Newsletter July-August 2007

About us & our members

Action for Global Health publishes report on critical health situation in developing countries

In July 2007, Action for Global Health (AFGH) issued its first report “Health Warning” on the health situation in developing countries. AFGH is an NGO network of 15 European organisations, including HEAL member the European Public Health Alliance, working in health and development issues.
Available in four different versions, published in Brussels, Germany, France and the UK, the report marks the mid-point of the Millennium Development Goals, and highlights to Europe’s lack of (...)

EPHA is recruiting a Secretary General

The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), which represents over 100 non-governmental and other not-for-profit organisations working in support of health in Europe, currently has a vacancy for a Secretary General.
EPHA is a not-for-profit membership organisation that aims to promote and protect the health interests of all European citizens and strengthen stakeholder dialogue in support of healthy public policies. It represents the interests of the voluntary sector, of professional bodies, (...)

HEAL in the media (July - August 2007)

Deca-BDE
Following summer publication of a report from the European Chemicals Bureau (ECB), ENDS Europe Daily (8 August 2007) published an article entitled “Alternatives to deca flame retardant ‘do exist’”. Christian Farrar-Hockley was quoted in the story saying: "I think it’s the first definite acknowledgement [from the commission] that not only do deca substitutes exist, but they’re also on the market."
Mercury
Deutschlandradio Kultur gave Monica Guarinoni an opportunity to (...)

HEAL new member organisations, August 2007

In August 2007, three organisations were granted provisional membership of HEAL: the Greens for Montenegro, the public fund "Maternity and child protection" and the Italian Pediatric Cultural Association. Membership will be finally approved by the annual general assembly in October.
The "Greens for Montenegro", a non-governmental
organisation, are mainly working on environmental and ecological issues at national level, namely on pesticides, chemicals (POPs), climate change, public (...)

HEAL Secretariat News July-August 2007

Press releases
Press release: “Saga is over”: mercury in most measuring devices will soon be history, 10 July 2007
Conferences and meetings
Christian Farrar-Hockley participated in the conference Regulating Chemical Risk:Science, Politics and the Media on 16-17 August in Stockholm (Sweden). The conference focussed on the regulation of chemicals, in particular REACH, and risks associated with them. Christian gave a presentation on the Chemicals Health Monitor project.
On 3 July, (...)

Environment and Health Policy

Consumers to benefit from improved EU sunscreen labelling

As a result of a European Commission recommendation on sunscreen products adopted in 2006, clearer and less misleading sunscreen bottle labels are to be introduced. The new labelling regime, to be phased in the summer of 2007, will include a new UV-A logo or seal and a ban on terms such as “sunblocker” or “total protection”.
The Commission’s recommendations include the following:
Claims such as “sunblock” or “100% protection” should not to (...)

EU Health Portal launches newsletter

The European Commission Health Portal will see the launch of an online newsletter, available from September 2007. The Health-EU newsletter, which will appear twice a month, aims to bring EU public health work to all the relevant stakeholders, providing people with up-to-date information on the latest EU developments in 20 of the EU’s official languages.
The newsletter will cover:
Healthcare action at EU level
Future events and conferences on public health
Latest publications
New links (...)

Interim evaluation of the EU Public Health Programme 2003-2008

The interim evaluation of the Public Health Programme was published in August 2007 on the DG SANCO’s website (link to the evaluation).
The aim of the evaluation, undertaken by an external expert, is to assess the implementation and achievement of the programme during its first three years (2003 - 2005), and in particular:
The impact the programme has achieved on health in the EU by providing European added value, complementing Member State health measures, and its ability to reach citizens (...)

News from the ELF Science Update

Science Update is a service by the European Lung Foundation
providing summaries in layman’s language of scientific articles published in the European Respiratory Journal, the official journal of the European Respiratory Society. This is a selection of the most recent news.
Science Update is a service by the European Lung Foundation
providing summaries in layman’s language of scientific articles published in the European Respiratory Journal, the official journal of the European Respiratory (...)

Publication of environment and health research project results funded by FP5

The European Commission has published a catalogue of the final results of the environment and health research projects funded by the fifth Framework Programme of Research (FP5). The projects cover numerous issues, including:
Air pollution-related health impacts
Chemicals and health impacts
Electromagnetic fields and health impacts
Noise-related health impacts
UV light and ionising radiation-related health impacts
Multiple stressors and factors and health impacts
Waterborne (...)

Publication of Mid-Term Review of French National Health and Environment Plan

On the 2nd August 2007, the mid-term review of the French National Health and Environment Plan (PNSE) was published. The review details the actions planned for the 2004 - 2008 period aimed at reducing health problems linked to environmental degradation.
According to the Review 28 of the 45 actions listed, over 60%, have seen some progress. Of the rest, seven have been subject to a slight delay eight have been subject to significant delay and two a “worrying” delay. The latter (...)

Report examines links between the environment and mental health

The August 2007 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, a peer-reviewed journal of the United States’ National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences examines the latest scientific findings in psychiatric medicine suggesting a link between some environmental exposures and the development of mental disease. The issue’s Focus article, entitled “Environmental Connections: A Deeper Look into Mental Illness”, looks at new views on the role of the environment in the (...)

Mercury and health

Mercury exposure during pregnancy could harm psychomotor development of children

According to an epidemiologic study published in the journal Environment International , fish consumption during pregnancy could harm child cognitive development as a result of methylmercury contamination. The study, undertaken in Krakow, Poland, examined variability in prenatal mercury exposure due to fish intake in pregnant women and followed infant psychomotor development over the first three years of life.
In total 374 infants born between January 2001 and March 2003 to mothers (...)

Chemicals

Less harmful alternatives to Deca-BDE do exist

A report published by the European Chemicals Bureau on the controversial flame retardant Deca-BDE, widely used in TV’s, computers and many other electrical and electronic applications, claims that safer substitutes do exist on the market and that the environmental and health impacts of some of them “may be minimal”.
Despite growing evidence that Deca-BDE and other flame retardant chemicals persist in the environment, accumulate in living organisms and may cause liver, thyroid (...)

Propylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether (PGME) poses health risk to pregnant women

The French Agency for Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Afsset) has issued a health warning on the potential risks, in particular for pregnant women, associated with paints containing Propylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether (PGME) and its acetates.
PGME and its acetates are chemical substances first introduced in the 1970s as substitutes for flammable aromatic solvents which were found to be neurotoxic. Used as solvents, preservatives and additives, glycol ethers are present in a wide (...)

Report shows toxic chemicals in cleaning products linked to health problems

In July 2007 Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE), a US-based women’s environmental health and justice group, released a report entitled “Household Hazards: Potential Hazards of Home Cleaning Products”. The report examines 5 types of chemicals commonly found in household cleaners and points to the mounting evidence linking exposure to chemicals in cleaning products and rising health problems.
Drawing information from over 75 reports and scientific studies, the study illustrates (...)

Second EU Progress report on Dioxin Strategy

On the 10 July the European Commission adopted its second progress report assessing EU efforts to implement the 2001 Dioxin Strategy to curb dioxins and similar chemicals.
The report summarises the principal achievements over the 2004-2006 period and is supplemented by an annex containing detailed descriptions of recent developments.
One of the accomplishments highlighted is the adoption of the Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs) Regulation, together with the new emission data register (...)

Toxipedia, a free toxicology encyclopedia, now available online

Toxipedia a free toxicology encyclopaedia run by the Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders (INND) is now available online. A comprehensive resource centre regarding the effect of chemicals on health, the website offers a platform for discussion and contains information on hazards and risks of chemical and physical agents, regulatory status, the history of toxicology, and risk and precautionary assessment.
Quality control of Toxipedia is ensured by a tiered review system (...)

WHO releases report on children’s special vulnerability to chemicals exposures

In July 2007 the WHO released its report “Principles for Evaluating Health Risks in Children Associated with Exposure to Chemicals” under the Environmental Health Criteria (EHC) series. The report, which examines the scientific principles that need to be taken into account when assessing health risks to children, highlights the fact that developmental stages at which chemical exposures occur could be just as critical as levels of exposure.

This EHC volume builds upon recent (...)

Pesticides

European Commission proposes to add endosulfan to the Stockholm POPs Convention

In July, The European Commission has proposed to amend the annexes to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants by adding endosulfan, a neurotoxic organochlorine insecticide.
First developed in the 1950s, endosulfan is now widely used in agriculture to control pests. It is highly toxic and is already banned in several countries.
In response to concerns surrounding the environmental health risks posed by Endosulfan, the Commission issued the following Statement: (...)

Obsolete Pesticides: the side of the world we do not know about

The International HCH & Pesticides Association (IHPA) has published on their website a video slide show of obsolete pesticide stockpiles in Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. It shows the alarming situation in these countries, where poor people in the country side live on top or next to the most dangerous and forbidden pesticides.
IHPA is an independent and non-political network of committed individuals that wants to draw international attention on the world-wide (...)

Climate Change

Climate Change and Health list serve

In an effort to educate and raise debate within the health and environment community on approaches to and synergies between climate protection and health promotion, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) has launched a dedicated list serve on “Climate Change and Health” with the following objectives:
Help keep you up-to-date on climate change and health related issues - in particular regarding policy developments, new studies and reports, key articles, the status of files (...)

Air Quality

“Indoor Air Health Priorities” workshop proceedings

On 29 and 30 March 2007, VITO, the Flemish Institute for Technological Research organised a workshop on “Indoor Air Health Priorities”, hosted by the Belgian Federal Public Service. The principal aims of the meeting were to:
Collect representative data for exposure and impacts on public health in the EU countries, in addition to peer-reviewed literature and EU reports
Gain insight in current Member States’ policies and activities on indoor air and monitoring and control (...)

Censored report says pollution in China causes 750,000 deaths per year

The World Bank was forced to censor its “Cost of Pollution in China” report after China’s environment watchdog Sepa (the State Environment Protection Agency) and the health ministry pressured the World Bank to cut back calculations claiming that 750,000 people die of pollution-related illness each year fearing that the statistics might provoke “social unrest.”
Advisers to the research team said ministries told them this information, including a detailed map showing (...)

Public Participation

HEAL response to EC consultation on public access to documents held by the institutions

The European Commission has launched a consultation on the review of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents. The Green Paper is the starting point for this consultation, which will allow any interested person, individual citizen, non governmental organisation, association, economic operator, public authority or any other organisation to have a say on this issue.
The Green Paper takes stock of the implementation of the (...)

Public Participation Campaign re-vamped website

In July 2007, the Public Participation Campaign launched a re-vamped PARTICIPATE website. The PPC supports citizens and non-governmental organisations working on the issues of the UN ECE’s Aarhus Convention, ie access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters.
The website provides a platform to exhange information and developments on the Aarhus Convention implementation, identify opportunities for civil society input into the (...)

More issues

Declaration on the Principles for Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials Oversight

An international coalition of consumer, public health, environmental, and labour organizations concerned with various aspects of nanotechnology has submitted a Declaration on the Principles for Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials Oversight.
In recent years hundreds of products manfactured using nanomaterials have become available, such as cosmetics, sunscreens, sporting goods, clothing, electronics, baby and infant products, and food and food packaging, despite a lack of information of the (...)

Electric fields from everyday equipment may increase risk of infections

A study published in the August 2007 issue of the Atmospheric Environment Journal suggests that prolonged exposure to electric fields generated in indoor environments may increase the risk of respiratory diseases and infections from small airborne particles.
The research, conducted by Imperial College London, examined whether there was a link between complaints of headaches and other health problems by office workers, and time spent working around electronic equipment.
Results indicated (...)

Eurobarometer Survey on Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)

The results of a Special Eurobarometer on EMF survey, indicates that one in three Europeans is concerned about the potential health effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF). The survey, which assesses the issue of electromagnetic fields through the eyes of EU citizens, looked at how much people know about EMF, which sources they believe produce them and whether they view them as harmful.
EMF exposure in Europe is widespread. People are exposed to EMF through highvoltage power lines, (...)

European Commission Public Consultation on Nanotechnologies

On the 19 July 2007, the European Commission announced a Public Consultation on Nanosciences intended to collect input for the development of a Code of Conduct for Responsible Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies Research. The objective of the consultation is to capture opinions from a broad cross-section of European society, including research, industry, civil society, policy and media, and is part of the Commission’s broader ambition to encourage Member States to sign up to a set of basic (...)

Higher rates of child Leukaemia near nuclear facilities

A research review published in the July 2007 issue of the European Journal of Cancer Care found that Leukaemia rates in children are elevated near nuclear facilities. The results, from a meta-analysis conducted by the medical University of South Carolina, found that depending upon proximity to the nuclear facility for children up to the age of nine mortality rates were elevated by 5-24%, and by 2-18% in children and young people up to the age of 25.
The study included eight separate (...)