medical groups throughout Europe are championing the health message and urging both member states and the EU to adopt strong climate targets on health grounds. Learn more here.

Proposal for new EU Health programme could strengthen environmental prevention opportunities

Christina Reinards — 2012-01-31T16:51:59Z

Although the Commission recognizes the “underlying environmental factors” in tackling chronic diseases, the proposal falls short when it comes to defining actions on tackling chronic diseases related to environmental exposures.

For example, cancer prevention and control is one of the priorities of the new programme, yet is in unclear if the prevention measures proposed will go beyond early detection through screening programmes, and also address reducing exposures to environmental contaminants.

Given that poor indoor air is an important determinant of chronic diseases such as asthma with a significant burden of disease in Europe, the new Health programme should continue to address it, in order to provide support for EU and national policies.

Climate change should also be strengthened in the programme to contribute more evidence on the wide range of health co-benefits around climate mitigation strategies and policies. This would in turn better inform EU climate decisions as well as increase engagement of the health sector across Europe.

The proposal for the EU Health for Growth programme has a financial volume of 446 million EUR and now has to go through European Parliament and Council for adoption.