Here is the latest news on health and environmental issues from our diverse group of members.
The following is a chronological list starting with the most recent – you can also explore a specific subject area by using the search field.
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 07/06/2013 | Générations Futures: Debrief meeting of the collective expertise of INSERM on pesticides On 13 June Gerard Bapt, Member of the Haute-Garonne and President of the Environmental Health Group of the second Environmental Health Nation Plan invites interested participants to a debriefing meeting of the collective expertise of INSERM entitled “Pesticides and Health". INSERM is the National Institute of Health and Medical Research, a French biomedical and public health research institution. The meeting takes place at 17h00 at the Social Affairs Committee of the National Assembly in Paris. This meeting will provide an opportunity for researchers involved in the development of this expertise to present the results of their work on the health effects of pesticides. If you would like to attend this event please register by 7 June with qdecker.gbapt@clb-dep.fr |
| 07/06/2013 | PAN Europe: Proposal for a new EU Common plant health regime lacks environmental and public health considerations Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe) welcomes that EU Member States will establish proper survey programmes as part of a proposal for an updated EC Common plant health regime. Yet, it is a missed opportunity not to highlight what kind of actions might contribute to prevention. The reform proposal fails to target environmental and public health concerns with no plan to establish what can be done to ensure less use of pesticides. The new proposal aims at ensuring that ‘new’ pests are being discovered and eradicated at an early stage to reduce the spreading possibilities. While PAN Europe welcomes the idea of national survey programmes, there should be a full integration of these into the actions already foreseen in the Sustainable Use Directive as well as proper national pest and pesticide surveillance systems with for example monitoring capabilities and an expert panel for biological control. Furthermore, PAN Europe proposes that rather than compensating operators for the value of destroyed plant-which could mean spraying a lot of hazardous pesticides- it would instead be more logical to transfer part of this extra funding to the agri-environmental scheme of the Common Agricultural Policy, in order to encourage farmers to develop more resilient systems, less vulnerable to potential pest attack in the first place. |
| 07/06/2013 | Breast Cancer UK: New report gives evidence of the link between Bisphenol A and breast cancer A new report by Breast Cancer UK entitled Body of Evidence gives an overview of the low dose effects of Bisphenol A in relation to breast cancer. The review demonstrates that reducing exposure to BPA would be an evidence-based starting point and the removal of one chemical alone will probably not solve the problems of breast cancer but it may serve as a springboard for reducing the chemical burdens of the human breast. Every day women are dying of breast cancer, so it is undoubtedly better to start somewhere than to be paralysed by the complexity into inactivity. The report draws together some of the latest science on BPA and highlights how much evidence there is that this chemical affects the structure and development of the mammary gland, increases breast density, and disrupts DNA. All of these factors are known to increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Read the full report here |
| 07/06/2013 | WECF: Disappointing results of COP6 in Geneva, not listing chrysotile asbestos Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) expressed disappointment at the results of the recent Rotterdam Convention conference in Geneva as it did not add chrysotile asbestos to the Convention’s list of hazardous substances. For the fourth time, a group of countries blocked the adding of chrysotile asbestos, even though the Convention´s expert scientific committee has repeatedly recommended that it should be on the list. The Convention requires that countries practice responsible trade by obtaining prior informed consent before they export hazardous substances to another country, but these countries are practising irresponsible trade and hiding the hazards of chrysotile asbestos. Many people have developed cancer from asbestos exposure. As well as civil society, the vast majority of parties to the Rotterdam Convention are dismayed highlighting the in-depth research and understanding of the current and future health and environmental costs of inaction on this product. |
| 07/06/2013 | Inter-Environment Wallonie: Signs open letter for a nanoregister in Belgium Engineered nanomaterials have different properties than traditional materials and chemicals including improved responsiveness, resistance, conductivity, and efficiency. They are being increasingly used in all kinds of products and applications such as car components, paints, cosmetics, electronics, medical devices, and textiles to name a few. Despite their growing presence in our daily lives, we know very little about their short and long term impacts on human health and the environment, and they are clearly gaps in regulation. Nanomaterials should be manufactured, sold, used and disposed of in a responsible, safe and sustainable manner. In addition, consumers should have transparent and comprehensive information on nanomaterials and products to decide if they want to buy nano products. In this context, Inter-Environment Wallonie has recently signed an open letter with other Belgian organisations to call for a nanoregister in Belgium that would keep track of all nanomaterials and products containing them. Such a tool would ensure traceability, inspire confidence in all stakeholders and contribute to the competitiveness and innovation of Belgian and European companies. If exposure to nanomaterials led to diseases and illnesses, the authorities would be able to use this information and act more effectively. Read the open letter here (FR) |
| 07/06/2013 | C2DS: Training sessions on health and sustainable development Comité pour le Développement Durable en Santé (C2DS) is providing training in June aiming to educate health professionals about the challenges of sustainable development and contribute to how individuals act in accordance with the national policy of the development of health professionals during 2013. The different training sessions include integrating and management sustainable development in schools; health and work; preventing the risk of chemicals in hospitals and leadership coaching for managers around the martial arts. More information available here |
| 07/06/2013 | INCHES: 7th International Network on Children’s Health, Environment and Safety Conference, November 2013 From 20 – 22 November, the International Network on Children’s Health, Environment and Safety (INCHES) is organising its 7th International Conference in Jerusalem. Children are one of the most vulnerable groups in society with regard to exposure to environmental factors and there is still a lot to be done in the field of children´s environmental health. This conference brings together professionals to discuss the latest developments in this field and offers a platform for dealing with health problems of children caused by important environmental influences. The objectives are to provide an international forum for the latest research findings in children’s environmental health; define the relationship between environmental contaminants and children's health; strengthen the importance of prenatal exposure to environmental factors on pregnancy outcome; identify opportunities to minimise childhood prenatal and postnatal exposure to environmental contaminants; provide insight in the activities in the field of science and policy interface; build a platform of knowledge at the international level; develop a greater awareness among health professionals about children's health, environment and safety; and initiate future directions in research in the field of children's environmental health. You can find the call for abstracts and the registration form here |
| 07/06/2013 | ELF: Consortium member of two EU projects highlighted on World Asthma Day The European Lung Foundation (ELF) highlighted two key EU-projects concerned with improving the lives of people with asthma on the occasion of World Asthma Day on 7 May. ELF is a consortium member of both projects. The first project, UBIOPRED (Unbiased BIOmarkers in PREDiction of respiratory disease outcomes) is an EU research project to better understand the different types of severe asthma with the hope that this understanding will consider individual characteristics and make it easier to develop new medicines. This project involves scientists from universities, research institutes, the pharmaceutical industry and small companies. The second EU research project, AirPROM (Airway Disease Predicting Outcomes through Patient Specific Computational Modelling) aims to bridge the gaps in our clinical management of airways disease, by providing validated models that predict disease progression and response to treatment. The project involves professionals and patients that will ´develop´ and ´use´ the technologies emerging from this project. The result could revolutionise the effectiveness of the treatment patients receive through personalising that treatment. |
| 07/06/2013 | EPHA: Brave New World: Inclusive Growth and Well-Being or Vested Interests and Lost Generations? On 4 and 5 September the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) will celebrate 20 years of helping to shape Europe’s public health with its conference Brave New World: Inclusive Growth and Well-Being or Vested Interests and Lost Generations? EPHA is using this milestone as an opportunity to look at how we can foster an EU that is coherent in its decisions, in terms of fostering the health and well-being of people living in Europe. The conference will take place with high profile keynote speakers including Tonio Borg, Commissioner for Health and Consumers, Paola Testori Coggi, DG SANCO Director General, Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe and Yves Leterme, OECD Deputy Secretary General. Topics to be discussed include putting people, public health and well-being at the heart of EU policy making; the impact of austerity in public health systems and how to address this; the importance of increasing the efficiency and sustainability of healthcare systems through enhance innovation and research; the economic weight of the health sector for job creation and growth; and the role of good governance to improve national health systems. The event will also serve to present EPHA’s new Think Tank and the organisation's Manifesto on the European Parliament elections. For more information, visit the event's save the date. |
| 07/06/2013 | WECF: Successful high level conference on integrating chemical safety in Belgrade In April, Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) organised a successful high-level conference on integrating chemical safety in Belgrade, Serbia. The beacon event opened by Mrs. Leposava Sojic, Assistant Minister of Energy Development and Environmental protection of Serbia, Borka Jeremic, representing the UN Country Team in Serbia and Sascha Gabizon, Executive Director of WECF International, set standards for the post 2014 development agenda of the Balkan countries. The Conference entitled “Chemical and product safety in the Western Balkans” addressed shared lessons learnt from a two year EU-funded project on the issue. Preliminary results of the national consultations on possible priorities for a post-2015 development agenda were presented along with recommendations. Here you can watch a video about WECF’s work in the Balkans |
| 10/05/2013 | EFA: Call for support for Allergology education on World Asthma Day On the occasion of the World Asthma Day on 7 May, the European Federation of Allergy & Airways Diseases Patients’ Association (EFA), the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the UEMS Section of Surgery & European Boards of Surgery and Allergic Rhinitis and its impacts on Asthma (ARIA) handed over an alert paper to the European Commission and the ENVI Committee of the European Parliament requesting EU support in the development of Allergology education. |
| 10/05/2013 | EPHA: Briefing on health in Europe 2020 The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) has developed a briefing on health in Europe 2020 which highlights the importance of the health sector in reaching the Europe 2020 goals. The briefing examines the health impacts of EU economic governance, the changes to healthcare systems and recommendations from civil society and the European Parliament on health in the annual growth survey. EPHA highlights the health related recommendations from several NGOs, including the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), as well as the health benefits of the EU reaching the Europe 2020 targets of CO2 reductions. |
| 10/05/2013 | ELF: New research on effects of ozone on the fatty lining of the lungs A recent study published in the journal Langmuir discovered that ozone causes severe lung problems by attacking fat molecules in the lung which line its surface. These molecules are vital in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide as they prevent the wet surfaces of the lung from collapsing. Ozone, which is mostly produced in the upper atmosphere, but also can form at ground level as a result of burning fossil fuels, is known to harm lung systems and is linked to asthma and bronchitis. Researchers in London used a model of the lung’s surface to explore the effects of ozone. They used a level of ozone similar to what you might find in a polluted city in the summer. By monitoring different parts of the fat molecule separately, they collected detailed information about the structure of the lung surface. Researchers then adapted the model to represent the lung of people with different forms of chronic lung disease to try to understand why ozone seems to affect them worse than others. The findings show that ozone exposure on our lungs would certainly damage the ability of them to process oxygen and carbon dioxide, and could account for the respiratory problems associated with ozone poisoning. |
| 10/05/2013 | WECF: Strengthen chemical and product safety in the Western Balkans On 11 April, over 60 representatives of government, public agencies, civil society, and private sector met in Belgrade for the conference “Chemical and product safety in the Western Balkans - a priority area for the post 2015 agenda?” The conference was organised jointly by Women in Europe for a Common Future International (WECF) and UN team Serbia, together with NGOs from the Western Balkans. Executive Director of WECF International Sascha Gabizon highlighted that the conference aimed to share key evaluation results and best practices from the 2-year EU-funded project on “Chemicals Safety and Product Safety in the Western Balkan – civil society cooperation on EU acquis and values for consumer protection and corporate responsibility“. This project includes civil society organisations from Albania, FYR Macedonia and Serbia jointly with partners from Germany, France, Netherlands and Estonia who have been campaigning for stronger chemicals safety of products, particularly to protect children’s health. The project also achieved to build capacity on the EU regulation regarding chemicals safety and promote incentives for Corporate Social Responsibility regarding chemical safety of products. |
| 10/05/2013 | Vivosano: Voting recommendations on 7th EAP sent to Spanish MEPs On 22 April Vivosano, Ecologistas en Accion, Greenpeace, UGT, CCOO and Asquifyde y Fodesam sent a joint letter to Spanish MEPs of the Environment Committee with their voting recommendations on amendments to the 7th EU Environment Action Programme (EAP). The seven organisations called for the protection of European citizens from chemicals such as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Pregnant women, children and the elderly are the most vulnerable groups to these substances and should be protected against them. |
| 10/05/2013 | Générations Futures: French government ‘ignoring advice on pesticides’ Générations Futures recently condemned serious irregularities in pesticide authorisations in France. As a result of this negligence, more than forty dangerous pesticides have been allowed to remain on the market when they should have been phased out or restricted. Supported by their review based on concrete data, Générations Futures plans to file a complaint against the French government for “endangering the life of others”. A demand will be made to the Ministry of Agriculture that problematic approvals are withdrawn and an appeal will be lodged for “wrongful failure to act” by the State. The French NGO urges the Minister of Agriculture to take the necessary measures to suspend or immediately withdraw all pesticides approvals for which there are irregularities or non-compliance, and to urgently establish a parliamentary commission of inquiry on pesticides approvals. They also request that future decisions on pesticides approval should be made not only by the agriculture minister but also by the ministry of environment and ministry of health. Link to the press release (FR) and press coverage here Link to the full report (FR) here |
| 10/05/2013 | RES: The role of EDCs in the rise of chronic diseases On 4 April, Réseau Environnement Santé (RES) and the French Mutuality (La Mutualité Française) organised an event in Paris focused on the environment, chemicals, obesity and diabetes. In France, obesity and diabetes play an important role in the growth of health spending, which calls for a strengthening of the preventive approach to these diseases. The event aimed to raise public awareness of the role of endocrine disruptors in the rise of chronic diseases. More information here |
| 10/05/2013 | European Child Safety Alliance: Children and Household Chemicals On 11 April the European Child Safety Alliance was represented by Martina Abel, Managing Director of Safe Kids Germany at the conference ‘Children and household chemicals - More safety through better packaging regulations’. This event was hosted by the Ministry of Employment, Integration and Social Affairs of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The conference highlighted specific poisoning hazards for children, the benefits of child safe packaging, challenges to market surveillance, and enforcement of regulations and standards. Martina Abel spoke about the variation between poisoning rates across European countries and shared the example of the Netherlands as a model of good practice. Through strong legislation on poisoning prevention and regular consumer awareness campaigns, the Netherlands maintain low child poisoning rates. Discussions about consumer knowledge, optimising market surveillance, and amending CLP-regulation are all steps towards new multi-sectoral strategies to enforce poisoning prevention. Children have to be protected from poisoning hazards through a combination of good regulations and effective awareness programmes. When selecting products parents must be able to differentiate between extremely dangerous and less dangerous products, as well as safe and unsafe packages. More information available at www.childsafetyeurope.org |
| 10/05/2013 | INCHES: 7th International Conference on Children’s Health and the Environment From 20 – 22 November the International Network on Children’s Health, Environment and Safety (INCHES) is organising its 7th conference in Jerusalem. The event is co-organised with Bar Ilan University in Israel and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the WHO, European Environmental Agency, Italian Federation of Primary Care Paediatricians and US-EPA. The objectives of the conference are, to: Provide a forum for the latest research findings in children’s environmental health; Define the relationship between environmental contaminants and children’s health; Strengthen the importance of prenatal exposure to environmental factors on pregnancy outcomes; Identify opportunities to minimise childhood prenatal/postnatal exposure to environmental contaminants; Provide insight into the activities in the field of science and policy interface; Build a platform of knowledge at an international level; Develop a greater awareness among health professionals about children’s health, environment and safety; Initiate future direction in research in the field of children’s environmental health. More information here |
| 10/05/2013 | Action for Breast Cancer Foundation: Malta Airport ALIVE 2013 Cycling Challenge for Cancer Forty cyclists will be covering an endurance route of 720km from London to Paris through Brussels to raise funds for breast cancer research in Malta. The funds will go towards breast cancer research projects funded by the University’s Research, Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT). The initiative was launched in collaboration with Action for Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF). ALIVE and ABCF are working together to drive this innovative and concerted initiative, where by patients and society at large stand to benefit through scientific research conducted at the university. |
| 10/05/2013 | Vivosano: International Noise Awareness Day On International Noise Awareness Day, Vivosano along with lawyers (JURISTAS CONTRA EL RUIDO), citizens groups (PEACRAM), and doctors asked for stricter regulations, better law enforcement and awareness among citizens on the noise impact on communities. Spain is one of the noisiest countries of Europe with the main sources of noise pollution coming from the entertainment industry, airports and roads. A continuous exposure to a noisy environment causes psychological and physical damage that can become a real health concern. Vivosano received successful media coverage on International Noise Awareness Day including online press and television coverage. Telediario de La 1, 15.00h RTVE Informativo de Telecinco, 15.00 h: Telecinco |
| 10/05/2013 | EPHA: A call to action: Health, civil society and the reform of economic governance The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) has recently launched its Health, civil society and the reform of economic governance: A call to action to encourage civil society to get involved in the reform of economic governance and the decisions taken under new frameworks such as the European Semester that affect population health and health outcomes. This call to action uses the European Federation for Transport and the Environment (T&E) and the Social Platform as examples of how to become involved in the process. The European Semester coordinates EU economic and fiscal policy, including taxes on environmentally harmful subsidies. |
| 11/04/2013 | EPHA: Secretary General participates in high-level OECD workshop on "Defining and Measuring Inclusive Growth" On April 3, Monika Kosinska, Secretary General of the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) participated in a high-level workshop on "Defining and Measuring Inclusive Growth" at the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The current growth paradigm is “a model based on unlimited growth, endless consumption and a perversity in economic accounting where a fatal traffic accident is valued higher than its prevention [this model] needs to be redressed and not simply tinkered with,” said Monika Kosinska in an opinion piece. Building on the review of the Beyond GDP agenda, she also advocates that “we must measure what we value, and not just value what we measure. We must put our values back into the drivers of our society, and not use our societies as merely means to drive our economies. “ Last year EU Environment Ministers invited the EU to explore alternative growth models. They noted that greening the economy is essential to promote “sustainable consumption and production, human health and well being and hence eradicate poverty, providing benefits for all citizens.” More information available here |
| 11/04/2013 | WECF: Participating in EP debate on the positive relations of gender sensitive and environmental policies On 10 April Sascha Gabizon, Director of Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) will be participating in a panel on Positive Effects of Gender Sensitive and Environmental Policies in the European Parliament organised by the GUE/NGL party. Debating the challenges of the social and ecological boundaries of our planet, WECF will highlight possible solutions and stress the need for environmental health for everyone. Together with other panellists from FoE and IRADe India, the panel will also open up to the audience and allow an open debate. As part of the public hearing, the panel will take place at the European Parliament, ASP 1G2, on 10. April, 15:10 – 15:50. The hearing will start at 15:00 and will approximately last until 18:30, with another interesting panel on gender equality and its importance for sustainability, also followed by an open debate and final, concluding remarks. More information available here |
| 11/04/2013 | Générations Futures: Launch of an Elected Committee for Alternatives to Pesticides During Pesticides Action Week at a meeting in the presence of parliamentarians, local politicians and journalists, Agir pour l’environnement, Générations Futures and l’Union Nationale de l’Apiculture Française (National Union of French Apiculture UNAF) launched a committee elected for alternatives to pesticides. France in size, is the first European country to use pesticides and the third in the world behind the US and Japan. In 2011, more than 62,700 tonnes are active substances were sold which all had consequences for health and the environment. The purpose of the committee is to train and inform elected officials about the dangers of pesticide use, disseminate and share good agricultural practices to significantly reduce pesticide use by promoting existing alternatives. Agir pour l’environnement, Générations Futures and UNAF all call on French parliamentarians and elected officials to sign the charter http://comiteeluspesticides.org/ and to engage in the committee elected for alternatives pesticides. |
| 11/04/2013 | ELF and ERS: Road traffic pollution as serious as passive smoke in the development of childhood asthma The European Lung Foundation (ELF) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) highlight that road traffic pollution is as serious as passive smoke in the development of childhood asthma. New research conducted in 10 European cities has estimated that 14% of chronic childhood asthma is due to exposure to traffic pollution near busy roads. The results are comparable to the burden associated with passive smoking: the World Health Organization estimates that between 4% and 18% of asthma cases in children are linked to passive smoking. The findings, which were published online on 22 March ahead of print in the European Respiratory Journal, come at an apt time during the 2013 EU Year of Air, which highlights the importance of clean air for all and focuses on actions to improve air quality across the EU. Until now, traffic pollution was assumed to only trigger asthma symptoms and burden estimations did not account for chronic asthma caused by the specific range of toxicants that are found near heavily used roads along which many Europeans live. The results from the recent studies found that 14% of asthma cases across the 10 cities could be attributed to near-road traffic pollution. The findings also take into account differences in the health of the overall population in different cities. |
| 11/04/2013 | CPES: Participant at EFSA stakeholder forum on EDCs The Cancer Prevention and Education Society (CPES) recently attended EFSA's stakeholder forum where EFSA’s definition of an endocrine disruptor was announced. On the basis of discussions, CPES has some serious concerns about the definition and consequently about the level of health protection which can be offered by any regulation which is based on it. These concerns in brief include: 1. The definition identifies no EDCs for regulation, even though it is known EDCs are a problem and need to be regulated; 2. EFSA’s definition encourages us to wait for proof of harm before acting to stop it, which is at odds with the intent of modern chemicals regulation; 3. It undermines our ability to manage health risks posed by EDCs by making it too difficult to prove that a chemical needs to be controlled because it is an EDC; 4. The new concept of “endocrine active substance” introduces potency into the definition (this is technical but perhaps the biggest worry, so bear with us while we explain this); 5. The fox is applauding the design of the rabbit hutch. More information available here |
| 11/04/2013 | One Health Sweden: How to fight microorganisms – a biocide conference in Uppsala, April 10th 2013 Biocides are used extensively in many applications in our society with new biocides being continuously introduced. We are often exposed to these substances without our knowledge. Today, the possible long term risks to health and environment following the increasing use of antimicrobials are largely unknown. The Swedish Minister for the Environment Lena Ek has recently highlighted the issue, by sending a letter to all Swedish county councils with questions about biocides that can occur in consumables used in health care. The Minister wishes to gain more knowledge and insight on the procurement of medical supplies, and also calls for examples of how county councils are dealing with the issue. The Swedish National Substitution Group (NSG) is organising a conference on biocides on 10 April, aimed at those who work within the public sector on issues regarding the environment, chemicals management, infection control and procurement. Representatives from authorities, healthcare, non-governmental organisations and the scientific community will present and discuss the topic. |
| 11/04/2013 | EFA: Report on the EP event "Indoor air quality and health-based ventilation guidelines’’ The HealthVent event at the EP on 20 February organised by the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations (EFA), a HealthVent project partner, gathered participants to share their ideas on the project. At the event, participants agreed that coordinated actions should be launched towards both outdoor and indoor air on the principle that it is the “same air” that affects human health. The HealthVent guidelines must be the starting point for further initiatives aimed at integrating health evidence in all existing and future policies on indoor air quality. The EU Year of Air 2013 appears as a chance for a real revision of EU policy on air pollution and the launch of a Green Paper on indoor air quality, by placing public health benefits in the centre of all initiatives. The full report of the event is available for download here. |
| 11/04/2013 | WECF: More than 30,000 signatures to ‘Stop EDCs in toys’ On 9 April Women in Europe for a Common Future in France (WECF) delivered their petition "Stop endocrine disruptors in toys" signed by more than 30,000 people, to French Health and Environment Ministers. Studies across Europe show that bisphenol A, phthalates and other endocrine disruptors are all harmful substances found in toys. WECF stresses the need to act globally to reduce the impact of EDCs on our health. The European directive on the safety of toys needs to be revised and the REACH regulations need to incorporate EDCs in their entirety. The mobilisation of citizens is continuing at national and European level as part of this campaign. At a time when France is developing its National Strategy on EDCs, WECF France is asking Health and Environment Ministers to adopt a comprehensive approach to the regulation of EDCs as a category of substances. WECF France on behalf of consumers and the 30,000 signatories ask for public information on the presence of EDCs in toys. To do this, it is necessary to better understand the use of chemicals in toys and mobilise all stakeholders involved – including regulators, manufacturers, distributors, and consumer protection associations. The toy industry must work without causing a risk to health and the environment. Photo credits: WECF France |
| 11/04/2013 | EPHA: Secretary General Monika Kosinska becomes member of the Stoiber Group Congratulations to Monika Kosinska, Secretary General of the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) who has recently become a member of the Stoiber Group. The Stoiber Group, named after its Chairman Edmund Stoiber, is a High Level Group established by the European Commission in 2007 to advise it on reducing administrative burdens linked to its legislation. This is the first time a health representative has become a member of the group and Monika Kosinska’s presence is a step in the right direction to balancing the composition of business representatives and civil society organisations in the group. The call for greater representation of civil society was brought forward by the Green10 and other stakeholders including consumer groups and trade unions last year. HEAL is a member of Green 10, which brings together ten of the largest European environmental organisations and networks, with a membership of over 20 million people. |
| 11/04/2013 | RES: French Agency releases new BPA assessment Reseau Environnement Santé (RES) has responded to the risk assessment report of bisphenol A, released by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) on 9 April. RES welcomes the report, where the institutional expertise of the Agency has in many respects changed significantly, despite pressures that were exerted on ANSES: Systematic review of all the literature instead of considering only the studies from industry (meeting good laboratory practice); Recognition of specific toxicological paradigm of endocrine disruption, with priority given to the protection of the fetus; Weight given to the process of hazard identification and assessment and recognition of the limitations of risk assessment; Therefore, interpretation of scientific uncertainty in favour of a precautionary approach rather than inaction and regulatory status quo. The risk assessment of BPA focuses on four types of pathologies including effects on brain development, effects on the mammary gland, effects on the female reproductive system, and effects on metabolism and obesity. The report includes the calculation of toxicological reference values between 5000 and 20,000 times lower that the acceptable daily intake levels (ADI) defended by EFSA – values so low that they can only be achieved by a phase out of all uses of BPA. The ANSES report clearly disqualifies EFSA’s ‘safe level’ for BPA where it maintains an ADI that does not ensure the safety of consumers and ignores modern science specific to endocrine disruption. Full reports in FR: volume 1 here – volume 2 here Opinion in EN here |
| 11/04/2013 | ISDE Austria: European Citizen´s Initiative "30kmh – making streets liveable!" The International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE) in Austria is among one of the supporters of European Citizen´s Initiative "30kmh – making streets liveable!" aiming to receive 1 million European signatures by November 2013. 30 km/h (20 mph) limits are an inexpensive and popular way to improve safety, cut pollution and encourage smarter travel choices. They lead to improved traffic flow and less congestion. People can move without fear. And so we want to achieve these benefits for the whole of the European Union. What is our vision? 30 km/h shall become the standard speed limits for villages, towns and cities with local authorities being able to decide on exemptions. Therefore, we will set the agenda for the European Commission. We want the commission to come up with a proposal to introduce 30 km/h speed limits. More information here |
| 11/04/2013 | C2DS: Promotion of ANSES´s Scientific Conferences – PNR EST Review: Environmental pollution, health impact and environmental contaminants: air and water The Committee for Sustainable Development in Healthcare (C2DS), an independent French non-profit organisation, aiming to create awareness among the key players of the healthcare sector, is helping to promote a Scientific Conference of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) on 14 April. C2DS is committed to sustainable development and promotes advantages of better practices in order to manage the environmental, human, and economical impact of its activities. Therefore this organisation is promoting the ANSES which will focus on the health risks of environmental air and water pollution and the results in two areas – air pollution and epidemiological studies and environmental air and water contamination and human exposure. ANSES's Scientific Conferences were created to present the results of research funded by the National Research Programme for Environmental and Occupational Health (PNR EST) and to provide a situation analysis of risk assessment work by the Agency on this topic. Stakeholders, international entities and individuals will participate. The programme and registration will be available online shortly. In the meantime, information on ANSES is available here |
| 11/04/2013 | IEE: Now known as One Health Sweden Infection Ecology and Epidemiology (IEE) recently changed its name to One Health Sweden on the occasion of its fourth Annual Scientific Meeting in March focused on Vision and cooperation in International One Health work on a global level. One Health Sweden remains a network for researchers from several universities and government organisations. The overall goal is to improve health for humans and animals, and to do this by stimulating interdisciplinary research and increased knowledge about One Health. The new website is www.onehealth.se The new website is www.onehealth.se The presentations and information on the Annual Scientific meeting 2013 that was held in Aronsborg are now available here |
| 14/03/2013 | EPHA: EP backs tobacco subsidies & votes on CAP unfriendly to public health The European Public Health & Agriculture Consortium (EPHAC) is disappointed by the EP’s approval of coupling subsidies to tobacco production. EPHA says tobacco cannot have a place in the 2014-2020 EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). With this move, the EP wants to inject taxpayer’s money to a toxic crop that causes nearly 700,000 annual deaths in the EU. The vote on 14 March did very little to fix all what is wrong with the EU agricultural policy and the crucial role it should play in protecting people’s health. For the full press release from EPHA click here |
| 14/03/2013 | WECF: Information guide on EDCs The recently produced information brochure Stop EDC by Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) informs citizens on how you can avoid exposure to EDCs in your daily life. Currently, there are more than 200 different known EDCs including chemicals such as BPA, Parabens and Phthalates. They are found in many products of daily life or as food contaminants and therefore they are able to enter the human body. An informed decision to consciously buy products can reduce the exposure to EDCs. Based on selected group-types of products, this guide can show where EDCs are hiding and how they can be avoided. The production of this brochure was financially supported by the German ministry for environment Download the English version here. This brochure is also available in German. |
| 14/03/2013 | C2DS: National energy debate in France Comité pour le dévelopement durable en santé (C2DS) recently asked the French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault for the creation of an energy renovation fund for hospitals in the frame of the newly announced government’s national strategic plan for hospitals, disclosed in mid-January 2013. This proposal comes within the scope of the national debate on energy turn, which should lead to a legislative debate later this year. In 2010, France already voted for a law enshrining a national commitment to the environment, known as Grenelle II, where for many articles, out of the 248 adopted, no specific federal grants are foreseen for healthcare establishments. Olivier Toma, President of the C2DS says ‘reducing energy consumption by 38%, implementing less impacting purchase policies, putting in place sustainable management of waste, improving wellness, employees’ health, the quality and security of Healthcare and improving indoor air quality, won’t be feasible without dedicated financial allocations’. C2DS hopes that its attempts won’t be vain. |
| 14/03/2013 | IEE Sweden: Prince Mahidol Award Conference 2013 - ´A World United Against Infectious Diseases: Cross-Sectoral Solutions’ From 28 January to 2 February, the Prince Mahidol Award Conference 2013 on ‘A World United Against Infectious Diseases: Cross-Sectoral Solutions’ took place, attracting more than 900 participants from 73 countries from various sectors of society – including academics, embassies, government officials, NGOs, the private sector and UN agencies. The conference was an enriching experience for all involved in the One Health Concept, including the participation of Infection, Ecology and Epidemiology (IEE). One Health is a worldwide strategy for expanding interdisciplinary collaborations and communications in all aspects of health care for humans, animals and the environment. The conference provided a great opportunity for networking with existing and new partners across different sectors. Some ways forward for One Health discussed at the conference included, considering drivers of disease emergency e.g. land use changes, climate variability, transport and trade, food systems and water safety; strategies tailored to specific needs; opportunities to strengthen regional networks; inclusion of more disciplines; a risk based approach to target investment and capacity building and; considering trust and transparency as crucial in cross-sectoral collaboration. |
| 14/03/2013 | ELF: Quarterly factsheets published on work-related lung diseases The European Lung Foundation (ELF) recently published their quarterly factsheet on work –related lung diseases which looks at some of the different types of work-related lung conditions, what can trigger them and how they can be dealt with. There are many conditions that could be caused or aggravated by materials in the work place. Each one affects the lungs in different ways and triggers different symptoms. The factsheet looks at issues including work-related asthma; allergic alveolitis; work-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); Mesothelioma (a form of cancer) and infectious diseases. Read the full factsheet here |
| 14/03/2013 | CPES: When will we see better UK water quality? As a member of the UK Priority Substances Stakeholder Group, Cancer Prevention and Education Society (CPES) recently submitted comments to the Science and technology Committee (Commons) Inquiry into Water Quality which gathers evidence as to whether or not the UK should implement the EU Water Framework Directive. CPES described how water quality is a serious environmental issue in the UK, with half of UK water treatment works releasing effluent containing priority chemicals exceeding existing or proposed EU standards. More information available here |
| 14/03/2013 | RES: Call on French government to give National Strategy on EDCs clear objectives for industry and business Following the recent publication of Late lessons from early warnings by the European Environmental Agency (EEA), Réseau Environnement Santé (RES) joined the work of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL and ChemSec to put EDCs and other hazardous substances at the heart of French health and environment policies and its national economic and industrial strategies. While the Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development presented a roadmap for the development of a national EDCs Strategy (SNPE) in February, the Minister of Industrial Recovery was more focused on the mechanisms of financial globalisation in France. The Ministry of Ecology should not become a ‘doormat’ for industrial recovery but on the contrary a driver for stimulating green research and industrial innovation said RES. |
| 14/03/2013 | EPHA and LSHTM: Preventing global non-communicable diseases through low carbon development conference The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) recently participated at the conference ‘Preventing global non-communicable diseases through low carbon development’ organised by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) which aimed to share information between those groups with an interest in non-communicable diseases (NCD) and sustainability and to identify common causes and inter-linkages. Both NCDs and climate change are enormous threats to global health but synergies attempting to tackle these health threats have received limited attention to date. EPHA identified four key areas outside the health sectors to reduce both NCDs and greenhouse gas emissions. Health co-benefits of the low-carbon economy can be achieved as a side effect of other policies, as follows: 1. Housing - clean household energy is central to improving women’s and children’s health. With energy efficient houses both climate change and public health benefits can be achieved. 2. Transport is an important area where reductions can be made to air pollution, road traffic injuries, and noise which put large burdens on human health. Safe and active transport as well as increased physical activity (e.g. walking, cycling) can avert the very large burden of disease. 3. Food and agriculture are important contributors to green-house gas emissions. Livestock are currently responsible for 80% of all CO2 emissions from the Agricultural industry. Reducing consumption of beef and sheep products could help lower emissions and improve health. 4. Electricity generation can lift populations out of poverty, but it is largely fossil fuel driven, particularly in developing countries. This can have negative impacts on health. Nuclear energy is beneficial from an emissions point of view but is controversial for security and safety reasons. |
| 14/03/2013 | Générations Futures: The APAChe investigation: Analysis of agricultural pesticide presence in hair Générations Futures and Marie-Lys Bibeyran, a viticultural employee, recently embarked on an investigation to answer the question: “Are viticultural employees who do not directly handle pesticides but work in the vineyard, and nearby residents contaminated with viticultural pesticides?’’ France remains the top pesticide user in Europe with 62,700 tons of active ingredients sold in 2011. As a result, workers as well as recreational gardeners and consumers are still exposed to active ingredients which can be endocrine disrupting chemicals, neurotoxics or possibly carcinogens. With, Vineyards represent 3.7% of the utilised agricultural area (783 000 hectares in 2011) but roughly 20% of the pesticides used in agriculture are used on vineyards, of which the majority are fungicides (80%). Between mid-October and mid-November 2012, Générations Futures and Marie-Lys Bibeyran collected hair samples from 25 people (15 viticultural employees, 10 people who are not viticultural employees among which 5 nearby residents of the vineyards and 5 “control” individuals living far away from any vineyard). The analysis of these samples was carried out by a specialised laboratory Kudzu Science to determine the presence or absence of viticultural pesticide residues. The worrying results included for example, above average pesticides residues among viticultural workers than those living far from the vineyards; 74% of authorised pesticides within vineyard from the pre-established list for the study were found at least once among tested individuals; a forbidden product Diuron found in the hair of one employee; more than 45% of the found molecules have been listed as possible carcinogens in Europe or in the U.S and; more than 36% of the found molecules were suspected to be endocrine disruptors (EDCs). |
| 14/03/2013 | Vivosano: Campaign launch on the banning of Bisphenol A in food contact material in Spain In the framework of the Hogar sin Tóxicos (Toxic Free Home) campaign, Vivosano are urgently calling on health authorities and Spanish political parties to promote the drafting of legislation to prohibit the presence of BPA in all food contact materials, regardless whether it is in food or drinks. This is in view of the precautionary principle. Bisphenol A is a chemical contaminant and hundreds of scientific investigations have been linked it with impacts on the reproductive system, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even cancer. The substance enters our body via the food. France has already adopted this decision, and further European countries are also taking the necessary steps. The European Commission has already banned BPA in baby bottles and/or other baby food packaging, hence official measures confirm the need to protect ourselves from the possible effects of this substance. Vivosano urge for the same to be adopted in Spain. Support the campaign here http://www.hogarsintoxicos.org/ |
| 14/03/2013 | IDEA and WECF: Women´s Major Group intervention on chemicals at UNEP Governing Council The Irish Doctors Environmental Association (IDEA) and Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) spoke on behalf of the Women’s Major Group at the UNEP Governing Council last month on chemicals. They highlighted that hazardous chemicals are a major concern for our health, and should become a goal area in the Sustainable Development Goals (a recent outcome of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development Rio +20). The Women’s group called on the UNEP Governing Council to put the ban of the most hazardous pesticides as an urgent priority decision on the agenda. Women can be differently affected by pesticides, for example the increase of breast-cancer worldwide is a great problem and science shows a clear link with pollutants. Women also transmit these harmful chemicals to their child during pregnancy and breastfeeding often contributing to irreversible lifelong diseases and disabilities. The women’s major group also highlighted endocrine-disruptors (EDCs) as a major concern and reiterated the importance of a recent WHO/UNEP report on the growing concerns related to potential adverse effects of anthropogenic chemicals on human and wildlife health. |
| 07/02/2013 | WECF: Toxic free gifts for Dutch parliamentarians Concerned parents reached out successfully to Dutch politicians on the use of hazardous substances in toys. A collection of green parent initiatives, supported by WECF, calling themselves Mama Green (www.mamagreen.nu) presented toxic free gifts to raise awareness of the fact that consumer products and food – intended for child consumption - still too often contain too high doses of hazardous substances or EDCs. Promises were made that questions would be asked in Parliament during ‘Question Time’. WECF would like to thank the politicians who accepted the invitation: Joel Voordewind, Carla Dik-Faber, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Pieter Heerma, Pieter Omtzigt, Liesbeth van Tongeren, Marianne Thieme, Marit Maij, Loes Ypma and Lutz Jacobi. More information available here |
| 07/02/2013 | WECF and PAN: Up to 30 different endocrine disrupting pesticides found in fruit and vegetables in the EU Up to 30 different endocrine disrupting pesticides are found in fruits and vegetables in the European Union with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and apples having on average the highest dose. European consumers will potentially be exposed to these pesticide residues with a risk of adverse health effects. This is the outcome of an analysis made by PAN-Europe based on the monitoring data of EU food safety authority, EFSA. Analysis of several food items in European countries, such as peppers, found more than 20 different ED pesticides, prompting concerns in the long-term of even more dangerous exposures as a result of mixtures – the so-called “cocktail” effects. PAN Europe has started an information campaign www.disruptingfood.info where consumers are advised to choose organic products if possible, and to start by substituting the high risk food items like lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers. |
| 07/02/2013 | IPEN – Mercury monitoring: Global mercury hotspots report A new scientific report reveals that mercury contamination regularly exceeds health advisory levels in human and fish worldwide. The report, a collaboration between IPEN and Biodiversity Research Institute BRI is the first of its kind to identify global biological mercury hotspots and it highlights the urgent need for an overall reduction in mercury emissions. The report brings together new data on mercury concentrations in fish and human hair samples and identifies a set of global biological hotspots where elevated levels of mercury are sufficient to pose serious threats to both ecosystems and human health. Public interest groups such as IPEN are concerned that current proposed treaty measures are not sufficient to prevent continued health impacts from mercury nor to reduce global levels of mercury in fish. Download the report here |
| 07/02/2013 | RES: Harmful effect of bisphenol A (BPA) shown experimentally Weak concentrations of bisphenol A are sufficient to produce a negative reaction on the human testicle. This has just been shown experimentally for the first time by René Habert and his colleagues in an article that appeared in the journal entitled PLoS One. René Habert, Inserm researcher, spoke at a conference organised by the RES about the effects of EDCs on reproductive health. During the research, he and his team found that exposure of human fetal testicles to bisphenol A reduces the production of testosterone and of another testicular hormone that is necessary to ensure that the testicles to descend during fetal development. More worryingly, a concentration equal to 2 micrograms per litre of bisphenol A in the culture medium was sufficient to produce these effects. This concentration is equal to the average concentration generally found in the blood, urine and amniotic fluid of the population. More information available here |
| 07/02/2013 | Appel de la Jeunesse: Conference on the impact of our environment on our health – EDCs On 29 January, Appel de la Jeunesse in partnership with the Association ‘Eco-Campus’ held a conference on the impact of EDCs and the environment on our health. André Cicolella, President of Réseau Environnement Santé who attended the conference highlighted the relationship between the increase of chronic diseases and our environment through the use of EDCs. Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes, obesity, chronic respiratory diseases, and hypersensitivity, are long-term illnesses and the leading cause of deaths worldwide despite the fact that nearly 80% of them are preventable. Discussions followed on the lasting political, economic and social consequences of EDCs for public health. More information available here |
| 07/02/2013 | EPHA hosts conference on tackling health inequalities through investing in housing On January 22, EPHA and the European Federation of Public, Cooperative and Social Housing held a conference with the European Parliament’s Urban Intergroup on how to tackle health inequalities through investing in housing. “More than 100 million people in the EU are deprived of proper and decent housing, which is, as the WHO recognises, a source of illness.'' said Karima Delli MEP (France, Greens/EFA), Vice-President of the EP URBAN Intergroup. The European Child Safety Alliance presented the 2012 child safety report cards as a case study on how national legislation related to housing can reduce home injuries to children. EPHA and CECODHAS Housing Europe called on the EU to urge Member States to renew public support to affordable housing and to reinforce the cooperation between public health and affordable housing sector. They called on EU ministers and member states to propose alternative definitions of public deficits in order to reward future investment in public health and housing. More information here |
| 07/02/2013 | AWHHE: "Safe Toys For Our Children" The project “Toxic Metals in Children’s Products” took place in six countries of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia with the participation of IPEN, “Eco-Accord” NGO, Global Green Grants Foundation (GGF), and GRID - Arendal. As part of the project, large-scale testing was conducted on six toxic elements (lead, mercury, cadmium, antimony, arsenic, chromium) in products for children purchased randomly in shops and markets of Moscow, Volgograd, Sochi, Kolomna, Minsk, Yerevan, Almaty, Bishkek and Kiev. The results sparked concern. Out of 569 products, 164 samples (29%) contained at least one toxic metal of the six identified, with lead as the most common problem. Most of the toys containing toxic metals were manufactured in China. The results were discussed in December 2012 at a conference organised by AWHHE “Heavy metals in child toys; National and regional policy issues on chemical security in products designed for children”. More information here |
| 11/12/2012 | A new French authority to protect whistle-blowers and strengthen the ethics of scientific expertise by RES On 21 November 2012, the French Senate adopted the bill for establishing the National Commission of Ethics and Alerts in the domain of health and the environment. It is a first step towards the protection of whistle-blowers and the strengthening of the ethics of expertise. This law builds on the work of the French NGOs “Fondation Sciences Citoyennes” (Civic Science Foundation), “Réseau Environnement Santé” (RES - Environmental and Health Network) and their partners. Many recent health scandals such as “Médiator”, BPA, GMOs or the PIP breast implants demonstrate the usefulness of such a Commission. This Commission has two main objectives: An "alert and expertise" provision that will act as an outside arbitration on questions of ethics, conflicts of interest and expertise. A protection provision for whistle-blowers. All these measures will permit better protection for the whistle-blower’s status and better supervision of expertise. Read more here (in French) |
| 11/12/2012 | False alarms or missed hazards: How should regulators define “endocrine disruptor”? by CPES EDC regulation will set up a screening system for chemicals much like an airport body scanner The scanner can be made very sensitive, which although produces a lot of false alarms, it does capture a larger proportion of hazardous chemicals. Alternatively, the scanner can be calibrated to pick up only the chemicals we are certain are EDCs – but in this case a greater number of hazardous chemicals will escape the regulatory net. In order to have a strong regulatory net we need a definition for EDCs. Regulations need definitions because it has to be absolutely clear which objects and activities fall within the bounds of a particular set of laws, and which do not. How these boundaries are drawn is often fiercely debated, and agreeing on the correct regulatory definition of EDCs is no exception. Find out more about the opportunities, obstacles and sensitivities of setting a definition for EDCs Please consult this guide from our recently-launched website to access important open-access papers, primary literature introducing topics central to our understanding of how chemicals can affect health. |
| 11/12/2012 | ECSA highlights connection between poverty and Child Injury at EPHA event On 4 December2012, MEPs Jean Lambert, Marian Harkin, Edit Bauer, and Slyvana Rapti hosted EU policy makers and stakeholders at a day- long seminar in the European Parliament, Brussels, organised by the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA). Participants discussed discuss the need for a multi-faceted approach to resolving the child poverty-health connection at an EU level. The event, chaired by Monika Kosinska, Secretary General of EPHA involved experts from a range of child health and poverty institutions who were invited to speak about this issue, emphasising the far reaching impact of poverty on child health. Poverty and health are deeply entwined, with poverty being the most significant indicator of a child´s health prospects. Poor health, in turn, can prevent children from rising out of poverty as their prospects for education and work are reduced. However, the negative impacts can be mitigated through policies aimed at helping these high risk citizens. Injuries, which are the leading cause of death and disability for children in every Member State in Europe, are an example of a health issue where action is needed. Children from low income communities suffer injuries at a much greater rate than children in affluent communities, and this pattern is found for all of the frequent causes of unintentional injury. Factors including poor road or housing conditions and unsafe play areas are all causes of higher unintentional injury rates in low income communities. Intentional injury rates are also higher in low income communities, where greater economic pressure on families and alcohol and drug misuse contribute to an increased likelihood of child abuse, neglect, suicide and homicide. In her presentation at the event, Joanne Vincenten, Director of the European Child Safety Alliance, shared that some of the steepest social gradients in mortality in the EU occur from injury, and that up to a nine fold difference in injury rates can be found between children from low income and high income communities in the same country. She stated, “The impact of poverty on children’s right to safety is enormous. The inequalities that exist for child injury are for the most part preventable and therefore avoidable; as such they are unfair, unjust and lead to inequity.Historically investment in child injury prevention from relevant sectors at the local, national and European levels has not been commensurate with the size of the problem. Increased investment is necessary to ensure children’s rights to health and safety.” Seminar participants devoted the afternoon to discussing how EU institutions can best tackle the issues of poverty, inequality and health, including debating priorities to be included in proposals for a European Parliament report on Children´s Health, a Commission-initiated EU-wide strategy on Children´s Health, and a Commission and Member States Joint Action on Children´s Health. Click here for more information on the conference. |
| 11/12/2012 | How EFSA can prepare itself for the challenges of tomorrow by CPES CPES recently supported a working paper outlining a series of risk assessment reforms which would improve how the EFSA handles science in determining food safety. We believe that there are a lot of things which EFSA can do to make sure in future it maintains – and even develops – its credibility and expertise. We propose the following steps: 1. Commit to transparency and reproducibility in risk assessments Objectivity in science can only be delivered by transparency and reproducibility. With the proper methodologies in place, the identity, interests and biases of an individual or group who carries out assessment work become less important. The most important factor instead becomes whether the methodology was followed correctly. If it was, then in theory the same verdict should be reached, whoever carries out the assessment. Therefore we would like to see explicit guidelines for the conduct of EFSA scientific reviews, opinions and risk assessments 2. Broaden its base of scientific expertise EFSA expert panels have come under criticism for having too narrow a range of expertise. At a minimum, the following types of experts should be actively sought out and invited to serve on EFSA expert panels assessing human health risks: embryologists, endocrinologists, neurologists, neurodevelopment specialists, reproductive biologists, human geneticists, paediatricians and other clinicians and epidemiologists. Read here a detailed overview of these steps. |
| 11/12/2012 | Chair of Breast Cancer UK shortlisted for prestigious award Clare Dimmer, chair of Breast Cancer UK, was one of five women shortlisted for the Daily Mail’s Inspirational Women of the Year Awards. The awards, now in their sixth year, aim to pay tribute to women whose achievements deserve to be recognised. Clare is a breast cancer survivor and founded Breast Cancer UK, the only UK-wide charity dedicated to preventing breast cancer. She met the UK prime minister’s wife, Samantha Cameron, before heading off to the awards ceremony. The HEAL secretariat are constantly inspired by the work carried out by Clare and her organisation, Breast Cancer UK. In 2005, HEAL supported their campaign and publication, Breast Cancer - an environmental disease, the case for prevention which demanded an urgent shake-up of cancer policy. In 2010, a letter coordinated by Breast Cancer UK from scientists calling for action on BPA created major waves and contributed to the subsequent EU ban on BPA in plastic baby bottles. HEAL also supported this initiative to ensure it effectively reached key players and the media at the EU level. Most recently, the organisation has achieved quality UK media coverage with a petition to rid food packaging materials of BPA. The HEAL secretariat warmly congratulates Clare for this well-deserved award and her continued environmental health advocacy at home and in Europe. Clare Dimmer, chair of Breast Cancer UK at the event (left) and on the doorstep of No 10 Downing Street with other nominees (right). |
| 11/12/2012 | Help make BPA a thing of the past by signing the petition by Breast Cancer UK Breast cancer rates in England have risen by 90% since 1971. Breast Cancer UK believes that this increase cannot be attributed to lifestyle or genetic factors alone. Environmental factors such as various chemicals play an important role. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a known EDC, an oestrogen mimic and has been linked to changes in the breast and mammary glands which predispose the body to develop breast cancer later in life. Despite this, BPA continues to be used in a wide range of everyday products including food and drink packaging. It is ubiquitous in the environment and in people and numerous studies indicate that over 95% of us have BPA in our bodies. Scientists agree that an important route of exposure to BPA is through diet and it is clear that the BPA used in food and drink contact products is leaching out of the packaging or container and into the food and drink we consume on a daily basis. Increasingly, scientific data suggests that even low level exposure to BPA may have adverse health effects. The UK Government must take action now to reduce the massive financial and human cost of cancer by calling on the EU to introduce a ban on the use of BPA in all food and drink applications and to substitute it with safer alternatives. Sign the petition demanding to ban the use of BisphenolA (BPA) in all food and drink packaging here |
| 11/12/2012 | Sign the European Citizens’ Initiative: Water and sanitation are a human right by EPHA All citizens need clean drinking water and quality sanitation. The European Public Health Alliance is (EPHA0 is encouraging signatures to this petition which calls on the EU to guarantee these human rights through the promotion of water supply and sanitation which are essential public services for all. These rights must be implemented. The EU should set binding targets for all Member States to achieve 100% coverage in Europe. EPHA believes European leaders should make a bigger effort towards achieving universal access to water and sanitation outside the EU. Millions of people are still deprived of these services. Our goals: Guaranteed water and sanitation for all in Europe. No liberalisation of water services. Universal (Global) access to water and sanitation. This campaign acts as a tool to commit to the universal human right of water and sanitation. It aims at changing the mind-set in the European Commission from a market-based approach with the focus on competition to a rights-based approach with the focus on public service. It hopes to achieve universal (global) access to water and sanitation and to safeguard the limited public water resources for future generations. Click here to sign on to the campaign. |
| 11/12/2012 | A generation of guinea pigs, no thanks! by Collectif Appel de la Jeunesse Collectif Appel de la Jeunesse, a French non-profit NGO, is calling on citizens to support their campaign calls to take action. They demand more transparency on the actual health effects of GMOs and the application of the precautionary principle. The action was partially triggered by the lack of sufficient independent long-term scientific studies on GMOs assessing the health risks of consumption by humans and the recent scientific results on the long-term toxic effects of GM maize NK603 and Roundup. Visit their website (FR) to find out more about this call for action or to sign up to the petition if you don’t wish to be a guinea pig of the chemical industry! |
| 11/12/2012 | French Parliament follows the road towards BPA-and EDCs-free products by RES In November 2012, the French Parliament approved a law banning Bisphenol A (BPA) from all food contact materials in 2015, and as from 1 January 2013 for those intended for 0 to 3 years old. French MPs seized the opportunity of the vote on BPA, unanimously supported, favouring provisions to ban certain EDCs identified by the European Community Regulation on chemicals and their safe use (REACH), improve classification, labelling and packaging regulations from use in medical devices for pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants, as well as for parental nutrition materials, tubes being used in neonatology departments and maternities containing DEHP (in a later stage, an assessment is required for extension to DBP and BBP). The resulting set of measures on EDCs therefore gains coherence. When implemented, these provisions will place France at the same level of other EU Member States such as Denmark or Sweden, which do not wait for EU-wide actions to be taken before implementing precautionary actions preventing EDCs exposures. Although the National Assembly and the Senate voted unanimously to ban BPA from food contact materials, the regulatory process has been delayed and is under pressure from industry. The Senate has postponed the deadline of 18 months. During the 2nd reading, the Parliament reduced this delay to 6 months. Instead of 1 January 2014, our utensils and food would be rid of BPA as of 1 January 2015 - this last deadline still requires approval by the Senate on Thursday 13 December 2012. RES and its allies are still trying to get the 2014 deadline re-established. Please help us by signing the petition. The text to be discussed (as voted by Parliament on 28 November 2012). |
| 11/12/2012 | From science to policy – Fifth annual conference of the Environment and Health Fund (EHF) The EHF is an NGO with a mandate to enhance capacity and capabilities in the field of environmental health in Israel. EHF’s goals are to broaden the scope and expertise of academic research, to improve training in environmental health, and to forge a community of interdisciplinary environmental health researchers. EHF seeks to improve expertise within government and the ability to develop evidence-based policies in response to environmental health challenges, along with improved coordination and cooperation among government ministries. EHF also works to raise awareness, disseminate accurate, objective information, and promote wider professional and public interest in, and knowledge of current issues of environmental health. EHF’s Annual Conference is to be held in Jaffa (near Tel Aviv) on Monday, 31 December 2012. The oral presentations and the posters will highlight the latest Israeli research, while the general aims of the conference focus on bridging the gap between science and policy. Keynote speakers include Prof. Jonathan Samet from the University of Southern California and Prof. Andrea Gore from the University of Texas, Austin. The conference will be held in English and for scientists from overseas who wish to attend the conference, registration fees will be waived. Click here if you want to consult the conference program. |
| 11/12/2012 | Economic policies must address the real impact of crisis on people living in Europe by EPHA The 3rd Annual Growth Survey (AGS), which sets out what the European Commission believes must be the EU’s priorities for the coming 12 months in terms of economic, budgetary policies and reforms to boost growth and employment, was released on 28 November 2012.The EPHA welcomes the survey as it recommends moving away from austerity policies which are difficult for European populations and economies, and places an emphasis on poverty reduction and investment in youth. However, EPHA urges more efforts to further invest in health and social services, promote equality, and achieve sustainable development and fair taxation. EPHA encourages the Council of the EU and the European Commission to engage civil society and other health actors to ensure initiatives Develop guidelines so that budget consolidation does not remove our ability to recover from the crisis by negatively impact on social protection and health systems, and is consistent with social objectives such as affordability and availability of quality services and educational achievement of disadvantaged groups; Create jobs in the health, social and care sector to put Europe on the right path to sustainable development; Improve accessibility and prioritise prevention in health system reform; Introduce measures that reduce poverty and social exclusion, and not only mitigate their effects; Take bolder action fight against tax havens, corruption and tax fraud; Implement a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT) in all EU countries who have agreed to move forward with this. Read more here. The Annual Growth Survey 2013 presented on 28 November 2012. |
| 11/12/2012 | “In small print”, a new documentary on endocrine disruptors by the Vivosano Foundation The Vivosano Foundation is currently working on a documentary on endocrine disruptors called “In small print” which touches base on several different aspects of endocrine disruptors. The documentary explains what hormone disruptors are, how they can affect us, where you find them and discusses alternatives as to inform us about the dangers to our daily exposure to chemicals. It features prominent researchers, medical doctors, scientists, NGOs and political representatives who share their expertise bringing forward the compelling evidence on EDCs. Although the full documentary is scheduled to be released in early 2013 in Spanish and English we highly recommend you watch the trailer of the documentary below. More information on the documentary, on related developments and on EDCs can be found here. |
| 09/10/2012 | WECF France: Endocrine disruptors: Threat to women’s health WECF has launched a report in French called Menace sur la santé des femmes. The report explains what hormone disruptors are and how these chemicals affect women’s reproductive systems - particularly at critical stages of development. It highlights key scientific research regarding contaminants linked to conditions including early puberty, infertility, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, breast cancer and others. The launch of the report coincided with the decision of the international community to finally recognize the potential impacts of endocrine disrupting chemicals on health and the need to protect vulnerable groups. This recognition underlines once more the importance of increasing awareness among the general public, policy makers and stakeholders. This report is based on the 2008 report Girl, Disrupted: Hormone Disruptors and Women's Reproductive Health released by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (the Fertility/ Reproductive Health working group). The US report was previously translated into German by WECF Germany. More information: Press release: http://www.wecf.eu/francais/actualites/2012/CPMenaceoct2012.php German version of the report: http://www.wecf.eu/german/publikationen/endokrine-disruptoren.php |
| 09/10/2012 | RES: French environment discussion brings disappointment The recent French Environment Round Table with civil society brought nothing new. Endocrine disrupting chemicals have been a burning topic in France during the past three years in part as a result of the work of HEAL member, Reseau Environnement Sante (RES). But although President Hollande acknowledged the link between endocrine disruptors and the rise of chronic diseases in his opening speech, the roundtable specifically dedicated to environmental health and chaired by the health minister and the research minister could only agree on: “confirming governmental support to the pending ban on BPA in food containers”. The proposed law to ban BPA in food containers was co-authored by Ms Marisol Touraine, Minister of Health and M Jean-Marc Ayrault, Prime Minister. Although RES raised other issues, this was the only one to be accepted. RES had also called for an emissions reduction plan on fine particles. The Health Watch Institute has alerted officials to high concentrations of PM2.5 in Marseille atmosphere, which reduces the life expectancy of an average 30 year old by an average of 7 ½ months. Nor was there any follow up announced on former President Sarkozy’s commitments at the first roundtable “Grenelle”, such as the 50% reduction target in pesticide use. |
| 09/10/2012 | CPES: Regulatory challenges presented by endocrine disruptors Following participation in the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Low-Dose Effects conference in Berlin, the Cancer Prevention and Education Society (CPES) published an analysis on the regulation of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). It says that to have any hope of sensibly regulating in a scientifically-credible way, endocrinology should guide the development of testing strategies to identify EDCs and to evaluate the risk they pose to health. CPES published its commentary in the monthly e-publication Health & Environment. Learn more here |
| 09/10/2012 | PIN for Health opens a Centre for Rural Health in Croatia The Partnership-Information-Networking for Health (PIN for Health) is proud to announce the opening of the Centre for Rural Health in Sisak-Moslavina County, Croatia. After two years of research revealing the significant health problems that exist in rural areas, the Centre’s mission is to develop educational materials and methodologies for a network of professionals to help improve health and the quality of life of people in rural Croatia. Concepts, the programme and projects addressing rural health were presented at the launch. The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the Minister of Health, the Public Health Institute of the Sisak-Moslavina County, the director of the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance and other distinguished guests. Students from the School of Medicine at University of Zagreb presented their survey results of the past two years, which pointed to the prevalence of chronic, non-communicable diseases, especially hypertension and diabetes. A professor of the Faculty of the Veterinary Medicine pointed to the hazards of zoonoses to residents of rural areas. Photo 1 - Aleksandar Džakula, PhD, vice-president of the NGO PIN for Health, presented the mission of the Centre, gave a keynote speech and moderated the discussion. Photo 2 - Assistant Minister of Health and adviser for strategic planning, Director of the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance, representatives of the Public Health Institute of the Sisak-Moslavina County, representative of the Faculty of the Veterinary Medicine and other distinguished guests at the opening. |
| 09/10/2012 | Malta’s ABCF organises “Walk for Life” The Action for Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF) is delighted with the outcome of its third “Pinktober Walk for Life” held on Sunday 16 September 2012. It was another well-attended and successful event which raised €1,719.00 in donations. Helen Muscat, Chairperson of Action for Breast Cancer Foundation addressed the participants and briefly emphasised how helpful the walk was in raising awareness on breast cancer. ABCF also announced that on 14 October a Cycling Charity Ride is taking place by a group called South Cranks with the assistance of ABCF. The aim is to raise awareness among healthy women and honour those who have battled, or are still battling cancer. |
| 09/10/2012 | IEE event on preventing antibiotic resistance The Infection Ecology and Epidemiology Network (IEE) is holding a large national event in Uppsala, Sweden on 25 October. Aimed at policy makers, researchers and the interested public, the event will highlight the need for researchers in human and veterinary medicine to collaborate with ecologists in order to understand how infectious agents function and how antibiotic resistance is developed. The event is being arranged through the One Health campaign from the Uppsala University, National Veterinary Institute and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The One Health concept is a worldwide strategy for expanding interdisciplinary collaboration, policies and communications in all aspects of health care for humans, animals and the environment. Animals, both wild and domestic, and humans to a large extent share the same infections, viral, parasitic and bacterial, including antibiotic resistance. Vectors, like mosquitoes and ticks, often participate in the spread of infection and there is a continuous interaction between species. At the event, a thematic publication on One Health will be launched and distributed. Click here for more information |
| 09/10/2012 | Breast Cancer UK to re-launch ‘No more BPA’ campaign In 2010, Breast Cancer UK (BCUK) 'No More BPA' campaign helped to secure an EU wide ban on bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles, serving to protect babies from ingesting this endocrine disrupting chemical with their milk. However, BPA is still used in a wide range of products including tin cans and plastic tableware and is leaching into the food we consume on a daily basis. BPA mimics oestrogen and has been linked with an increased risk of breast cancer. Exposure to BPA has also been linked with other diseases such as prostate cancer, obesity and diabetes. In the next few weeks BCUK will therefore be re-launching their campaign calling for the ban to be extended to all food and drink materials. If you would like to add your organisation's support to BCUK's campaign then please contact BCUK's Campaign Manager, Lynn Ladbrook at lynn.ladbrook@breastcanceruk.org.uk. More info at: www.breastcanceruk.org.uk |
| 09/10/2012 | C2DS calls for an energy efficiency fund in France HEAL member C2DS believes an energy efficiency fund for healthcare establishments should be funded from the 6 billion Euros that French Health Minister, Marisol Touraine has dedicated to hospital infrastructure investments in France. C2DS estimates that the hospital sector will have to invest about 30 billion Euros in the next few years if they are to meet new challenges in energy efficiency and avoid constantly raising energy costs. Such a fund would allow a whole sector to start reorienting toward energy efficiency. |
| 09/10/2012 | Vivo Sano raises awareness on emerging diseases HEAL member Vivo Sano is partnering with Bufete Almodóvar & Jara to hold a health workshop in Madrid (27 October) to raise awareness of emerging diseases and healthy lifestyles, the rational use of medicines and health services, and the best ways to care for our health and to make viable our health systems. The aim is to inform and educate the public about habits and unhealthy lifestyles and offer alternatives for maintaining a healthier lifestyle. Learn more here (in Spanish) |
| 09/10/2012 | EPHA criticises unchecked influence of big business in Brussels The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) is critical of new terms aimed at scaremongering on EU regulation. The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and Business Europe are holding a seminar on the role of the European Parliament (EP) in assessing the costs and benefits of regulation. EPHA says that terms such as ‘smart regulation’ and ‘competitiveness proofing’ are being used as euphemisms to exploit the fears around the current economic climate. The aim is to persuade regulators that deregulation and, above-all, pursuit of profit are the only solutions for economic recovery. In a global market, where Europe’s high quality goods and services are often seen as a competitive advantage, this mistaken rhetoric is not only false but potentially disastrous. EPHA believes that it is exactly this irresponsible approach to regulation – particularly in the banking sector – that contributed to the very real economic and human crisis facing many Europeans. Smart regulation must mean regulation that fits public policy needs in the appropriate regulatory manner. It must not be used to achieve ideological objectives in the name of competitiveness. If EU policy-makers are serious about making it right, they must reshape the way in which Impact Assessments operate today. Economic factors are crucially important but they must be understood as symbiotically linked with environmental, social and public health considerations. Read more … |
| 06/09/2012 | Fundacion Vivo sano : Spanish survey on consumer perceptions around chemicals and health The Health Defense Organisation/Fundacion Vivo Sano launched a survey on July 11 to assess the general knowledge about the health effects of chemicals. Survey respondents were asked whether they all agree or disagree with a number of statements on how chemicals may be affecting human health. The survey results show participants were aware of the ways in which some chemicals may be harmful to health, but strongly disagreed with a statement that current legislation is protective enough. Survey participants strongly agreed with the statement that “Some man-made chemicals can disrupt the hormone system”. View full results here. |
| 05/09/2012 | ELF: New study shows exposure to common toxic substances could increase asthma symptoms Children who are exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which were commonly used in a range of industrial products, could be at risk of an increase in asthma symptoms, according to new research by the European Lung Foundation (ELF). The study will be presented in a poster discussion this week (Sunday 2 September 2012) was presented at a poster session on 2 September at the European Respiratory Society's Annual Congress in Vienna. PCBs were regularly used between 1930s and 1970s in a range of electrical equipment, lubricants and paint additives. They were eventually phased out due to the harm they were causing to the environment and animals. Although they are not widely used now, the toxic substance does not break down easily. It can be transported in water and air and it can exist in the environment, particularly at waste sites, for a number of years. Researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia examined 240 children to assess the impact PCBs are having on asthma symptoms. They measured the levels of PCBs found in their blood, along with three pesticides, and also assessed prevalence of wheeze, a common symptom of asthma. The results found that overall, those with higher levels of PCBs were more likely to report wheeze (odds ratio 1.61). The findings also suggest that the link between PCBs and wheeze was stronger in non-atopic (non-allergic) asthma. Lead author, Professor Sly, from the University of Queensland, said: "Despite PCBs being banned from use in many countries, people are still suffering from the effects of these toxic substances. Our findings suggest that people with high levels of the chemicals in their blood stream are suffering from higher levels of wheeze, a common asthma symptom. "This could be due to high concentration levels being passed from a mother to a baby while in the womb, or PCBs may be ingested if a person consumes contaminated food. They could also be inhaled from contaminated hazardous waste sites." Adapted from European Lung Foundation Media Advisory, 3 Septemeber 2012. See www.european-lung-foundation.org. |
| 05/09/2012 | C2DS Guideline “Better Practices, Guideline for the Health Sector” The French Comité pour le Développement Durable en Santé (C2DS) will release its Guideline “Better Practices, Guideline for the Health Sector”, a collection of valuable practices related to sustainable development in hospitals in Europe and North America during CleanMed in Malmö on 26-28 September 2012. It will be distributed afterwards in UK, Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, USA and Canada with the help of C2DS partner organisations. This guide has already been edited in French (3rd revised edition in 2012). The C2DS has strived to meet the challenge to put in the limelight major actors, who are authentically and truly committed in sustainable issues: hospital managers, quality managers, buyers and other stakeholders. The result is a unique collection of audacious examples of good practices, which we hope will motivate those who today are less engaged in a sustainable development process. If interested to join their network or to be a distribution partner of the Guideline contact: Rachel BILLOD-MULALIC, International relations (rachel.billod-mulalic@c2ds.eu/ + 33 6 47 01 73 61 / + 49 30 450 86 43 12) |
| 05/09/2012 | EPHA position on the European Commission’s 7th Environment Action Programme In June 2012 EPHA took part in the European Commission public consultation on the 7th Environment Action Programme (EAP), to operate from July 2012. In its position statement EPHA emphasized that health and equity-promoting physical and social environments are important determinants of health. It is also important to tackle overconsumption and inequalities in access and distribution of resources considered as public goods. The long-term vision for Europe’s environment and the priority objectives to be achieved by 2020 needs to foster health and equity-promoting physical and social environments and as such should be sufficiently recognized in Europe’s vision for environment. Consultation-contained listed strategies show a skewed focus on the supply side and little has it to do with the demand side. For more information see the visit http://epha.org/a/5269 and read the 2012 EPHA Policy Position on the EU environment policy priorities for 2020: Towards the 7th Environment Action Programme (EAP). |
| 05/09/2012 | Malta Health Network & EPHA present «A taste of Europe: Introducing EU Health policy and how civil society can advocate for better health at EU level» On the 11 September, the Malta Health Network and the European Public Health Alliance organize a half-a-day capacity building seminar aimed to give participants a taste of what the European Union does, how it works, what ’advocacy’ means in practice and how Maltese organizations can take part. The event is free of charge but participants have to book in advance. For more information contact Tereska Van Den Abeele, at EPHA (t.van-den-abeele@epha.org, or 00322 233 38 73). |
| 05/09/2012 | PAN Europe publishes new report on the derogations of illegal pesticides granted by EU MS A new report on the derogations of illegal pesticides granted by EU MS has just been released by PAN Europe. It shows France, Portugal and Greece are again the main users of derogations and discussess the use of unauthorised pesticides increases risks for human health as well as the environment, while the justification for its use is absent and very questionable. PAN-Europe urges Commissioner Dalli to restrict utilization to the absolute minimum by forcing member states to use existing alternatives and make the derogation system fully transparent. For more information see: www.pan-europe.info/News/PR/120711.html |
| 05/09/2012 | EFA event at the European Parliament "May Contain/Contains - Food Allergen Labelling" The adoption of the new EU Regulation on the provision of food information to consumers by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU was welcomed by HEAL member European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients Associations (EFA) as a positive step to enhance the protection of the health of people with allergies. Clear and understandable food information helps consumers make better-informed choices and safe use of food, important for people with food allergy or intolerance or with special dietary requirements because some wrong choices may make them ill or even be threatening for their lives. As such, EFA is organising an event in cooperation with the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) which will focus on: mandatory labelling of allergen, underlining the crucial step forward and the room for improvement; and “precautionary labelling”. To register email roberta.savli@efanet.org. |
| 09/07/2012 | ISDE, IDEA: Statement on Electromagnetic [radio frequency] Radiation [EMR] and Health Risks International Society of Doctors for the environment (ISDE) and Irish Doctors’ Environmental Association (IDEA) state that there is sufficient scientific evidence to warrant more stringent controls on the level and distribution of electromagnetic radiation [EMR]. The joint statement and recommendations are part of a call by medical and scientific experts for safe technologies in schools. The report aims to inform schools, Governing Bodies, Academy Trusts, School Boards, Education Authorities, teachers and parents of the professional, medical and scientific concerns about children using wireless technologies in schools. The information can be used to implement safe school policies, practices and guidance in order to safeguard the health and development of children and young people and to aid cognitive abilities, learning and achievement. Download the report at: http://wifiinschools.org.uk/resources/safeschools2012.pdf |
| 09/07/2012 | C2DS: Guides on Sustainable development and better practice in healthcare Comité pour le Développement Durable en Santé (C2DS) firmly believes in sustainable development and intend to convince the public by setting an example and conveying their urge to take action. Since 2009, they have published numerous guides on better practices and continue to update them each year. Their guides give numerous examples, ideas and actions which can be used to produce significant results around the world. The themes developed in their guides focus on sustainable management, eco-construction, greenhouse gas effect, responsible purchasing, waste management, and health education. As for their 2012 and 3rd edition of their most recent guide, it has just been published in French. This guide focuses on international experiences from countries around the world. It will be available in English in September 2012 at the cost of 50€. For more information contact rachel.billod-mulalic@c2ds.eu or visit http://c2ds.eu/page.php?id=25. |
| 09/07/2012 | EPHA: MEPs lead urgent plea from health community to prevent health crisis in Europe For the first time 9 MEPs and 65 leading civil society organisations, health organisations, and trade unions joined in an open letter ahead of the European Summit, calling on European leaders to stop indiscriminately cutting essential health and social protection that helps people living in Europe cope with the dire impact of a financial crisis. The coalition is being led by HEAL member European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) whose recent briefing notes summarise the evidence in rising suicides, mental health problems, rates of infectious disease. Addressed to the European Summit, the coalition recalls that cutting spending on health, particularly in primary care and early intervention, is a false economy and this threatens the fundamentals right of access to care. The coalition calls for courageous leadership from Heads of States and Government to take action on prioritising and championing the health of people, not sacrificing health for short term financial gains. Read more in EPHA’s press release at www.epha.org/a/5227 and in EPHA’s briefing notes at www.epha.org/a/5192. |
| 09/07/2012 | RES: Video on Pthalates’ Symposium now available Réseau Environnement Santé (RES) is pleased to present the videotaken from the symposium held at the National Assembly on 10 April 2012 entitled ‘Phthalates - Hold up on fertility!’ which discussed the scientific research to action on phthalates and endocrine disruptors. The conference, as the video shows, discussed such matters as: Where are phthalates found? What are endocrine disrupters? What impact do they have on our health? What legislation on them is desirable? All the answers to these questions are in this video (in French and soon in English) at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaNK7jj-3h4. Learn more at: http://reseau-environnement-sante.fr/2012/04/10/actions-en-cours/conference-10-avril-2012-hold-up-sur-la-fertilite-sur-la-fertilite/ |
| 09/07/2012 | PAN Europe: Conflicts of interest still evident on new ESFA expert panels Pesticides Action Network Europe (PAN Europe), Corporate Europe Observatory, and Earth Open Source recently examined the Declarations of Interest (DOIs) of four of the eight new European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) expert panels, as well as their Scientific Committee. The analysis has raised questions about the effectiveness of EFSA’s new rules on conflicts of interest. A first look at the Declarations of Interest shows that while some members with conflicts are no longer on the panels, the new rules do not appear to ban all conflicts of interest. This first screening of the new panels suggests that while improvements have been made, the current rules still leave considerable space for panel members to retain close industry affiliations. The new rules should be further strengthened to effectively ban industry influence. The EFSA founding regulation must also be revised to this end. Learn more at: http://www.pan-europe.info/News/PR/120626.html |
| 09/07/2012 | RES: Congratulations to BPA researchers RES welcomes the awarding of the prestigious Jacob Heskel Gabbay Prize to scientists Ana Soto and Carlos Sonnenschein. They are awarded for their work that led to the identification of the cellular effects of Bisphenol A and the alert they gave to the commercial sector to prevent its further use. This award recognizes innovative work in biotechnology and medicine with a strong societal impact. More details at: http://reseau-environnement-sante.fr |
| 09/07/2012 | IDEA: Disappointment on Rio+20 outcomes Juliet Duff, Chairperson of Irish Doctors’ Environmental Association(IDEA) took part in the RIO+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. For Juliet, the level of ambition of the outcome document “The Future we want” is too low: The declaration is an agreed wish list with no teeth as the majority of paragraphs begin with ‘we acknowledge, recognize, urge to adopt, express deep concern, commit to assist, are convinced, call for, underscore, stress the importance …etc.’ and there are no clear commitments nor strong implementation strategies. Juliet also voiced her concerns on the agreements in the texts on public private partnerships (art. 69), the watering down of the right and universal access to food (art. 108), or for not including ecology and human rights in regards to the effects of mining (art. 230). The feeling Duff felt amid civil society groups was that the health and well-being of humans, communities and nature wasn’t the central issue like it should have been, instead it was the economy which only propagates the old model of business above human and environmental health along with well being. That all told, Duff reported these groups did gain strides in even greater mobilization and networking amongst each other. Download the Rio+ declaration ‘The Future We Want’ here. |
| 09/07/2012 | RES: New French policy on Dental mercury Member organisation Reseau Environnement Sante reports that the French authorities have decided not to oppose the barring of mercury amalgams in the treatment of dental caries, given the environmental questions and the emerging questions related to multiple sources of exposure and low doses. France is third in Europe for its use of dental mercury. The ministers of Health and Environment have finally broken with the position of the French National Agency for the Safety of Health Products (AFSSAPS, now renamed ANSM). RES and particularly its member Non Au Mercure Dentaire (No to Dental Mercury) has been working on this issue for a long time. They note that other harmful materials currently used in dental treatments include bisphenol A; phthalates or chrome-cobalt. RES emphasizes that it will be important to assist the French dentists, who have been insufficiently trained in the use of alternative materials. They also insist that people suffering from toxicity due to amalgams obtain recognition and adequate support, including social security coverage of detoxification treatment. Further, RES calls for prohibition of any harmful substance for use in medical devices (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, Reprotoxic, immunotoxic, endocrine disruptor, neurotoxic or persistant, bioaccumulative and toxic); and the establishment of a market authorisation process for medical devices like for medicines. |
| 09/07/2012 | GF: Concerns about France’s increased pesticides use Generations Futures (GF) is alarmed by the increase in the French pesticide market. In 2011, in terms of volume, an extra 1.3% of pesticides were used, while in value an additional 5% was made on its sales for a total of nearly 1.9 billion euros. GF thinks the reason for the increase are lack of political will to push for change in agricultural practices, problems with the Permanent Assembly of Chambers of Agriculture (APCA), and the failure to properly plan and implement the Ecophyto programme. With herbicide sales also rising by 17%, GF thinks more environmentally safe alternative techniques need to be used as opposed to current and potentially very dangerous products. France is not only the biggest agricultural country in Europe, it is also number one for pesticide use. Francois Veillerette, spokesperson for Future Generations, says: " Under the French Environmental plan pesticide use is supposed to be halved by 2018. We are relying on the new Government to take the necessary measures in the coming months to bring the heart of its policy of protecting health and the environment and promotion of alternative systems to respect our rights and the planet." |
| 09/07/2012 | EFA: patients’ perspective on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and its link to energy efficiency In a recent conference entitled Energy Efficient Buildings – Healthy People HEAL member European Federation of Allergy & Airways Diseases Patients Associations (EFA) was invited to present on patients’ perspective. The aim was to link the need for energy efficient buildings and the need to ensure good indoor air quality (IAQ) for European citizens. Linking the two policies would mean climate change gets addressed and citizens' quality of life would be improved. Roberta Savli of EFA highlighted that although some progress has been made at EU level regarding IAQ, because it is a cross-cutting issue it requires more consideration in a variety of EU policies. Adopting a strategic approach is important as policy gaps need to be identified and necessary next steps defined. Next year is the European Year of Air 2013 – the perfect opportunity to place the political spotlight on the issue. It will coincide with the European Commission's revision of the ambientair quality air directive(2008) and the launch of the results of the HealthVent project, in which EFA partners. The Commission will have the opportunity to reverse current negative trends and grant IAQ the policy focus it deserves. EFA hopes that European policy-makers will issue a Green Paper on the subject. For more information, write to: roberta.savli@efanet.org |
| 06/07/2012 | “Women for Green Way for Generations”: climate change electronic newsletter Within the sub-project of the UNDP/GEF Project on Second National Communication (SNC) of Armenia to the UNFCCC, Women for Green Way for Generations (WGWG) have developed and designed seven issues of an e-Newsletter which covers various climate change related topics (http://www.nature-ic.am/en/P_Newsletter). Recently too an article titled “Good Practices: Armenia’s SNC Success Story” was featured in the UNDP National Communications Support Program’s Newsletter (see English version here). The climate change e-Newsletters are produced in Armenian and in English and are being widely distributed through national, regional and international networks. Hard copies are disseminated in Armenian backcountry regions. The goal is to increase general public awareness and knowledge of climate-change risks, challenges, shared responsibilities and possible mitigation and adaptation measures at global and local levels, as well as to enhance national capacities to combat climate change for the benefit of present and coming generations. Read the newsletters here: www.nature-ic.am/en/P_Newsletter |
| 02/07/2012 | ECSA launches Child Safety Report Cards: How much progress? |
| 20/06/2012 | CPES: Opportunities for cancer prevention discussed The need to take into account exposures to mixtures of chemicals in cancer prevention was highlighted in The Lancet Oncology in June thanks to a response from Jamie Page, Paul Whaley, Richard Clapp and Andrew Watterson. It says: “Our best understanding is that several carcinogenic exposures accumulate and the overall effect is what causes cancer in individuals and populations.” The response was co-ordinated by Paul Whaley of the Cancer Prevention and Education Society (CPES). He is also editor of “Health and Environment” online, which recently discussed whether focusing on existing knowledge advances or hampers our efforts to reduce cancer incidence. Read the full article and other challenging discussions here: http://healthandenvironmentonline.com/2012/04/30/opportunities-for-cancer-prevention/ A commentary on CPES's cancer prevention work was also recently published in the Lancet Oncology called 'Priorities for cancer prevention' which can be read below. The Lancet Oncology, Volume 13, Issue 6, Page e230, June 2012 Priorities for cancer prevention Jamie Page a, Paul Whaley a, Andrew Watterson b, Richard Clapp c Bernard Stewart's Personal View [1] in favour of lifestyle choices to prevent cancer seems to be based on the questionable premise that pollutants should be investigated individually for their ability to cause disease. This approach might work for tobacco smoke and other easily isolated causes with obvious effects that lend themselves well to epidemiological study. However, it is not suitable for variable inadvertent exposures to complex mixtures of substances for long periods. Our best understanding is that several carcinogenic exposures accumulate and the overall effect is what causes cancer in individuals and populations. Stewart repeats some of the arguments of Colditz [2] and Thun [3] after the release of the President's Cancer Panel report¬ie, that people will be diverted from addressing their risky lifestyles by too much public concern about environmental and occupational exposures. This view implies that people cannot hold two thoughts in their heads at the same time and we cannot as a society try to prevent cancer with several causes. Stewart further cites the President's Cancer Panel's steps that individuals can take to reduce exposure to carcinogens, [4] but ignores the Panel's overarching call for a new prevention-oriented chemicals policy. John Snow is celebrated because he advocated for change in London in the 1850s on the basis of what his research had led him to believe. He is sometimes called the father of epidemiology, [5] and he was an early advocate of the precautionary principle¬ie, action on the basis of reasonably convincing, although not fully developed evidence. Public health would be well served by the use of this kind of science to obtain solutions. Dozens of known of probable human carcinogens are in use that could be controlled more strictly than they are now or phased out. We do not need to wait for more definitive proof that environmental or occupational exposures have contributed to a specific proportion of the overall cancer burden. We declare that we have no conflicts of interest. References [1] Stewart BW. Priorities for cancer prevention: lifestyle choices versus unavoidable exposures. Lancet Oncol 2012; 13: e126-e133. Summary | Full Text | PDF(93KB) | CrossRef | PubMed [2] Fox M. Cancer report energizes activists, not policy. www.reuters.com/article/2010/05/09/us-cancer-usa-idUSTRE64827I20100509. (accessed April 3, 2012) [3] Sampson D. Cancer and the environment. http://acspressroom.wordpress.com/2010/05/06/cancer-and-the-environment. (accessed April 3, 2012) [4] The President's Cancer Panel. Reducing environmental cancer risk: what we can do now. http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/pcp/annualReports/pcp08-09rpt/PCP_Report_08-09_508.pdf. (accessed April 3, 2012) [5] Vachon D. Doctor John Snow blames water pollution for cholera epidemic. www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/snow/fatherofepidemiology.html. (accessed April 3, 2012) a Cancer Prevention and Education Society, Axminster, UK b University of Stirling, Stirling, UK c University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA |
| 20/06/2012 | EPHA: Policy-makers and civil society warned about the risks of neglecting public health in times of austerity On 6 June 2012 the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) held a day-long conference entitled ’’Restructuring health systems: How to promote health in times of austerity?’’ The debate, hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), brought together for the first time more than 20 speakers from all across Europe health professions, experts and civil society along with several institutional actors and an audience of around 200 people in an exercise aimed at assessing the impact of the current downturn in the continent’s health systems and identifying actions to move forward. One of the key cautionary messages on which most speakers agreed was that Europe is facing a humanitarian crisis. There was a widely-shared feeling in the room that the long-standing economic and financial crisis is exacerbating vast inequalities, with the poor being the first and worst-hit victims. Read EPHA’s full press release here: www.epha.org/a/5200 |
| 20/06/2012 | PAN Europe: Criteria for Endocrine disrupting pesticides in food An analysis made by PAN-Europe based on the monitoring of data by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) shows that European consumers will potentially be exposed to up to 30 different pesticide residues with a risk of adverse health effects. Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and apples are the food items with on average the highest dose of endocrine disrupting pesticide residues. PAN Europe has an information campaign at www.disruptingfood.info and consumers are advised to have a look and then choose organic products, especially for the most vulnerable, such as children, as well as substitute the high risk food items. The ‘consumer guide’ gives very simple and practical tips for everyday life. Visit the campaign consumer guide at: www.disruptingfood.info/10-news/press-release/14-press-release-1 |
| 20/06/2012 | WEN: Seeing Red for Sanitary Protection and the Environment The Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) recently listed that, in the UK, the use of tampons, pads and applicators generates more than 200,000 tonnes of waste per year. An average woman throws away an astonishing 125 to 150kg of these products in her lifetime. Half the world’s population has periods, but how often do we challenge the assumptions behind the products marketed to us? Why are we still manufacturing disposable sanitary products containing plastics that will take hundreds of years to break down? What links are there between female cotton pickers in developing countries and the choice of these products in our shops? WEN has campaigned for over 20 years to draw attention to the health and environmental impacts of such consumer choices. Following the success of their 2004 report, this March they launched “Seeing Red”, a four-page briefing exploring the links between sanitary products and health, waste, advertising, and chemicals. Download the full report here: www.wen.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Seeing_Red_2012.pdf |
| 20/06/2012 | VIVO SANO presents action plan on public health and the environment Scientists from all around the world gathered from 16th to 18th May at the Congress on Risks for Public Health and the Environment at the Polytechnic University in Madrid. This congress was organised by the European Environment Agency, ENSSER and Fundación Vivosano/Health Defense Organisation. HEAL was also a supporter of this conference. Participants have developed an action plan with a series of requests to extend the European and national policy makers to increase protection of citizens from the interests of the industry. Experts have analysed several measures and considered their implementation as "urgent" in four major areas: chemicals, electromagnetic pollution, nanotechnology and GMOs. As a general demand, they are asking for more transparency on who finances risk assessments. Several sessions of the congress are now available on video at: http://www.health-defense.org/content/update-conference-risks-public-health-and-environment-presentations-videos-documentation(where you also have some pictures and the presentations) http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp4H2z_tv2ecUtHqHDJkPFA More information of the congress can be found at: www.health-defense.org |
| 20/06/2012 | LLM: Environment is also important for the mutual benefit societies In the Belgian health insurance system, it is said that mutual societies assume the role of patients’ advocates. Therefore they can consider it as one of their duties to pay attention to the environmental health threats. In fact they have created an inter-mutualist workgroup to work on those topics by giving information and, in the near future, by collaborating on a scientific research project. In 2010, Mr. Geert Messiaen, General Secretary of the Belgian National Union of Liberal Mutualities initiated this new working area in the philosophy that all Belgian mutual societies should work together in the field of health promotion. In his third book, ‘Uitdagingen voor de ziekenfondsen in de eenentwintigste eeuw’ (Challenges of the mutual societies in the twenty-first century), he considers the environment as one of the major points of interest for the Belgian mutual societies today and in the near future. More from the Liberal Mutualities at: www.liberalemutualiteit.be |
| 20/06/2012 | Department of Clinical Microbiology: Biocide developments in Sweden Swedish minister of environment Lena Ek now requests in a letter directed to all County councils in Sweden that they shall review their usage of biocides including nano silver, triclocarban and triclosan. Minister Lena Ek recognises an increased risk for spread in the environment through polluted sewage and for the development of antibiotic resistance. Swedish County councils are therefore encouraged to investigate their purchasing procedures and the minister wants to be informed about current purchasing practices and the work on safe substitute products. It has become increasingly popular today to include small particles of silver as disinfectants and anti-odorants in textiles, clothing and shoes, the magazine New technique writes. This may cause hormone disturbances and antibiotic resistance according to Swedish researchers. Associate professor in clinical microbiology in Uppsala, Åsa Melhus, found silver resistant bacteria several years ago in samples from patients and has since then been an advocate against the widely spread and increased usage of silver in consumer products. |
| 20/06/2012 | Pan Europe appeal sets off ’historic’ court ruling Campaign groups, Natuur en Milieu and PAN Europe have won the right to call on the Commission for a review of its decisions. In 2008, these two groups asked the commission in 2008 for a review of newly adopted maximum residue limits for pesticides in food. Their request was denied because it did not meet criteria set out in a 2006 regulation applying the Aarhus convention to EU institutions. The court ruled that the EU has interpreted parts of the Aarhus convention on environmental justice too narrowly, according to a judgment last week. The EU general court agreed that the NGO request had not met the criteria, but said the criteria themselves were too narrow and not compatible with Aarhus. It annulled the Commission’s decision not to conduct a review. The EU’s rules on Aarhus have already been criticisedby the UN committee that oversees compliance with the convention. NGOs hope this ruling means that they will be able to challenge EU decisions in future. This option is currently open only to companies. PAN Europe campaigner Hans Muilerman described the ruling as “historic” and Jeremy Wates, secretary general of green group, EEB said it vindicated long-standing concerns “that the EU has failed to provide sufficient opportunities for NGOs to hold EU institutions to account”. EU law now needs to be changed, he said. For more details see PAN Europe press release and ruling. |
| 10/05/2012 | EPHA responds to consultation on sustainability Sustainability is now recognised by the European Commission as a ‘European public good’ and should therefore be opened to scrutiny of people and civil society at large. This is the main rationale behind the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) participating in the European Commission’s public consultation. Sustainable production and consumption – of products and services - are fundamental to the achievement of a sustainable development of the European Union as a whole. Using resources efficiently also contributes to the EU’s objectives on climate change, food and water security, social justice and fight against poverty, employment, public health, biodiversity and environment. Key messages: Greater synergy between sectors, such as EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), public procurement policy, energy efficiency and resource sufficiency, environment, transport, and housing, is one of the issues considered vital for a comprehensive sustainability agenda. It has potential for reducing health inequalities and preventing many persisting and emerging chronic diseases, physical inactivity, mental ill-health, fighting poverty and social exclusion, and advancing gender equity as well as boosting local and regional economies; Promotional information measures encouraging more sustainable production and consumption of products and services; Improving products and changing consumption patterns; Addressing markets and prices through shortening production-consumption link and food supply chain; Redistributing ‘Food-fit-for-consumption’, that would otherwise be thrown out, to person’s at-risk-of-food-poverty (as part of the EU Most Deprived Persons Scheme for instance); Addressing health, social and environment-harmful production subsidies and getting the prices right should be adequately addressed. Full statement EPHA response to public consultation from DG Environment on Delivering More Sustainable Production and Consumption. 10/05/2012 |
| 10/05/2012 | Petition for Breast Care Unit in Malta The Action For Breast Cancer Foundation Malta and Breast Care support Group Europa Donna have recently set up a petition for the provision of a full Breast Care Unit within Malta’s hospital. These organisations have requested the Minister of Health and the Government Malta to initiate the process for a much needed unit, and for the Unit to be in place before the stipulated date of 2016 in the 4th EU guidelines for Quality Assurance in Breast Cancer Screening. “We are requesting that the existing specialized Breast Care Team be given the facilities they need, including for diagnosis, and plans for surgery and treatments must be discussed within a multi-disciplinary team, in an environment suitable for the patient, within a Breast Care Unit. The guidelines dedicate a whole chapter to the concept of a specialized breast unit. “We must all work hard together to achieve this,” the groups say. 10/05/2012 |
| 10/05/2012 | Procedure leaves gates open for banned pesticides EU Member States and Health DG SANCO allow data gaps on a massive scale in the approval process of pesticides. This is what PAN Europe learned by analysing one of the major derogation systems of regulators known as ‘Resubmission’. The process allows twisting and bending of the rules by Member States (MS) and Health DG SANCO, they say. In studied cases of different pesticides subjected to the resubmission system, risk assessment for the environment was simply not possible due to lack of data in 10 out of 10 cases of approved chemicals. In eight out of 10 cases, consumer risk assessment was not finalised due to a lack of data. For the pesticide bromuconazole the existence of five data gaps was considered acceptable. These decisions expose people and the environment to unknown risks. Data gaps are not allowed at all by Pesticide Directive 91/414; all required toxicity studies must be performed. Resubmission is a new “invention” developed behind the scenes by the standing committee of national representatives and European Commission in 2007. It grants the pesticide industry a second chance when a chemical is banned or withdrawn. Companies are granted years of free market access during the process of evaluation in exchange for a “voluntary withdrawal” of their chemical. The threat of massive amounts of court cases from chemical industry and the political desire to “finalise” the much-delayed evaluation of pesticides most likely caused this strange ‘deal’. Industry could not resist such an advantageous offer and resulted in applications for 87 different active substances, which completely paralysed the SANCO and Food Authority EFSA evaluation system over a period of more than three years. PAN-Europe’s new study “Twisting and bending the rules” also revealed that MS and Commission will never ban a pesticide solely because of environmental risks. In 10 out of 10 cases studied the condition of “not having unacceptable effects on the environment” were not met; in seven out of 10 cases even high risks for the environment were considered acceptable for an approval. This is a grave violation of the rules and a systematic undermining of the central criterion for pesticide approval: no unacceptable influence on the environment. While offering industry this enormous present, the necessary work on the renewal of the pesticide system – as required by the new Regulation 1007/2009 - is halted. No work is being done on the reconstruction of the outdated and insensitive toxicity test requirements or neither on the renewing of the old risk assessment methodologies nor on the substitution of pesticides. Hans Muilerman of PAN-Europe states: “It is unacceptable that Member States and SANCO are wasting their time on these pesticides only because of fears of being bullied by industry. Regulators neglected their mission to protect people health and the environment and gave priority to putting more pesticides on the market, up from 250 to over 350 now. A reform of risk assessment and a return to a respect for the rules is urgently needed”. 10/05/2012 |
| 10/05/2012 | EU reapproves controversial soil fumigant PAN Europe reacted with disappointment to the EU’s decision to reapprove the pesticide metam. Although the soil fumigant was banned in 2009, due to gaps in safety data, 15 member states continued the use of the dangerous soil fumigant, metam as a result of a loophole. PAN Europe argued that these provisions were not justified. Alternatives are readily available, such as wider crop rotation and the use of resistant varieties. The fact that 12 Member States do not need to use metam makes it very likely the “essential use” is unjustified. Last year, PAN Europe urged Commissioner Dalli not to propose an approval and to adopt a policy to completely phase-out soil fumigants. At that time PAN-E also warned of the lack of interest of certain EU member states for a transition to new sustainable agriculture. Nevertheless, member state representatives approved the reauthorisation in March (published in the EU’s official journal on 26 April 2012). A spokesman of the European Commission said the decision was almost unanimous and places strict conditions on metam’s use. The new authorisation expires in June 2022. Hans Muilerman, chemicals officer at PAN-Europe, said the decision was a political one pushed by member states. “If you look at the science behind it, it could not be approved,” he said. Metam has an unacceptable environmental impact and helps maintain agricultural monocultures, he added. More information: PAN Europe report: Essential use of soil fumigant Metam Sodium; the unsustainable "15" identified. PAN Europe: Letter to Commissioner Dalli Concerning Soil fumigation and Metam Sodium. 10/05/2012 |
| 10/05/2012 | Follow up on ‘One Health Sustainable Health’ This two-day conference (13-14 March, 2012) representing the 3rd Scientific meeting of Infection Ecology and Epidemiology (IEE), Sweden, focused on the “One Health” perspective. This concept is a world-wide strategy for expanding interdisciplinary collaborations and communications in all aspects of health care for humans and animals. This synergy will advance health care for the 21st century and beyond by accelerating biomedical research discoveries, enhancing public health efficacy, expeditiously expanding the scientific knowledge base, and improving medical education and clinical care. Click here to discover a detailed programme of IEE’s 3rd scientific meeting 10/05/2012 |
| 10/05/2012 | WECF call for applicants to Rio+20 Good Practice Award Women-led organizations and groups working on sustainable development in developing countries are invited to nominate their initiatives to be recognized as one of five winning projects in the Good Practice Award: Women’s contributions to Sustainable and Equitable Economies at the UN Rio+20 summit in Brazil June 2012. This initiative perfectly fits Women in Europe for a Common Future - WECF’s overall goal of “Achieving a healthy environment and sustainable development for all”. This goal can only be reached by integrating human rights and gender perspectives into all policy areas. Principle 20 of the Rio Declaration of 1992 is still valid: “Women have a vital role in environmental management and development. Their full participation is therefore essential to achieve sustainable development.” Initiatives submitted as “Women’s Rio+20: Good Practices” should focus on one of the following five categories: food sovereignty, climate adaptation, decent jobs and health, water and sanitation or sustainable energy. For additional information read the application information. Submit the required forms by Thursday 17 May 2012. The five winning initiatives will be announced on 1 June 2012 after which a representative from each initiative will be invited to attend the Rio+20 summit. Important dates: Thursday, 17 May 2012: Deadline for submission Friday, 1 June 2012: Announcement of the 5 winners Wednesday – Friday, 20-22 June 2012: UN Rio+20 Conference and Award Ceremony in Brazil 10/05/2012 |
| 10/05/2012 | World Environment Day: Talking Health! Le Réseau Environnement Santé (RES) and la Mutuelle Familiale are organizing different events across France from 4 - 6 June 2012. They want to address various health issues, including the harmful effects of exposure to endocrine disruptors. World Environment Day on 5 June is an opportune moment to stimulate awareness of the environment and to enhance political attention and public action. At each event there will be a screening of the documentary "The great invasion" by Stéphane Horel followed by a debate with a member of RES. The documentary features prominent scientists, such as Shanna Swan, Ana Soto, Niels Skakkebaek, Linda Birnbaum… They elaborate on the scientific evidence linking chronic diseases, breast cancer and obesity to chemicals. Their alarming conclusions don’t prevent the filmmaker to add a dash of humour, poetry and animation collages showing the parallel destinies of humans and laboratory animals. In some regions, afternoon workshops will be organized promoting healthy and environmentally friendly food. More information: prevention@mutuelle-familiale.fr Specific dates: Thourotte: June 4, 2012 with François Veillerette Conflans-en-Jarnisy: June 5, 2012 with Aldino Izzi Lorient : June 5, 2012 with Jean-Francois Deleume Paris: June 5, 2012 with André Cicolella Reims: June 5, 2012 with Marianne Buhler Lons le Saulnier: June 6, 2012 with Yannick Vicaire. 10/05/2012 |
| 06/04/2012 | RES gains official support for ban on dry cleaning chemical The Paris City Council on Monday passed a unanimous motion in favour of gradually replacing the use of perchlorethylene by dry cleaners, considered a "probable carcinogen", in favour of "alternative technologies". "Perchloroethylene is a solvent used in 90% of dry cleaning of clothing and home textiles in France. Its toxicity is known: probably carcinogenic, it harms the kidneys and nervous system, " Green politicians of Paris said. Its vapours "may migrate through the concrete and the floors and expose people to irritation of the respiratory tract and eyes, dizziness, nausea, headaches, and sometimes even lead to unconsciousness and death ", they recalled in a statement. In Nice, 70 year-old Jose Anne Bernard who lived above a dry cleaners, is likely to have died in December 2009 as a result of exposure, they said. "Countries like the United States and Denmark have already programmed for 2020 abandonment of perchlorethylene and prohibit the installation of new dry cleaners using this solvent," said Denis Baupin, deputy mayor in charge of Environment. Mr. Baupin welcomed the fact that, "like in Bisphenol bottles, the city plays its role as whistleblower and precursor when the state is conspicuously absent ". Environmentalists are seeking "the development of awareness and training for professionals, assistance with conversion technology, monitoring of the quality air and the exposure of workers and residents." The product, banned in new facilities in Denmark and the United States, is a solvent used for dry cleaning. Listed since 1995 by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a probable human carcinogen, it can have neurological effects and impact on the kidneys and liver. Original Press release from RES (in French) 19 mars 2012: Conseil de Paris : vœu à l’unanimité pour l’abandon du perchloroéthylène dans les pressings |
| 06/04/2012 | Alliance for Cancer Prevention responds to “Unpinking cancer” In a BBC radio Woman's Hour feature on the film Pink Ribbons Inc about corporate sponsorship of breast cancer charities, the Alliance for Cancer Prevention was represented by founder member, Andrew Watterson. He made the case for the environmental causes of cancer and was critical of how little money was invested in prevention. Listen to the programme here. An excellent review of the film "Pink Ribbons inc", by Helen Lynn who runs the Alliance for Cancer Prevention is available here. |
| 06/04/2012 | EPHA Statement on the World Water Day 2012: “Access to water and sanitation is a human right, not an ordinary commodity” On the occasion of the World Water Day, EPHA encouraged policy makers and citizens alike to join and sign the first European petition on Water and Sanitation asking for the European Union to help achieve universal access to water and sanitation within and outside the European Union. The signatures’ collection should be officially launched at the end of April 2012. The objectives of the campaign, led by EPSU and joined by EPHA is to guarantee water and sanitation for all in Europe, not to liberalise water services, and ensure a universal access to water and sanitation across the globe. “Water and sanitation services cannot be treated as an ordinary commodity when they are so essential to life itself. People cannot live without water, children do not grow up healthily. Access to drinking water is a very basic requirement, a fundamental human right. And yet in Europe, water and sanitation services are increasingly privatized, making their access more difficult for people in who cannot pay for them.” stated Monika Kosinska, Secretary General of EPHA. 780 million people lack access to drinking water according to the World Health Organization, including in Europe: more than 50% of the rural population in ten countries have no access to improved water stated the European Environmental Agency in 2012. This has a direct impact on their health status and creates an unfair level of avoidable health inequalities. “Climate change will cause major changes to drinking water supplies and sanitation. Drinking water may become a rare resource in the future: do we really want private companies to own and distribute it at the expense of people who will not be able to afford them? The stakes are too high for European decision makers to forget that water is a human right”, concluded Kosinska. |
| 06/04/2012 | London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine hosts a webinar on Biodiversity, Health & Equity in London on 20 April The seminar will be held at the LSHTM and broadcast by webinar internationally. Professor Carolyn Stephens discusses several strategies that can be adopted to halt biodiversity loss and preserve valuable ecosystems. This seminar explores vital research and policy agenda that might emerge if we work with indigenous and local communities to understand our links to, and our place in, our biodiverse planet. Webinar participants have the opportunity to join the debate, ask questions or make comments. Scientists, UN agencies, and indigenous and local communities, agree that we have reached a critical time for biodiversity globally, as biodiversity loss reach unprecedented levels. Western science is now divided into two camps. Some scientists believe that the only way to halt biodiversity loss is to produce evidence that links biodiversity to ecosystem service and human health. Others suggest that the situation is too urgent, and that we need now to introduce a process adapted from emergency medicine – Triage — to select the planet’s most “important” species and/or ecosystems for emergency conservation. Meanwhile, some of the world’s most isolated indigenous and local communities view their place in their local and global ecosystem with more holistic eyes. They are fighting to protect their ecosystems for their own health and well-being, but also for that of fellow humans and the planet. This seminar discusses these debates, and explores the vital research and policy agenda that might emerge if we work with indigenous and local communities to understand our links to, and our place in, our biodiverse planet. The seminar will be held at the LSHTM and broadcast by webinar for international participants to log-in, starting an hour before the presentation (at 11:45 UK summer time). For additional information on the webinar click here. |
| 06/04/2012 | Fundacion Vivo Sano shares contribution to the Pesticide Action Week Every year there are about 220,000 people worldwide who die of the consequences of pesticides. This data from the WHO calls on us to reflect on the risks of these chemicals that are consumed on a daily basis by millions of people. As to inform the public about the risks and raise awareness of alternatives to pesticides, the campaign 'Pesticides Action Week', an initial French initiative, was launched. This year, Fundación Vivosano and the Health Defense Organisation contributed and promoted the campaign in Spain. Read the full press release at www.health-defense.org/content/pesticide-action-week-say-no-pesticides More about the campaign at www.health-defense.org/content/every-year-220000-people-world-die-because-pesticides |
| 06/04/2012 | PAN-Europe makes urgent request for crop rotation PAN Europe says EU Commission’s health and consumers department has caved in to farmers and industry lobby request when crop rotation would have been a much better option. On explicit request of the dominant farmers unions and the pesticide industry, the department taking care of health and consumers issues within the European Commission (DG SANCO) has proposed to dismantle the European safety system by removing the obligation on countries and farmers to contain the spread of a highly destructive maize pest ‐ Diabroticavirgiferavirgifera Le Conte (the Western corn rootworm – from now on cited as WCR). This move is likely to lead to a massive increase in pesticide use unless the simple agronomic practice of crop rotation is implemented as a countermeasure. Read more in the full press release at http://www.pan-europe.info/News/PR/120312.html In addition, PAN-Europe has just released expert information on the European Union’s new Regulation on biocides through a new fact sheet. It provides a summary of substantial improvements and shortcomings of the Regulation from the perspective of environmental and consumer protection. PAN-Europe invites the interested public, NGOs and the media to view these facts to get a clear and quick idea of the future regulations or to find an easy entry into the complex legislative text. The fact sheet is available as a printed version as well as a free PDF-document on our website in both German and English. For further information on visit www.pan-europe.info (keyword “Biocide Policy Europe”). |
| 06/04/2012 | European Child Safety Alliance’s Israel partner receives government endorsement The European Child Safety Alliance´s national partner Beterem has won government endorsement for its Child Safety Action Plan (CSAP). A government resolution passed for “planning a perennial program to promote child safety in Israel”. Beterem developed its Child Safety Action Plan as part of a European wide project run by the European Child Safety Alliance (ECSA). Over 25 countries are in various stages of developing CSAPs, which are now being further supported under ECSA´s Commission funded TACTICS initiative. The Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Health will lead the creation of a committee of senior members from several Israeli Ministries. Representatives from further authorities such as the police, construction and environmental officers, will also be included in planning. Beterem will provide professional support and guidance. For more information about Child Safety Action Plans please visit www.childsafetyeurope.org. |
| 16/03/2012 | RES: Acting against endocrine disrupters: A path to explore urgently for the prevention of obesity and diabetes (ECOD Report) Réseau Environnement Santé: PRESS RELEASE Paris, 14 March 2012 - HEAL member Réseau Environnement Santé (RES – the French Network on Health and Environment) published the ECOD report which provides an overview of the available scientific evidence on the links between the obesity and diabetes epidemic and exposure to chemical pollutants. We are now facing an epidemic of metabolic diseases. The World Health Organization estimates that, by 2015, 700 million people will be obese. This is a 75% increase over 10 years. According to the French 2009 ObEpi study, 32% of those above 18, i.e. 14 million individuals, are overweight and 14.5%, i.e. 6.5 million(s), are considered obese. The proportion doubled between 1997 and 2009. Diabetes is one of the major consequences of obesity, although it also has specific causes. In France, the incidence of diabetes almost doubled between 2000 and 2008, affecting nearly 1.8 million people. In France, diabetes has an annual additional cost of 1 billion €. Since the 1980s, the importance of hygiene and diet measures has been systematically emphasized by public authorities as a means to combat obesity and diabetes, a too rich diet and a sedentary life style are considered the two main factors of the epidemic. But this policy is not succeeding in stopping the growth of metabolic diseases. Chemical pollution appears to be an additional explanatory factor. The report by RES "Evaluation of the link between chemical environment, obesity and diabetes (ECOD)" provides an overview of many scientific studies that highlight the disturbing action of diabetogenic and obesogenic chemical pollutants on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Among these substances are several organic pollutants that act by a mechanism of endocrine disruption. "Adipose tissue can no longer be considered solely as a storage place of caloric reserves. It must also be considered as an organ under hormonal control. As such, it is also likely to be the target of endocrine disruptors”, said Gilles Nalbone, research director Emeritus at INSERM and member of RES. Prevention should also address chemical exposure Presently, the chemical pollution/obesity/diabetes dimension is not featured in any of the national public health plans: the National Health and Environment Action Plan (PNSE) does not address food; The National Health and Nutrition Program and the Obesity Plan do not deal with chemical pollution. "Our report is intended to draw the attention of Health Authorities to this approach, which is still largely ignored: the data are now sufficient to consider chemical pollution as an additional approach in the struggle against the epidemic of obesity and diabetes," says André Cicolella, the spokesperson of RES, "it is also one more signal for the French and European legislators to act globally on endocrine disruptors." The protection of patients should also be addressed in terms of preventing their further exposure to obesogenic and diabetogenic substances. This should be the subject of recommendations by the French National Upper Authority for Health, in complement of the classical hygiene and dietary measures. Additional information Press release (RES) in French: Communiqué de presse (14 mars 2012) – Obésité/Diabète: ne plus sous-estimer les polluants chimiques Full report in French: Evaluation du lien entre environnement chimique, obésité et diabète (Projet ECOD) |
| 08/03/2012 | CIEH issues recommendations on fracking The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) newly-created policy position on fracking includes: a policy statement and a briefing paper. The policy position was prompted by the seminar HEAL organised immediately after last year's Annual General Assembly in November 2011. The papers have been prepared by CIEH Northern Ireland Director, Gary MacFarlane. The briefing describes the different impacts on health as a result of water and air pollution with the help of case studies. The policy statement includes the following considerations and recommendations for the UK government. “There are a number of potential impacts that fracking could have upon both human health and the environment. These include: Impacts on drinking water supplies Impacts on air quality and consequent associated respiratory disorders Geological impacts (seismic activity) Noise impacts Release of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMS)" CIEH, whilst recognising the economic and energy benefits potentially associated with the technology, nonetheless believes that there is insufficient current evidence to confirm that all these potential risks can be suitably reduced and/or managed within acceptable levels. We therefore advocate that 1: The precautionary principle must remain the overriding principal for the UK at present. 2: The evidence base as it relates to potential and actual environmental and human health impacts should be kept under regular review and must inform policy and decision making. 3: That a full, independent environmental impact assessment must be carried out prior to any initial exploratory operations commencing. 4: That full land remediation must be a non negotiable condition of any such approvals. “ Additional information on the CIEH-website: www.cieh.org |
| 08/03/2012 | French health & environment question EFSA BPA decision A new report, "Conflicts on the menu", questions EFSA's reliance on industry data and highlights conflicts of interest with industry-linked scientists. It was prepared by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) and Earth Open Source (EOS) on EFSA’s 10th Anniversary with support from HEAL members, Reseau Environnement Santé (RES) and Générations Futures (GF). CEO and EOS aim to engage more people and organisations in the push for change at EFSA and to reverse its current pro-industry bias. The report explains how EFSA works, which scientific sources are (not) used, how conflicts of interest occur and how industry influences the agency’s work. The report contributes to the debate on which changes are needed in the interest of food safety, public health and the environment. CEO and EOS show how too often it’s not independent science that underlies EFSA decisions about our food safety, but industry data. EFSA panels base their scientific opinions on risky products, like pesticides and GMOs, largely on industry-sponsored studies. The report claims that EFSA has often been found to ignore independent research for unscientific reasons. The agency has issued controversial guidelines for the assessment of pesticides and GMOs that benefit industry, not the public interest. Many EFSA panel members have ties with biotech, food or pesticide companies which can lead to conflicts of interest. Food industry lobby groups are even represented on the EFSA management board by the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI). This scientific institute, funded for two-thirds by companies like Coca-Cola, Danone, Nestlé and Unilever, claims to build a bridge between governments, corporations and science. The report concludes that these factors have deeply undermined EFSA as a credible voice working in the public interest. EFSA’s problems are deeply embedded in EU laws and in the way the agency was set up. EU laws dictate that industry ‘science’ forms the basis of safety assessments of new risky products. According to EFSA and EU Commissioner John Dalli, it is “not realistic” to demand that the scientists that oversee our food safety are both highly qualified and independent. While the accuracy of these statements is unproven, there is clearly an urgent need to redirect research funding to public institutions and on public interest topics like food safety. According to CEO and EOS urgent changes must be implemented at EFSA and at an EU level to ensure that EFSA fulfills its intended role of providing unbiased and up-to-date scientific advice to protect public health. Independent peer-reviewed studies, ending collaboration with industry and industry-affiliated bodies, ensuring transparency, new rules on conflict of interest and granting EFSA the budget to pay its experts for their assessment work are a few of the measures CEO and EOS suggest. Until such changes are implemented, EFSA and the EU institutions cannot claim to provide a sufficient level of food and environmental safety. In a reaction on the report, the EU newsportal Chemical Watch stated that this is not the first time NGOs have questioned EFSA’s independence. Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN-Europe) another HEAL member expressed concerns in their latest report A Toxic Mixture? about the impacts of EFSA endorsing the concept of “Threshold for Toxicological Concern” (TTC). Full study (35 pages): http://www.corporateeurope.org/sites/default/files/publications/Conflicts_%20on_the_menu_final_0.pdf Video animation: http://vimeo.com/33337236 |
| 08/03/2012 | Fundacion Vivo Sano announces Congress on Risks for Public Health & the Environment The Health Defense Organization in co-operation with HEAL memegber Fundacion Vivo Sano, the European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility (ENSSER) and the European Environment Agency (EEA) are organising an international Conference on Risks for Public Health and the Environment, which will be held 16-18 May in Madrid, with the participation of international experts, NGOs, international organisations and policy makers. The main aims of the conference are: 1. Increasing public and political awareness of social, economic and environmental risks of current and new technologies 2. Providing a forum for open public debate where experts from different fields can address several issues such as: What are the public health and environment risks of technologies such as modern biotechnology, nanotechnology, electromagnetic fields and novel chemicals ? Which are the current policies and procedures for shaping and assessing these technologies? Which are the main barriers to avoiding or minimizing risks? 3.Creating an Action Plan with concrete and realistic activities to support the changes needed. Click here for more information and registration details |
| 08/03/2012 | C2DS raises alarm about nano forms of titanium dioxide The use of nanomaterials is rapidly increasing, both in industrial applications and in consumer products, even though their health and environmental effects are unknown, say C2DS. Nano forms of titanium dioxide have decontaminating qualities and are used in personal care products pharmaceuticals, food-processing, building products and the hospital sector. Nanoparticulate forms of titanium dioxide have already been classified as "possibly carcinogenic" to humans” (carcinogenic 2B). Furthermore, recent studies insist on its "genotoxicity". The increasing use of the nanoparticulate forms of titanium dioxide in the hospital sector means healthcare professionals and the public should be aware of potential effects. Ethylene oxide: a recurrent threat The use of ethylene oxide, which is carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic, is becoming widespread. Its use in sterilization processes for baby’s dummies (pacifiers), feeding-bottles and nipple shields has created a public health issue. The French national directorate of nursing care supplies (La Direction Générale de l'Offre de Soins (DGOS)) has published recommendations thereby informing every French maternity hospital. The tip of the iceberg The French group C2DS has raised the alarm about ethylene oxide use for sterilizing medical devices (catheters, probes, enteral feeding devices), implants and prostheses (breast, orthopaedic implants and intraocular implants). While ethylene oxide is acknowledged to be toxic for baby’s dummies (pacifiers), its toxicity has yet to be recognized for enteral feeding devices. Moreover there are carcinogenic risks for professionals and users who come into contact with its residues (see Ille-de-France Regional Health Insurance Office (CRAMIF) document, September 2009, which says that ethylene oxide sterilization should be replaced by other less harmful processes, where possible). In France, healthcare facilities follow the regulations and recommendations of governing bodies, particularly the French Office for Health Product Safety (Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des produits de santé: AFSSAPS) and the Ministry of Health. However, French healthcare professionals urgently require more information and training, and this probably also applies to healthcare professionals in other EU countries. Companies should prove the harmlessness of their products even when they have an AMM (Market Launch Authorization). The use of ethylene oxide as a sterilization process must appear on technical data sheets, packaging and the product itself. The French Ministry is conducting an investigation on the use of ethylene oxide for the sterilization of pacifiers, feeding bottles and nipple shields. Olivier Toma, chairman of C2DS, has met with the French Health minister, Xavier Bertrand and the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS) about this study. |
| 08/03/2012 | WECF studies toxicity in children’s toys WECF has been involved in a project to support toxic-free children’s toys and is a founding member of the Safe Toys Coalition that aims to protect children’s health by striving for a world free of toxic and unsafe toys. On 25 January they held a press conference at the European Parliament calling for toxic-free toys in the EU as well as for individuals to come and bring toys for testing. WECF says there are indications that political will is increasing to enhance the European Toys Safety Directive, but many problems regarding chemicals in toys continue as no new measures appear to be being taken by the industry. Further information here. |
| 08/03/2012 | Perchloroethylene called a carcinogen in the city The World Day against cancer (4 February) gave HEAL members, Reseau Environnement Santé (RES) and Générations Futures (GF) the opportunity to draw attention to how perchloroethylene, a toxic solvent used in dry cleaning. The solvent, which has been banned in other countries due to its links to causing cancer, is still being used in Europe. Together they recently held a press conference (February 16) stating: “It is unacceptable that such a substance continues to be used even when alternatives exist.” They also called on the French government to rapidly ban the use of perchloroethylene in any new dry cleaners instead of simply allowing its controlled use. View there press release and press kit at: http://reseau-environnement-sante.fr/2012/02/15/ressources/le-perchlorethylene-un-cancerigene-dans-la-ville/ |
| 08/03/2012 | EFA Call to Action on Respiratory Allergies As part of its Allergy Project, the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Association (EFA) has launched (November 2011) the EFA Book on Respiratory Allergies at the European Parliament, which includes a Call to Action. The Call to Action provides clear and concise objectives to increase awareness and relieve the burden of respiratory allergies in Europe. These include the need for national governments and the EU to improve indoor air quality. All HEAL members are kindly invited to support this Call to Action by signing up electronically at: www.efanet.org. |
| 08/03/2012 | AWHHE research reveals pesticide contamination in Armenia HEAL member, the Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment (AWHHE) and Czech Arnika Association have found that samples of soil, air, water, cow’s milk, eggs taken from waste dumps and areas near old warehouses formerly used to store expired pesticides contain DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) and other concentrations of chemical pesticides, which exceed by several times the marginal permissible amount. The local news website, Armenia Now, recently reported on the findings. It said: “the concentration of DDT and other stable organic chemicals (which are derived from DDT) in the silt taken from the fish breeding farm, which is about 50 meters from the dilapidated warehouse, are too high.” Read the article here. |
| 08/03/2012 | Générations Futures bring political attention to “Phyto-Victimes” This year at the Paris International Agricultural Show a group of farmers, who are victims of pesticides, demonstrated to denounce the current problems of farming with pesticides and to call for action. For the first time they stood upto contradict statements made by industry that suggest that pesticides are not poisonous. As a result of their action at the agricultural fair in Paris on 27 February 2012, meetings have been organised with the French Agricultural Minster and the cabinet of France’s Prime Minister, Francois Fillon. In the near future, network members will be travelling to Brussels to meet the Agricultural commissioner. The network members say they want to make know “the tragic and painful reality” of their situation. “I’m the living proof that illnesses due to pesticides exist”, the slogans on their tea-shirts read. The health problems are both the result of chronic and acute pesticide poisoning. The action took place at the stand of the lobby group of the agrochemicals lobby in France, which the network sees as a symbolic and powerful statement to help kick start a debate to bring attention to those who are responsible for their situation. “For years, we have experienced disinformation campaigns that are commissioned by industry groups and which try to reassure us and then are sometimes judged by courts to be "lies". Industry and governments disseminate on a regular basis quality assessment reports of these products. More and more often we hear criticism of the quality of these reports, which are submitted by the different corporations and are not written by independent evaluators. In addition, scientific studies increasingly link numerous health risks posed to people exposed to pesticides. Realizing that pesticides are omnipresent and that as farmers we come into contact with them every day, who among can say that they do not have in his or her circle of friends and colleagues someone suffering from a serious condition - cancer or Parkinson's - at an age when they should be at the top of their capacity?” In the first instance, they want to address the problems of farmers exposed to pesticides: to inform them of the current situation. They also want to address the whole of the food processing industry, and challenge decision makers and some key organisations in the agricultural community. They want products that threaten health to be taken off the market and a system of evaluation, certification, and independent and transparent licensing introduced. Finally, they want to gain support for farmers dealing with related illnesses, and strong and binding decisions to halt the current situation. Paul Francois, President of Phyto-Victimes, said: “We are here today for future generations and also for those who have already died of pesticide exposure. The current situation, a consequence of the desire to produce more and more whatever the cost, is no longer acceptable. The truth needs to be told so that we will finally be recognized as victims, and so that we get adequate support to become free from these hazardous products in food production,” he concludes. For more information: Original Press Release (in French) at www.semaine-sans-pesticides.com/download/CP20022012_miseenligneinscriptionsSPAP.pdf Related Press Release (in French) Manifestation devant le stand de l’UIPP au salon de l’agriculture Related Press Kit (in French) at www.phyto-victimes.fr/2012/02/dossier-de-presse-manifestation-au-salon-de-lagriculture/ Phyto Victimes campaign website (in French) at www.phyto-victimes.fr Générations Futures website (in French) at www.generations-futures.fr As partner in the 2012 Pesticide Action Week, HEAL translated and disseminated the press release provided by Générations Futures about the action (http://www.env-health.org/spip.php?article1403). |
| 28/02/2012 | GF: Farmers: victims of pesticides - A hidden health scandal Générations Futures: PRESS RELEASE 27 February 2012, Paris - Paris International Agricultural Show: for the first time, farmers who are victims of pesticides denounce the current situation and call for action. Ending a code of silence Demonstrators will be denouncing statements [1] that suggest that pesticides are not poisonous and describing the tragic and painful reality in which the members of our organisation [2],victims of chronic or acute poisoning by pesticides, are the living proof. This is why today, 27 February and throughout the International Agricultural Show, Générations Futures and farmers, widows of farmers, agricultural workers, and employees of the food sector – will voice our concerns that we are “poisoning ourselves by continuing to use pesticides”,and we want to speak out on this occasion. A major action For the first time in France, farmers who have been directly affected by pesticidesare coming together as part of the association “Phyto-Victimes” (Victims of pesticides) todemonstrate atthe International Agriculture Show. This action at the stand of the lobby group of the agrochemicals lobby in France is symbolic and will- at least we hope - kick start a more targeted debate by identifying those who are responsible. State of play For years we have experienced disinformation campaigns that are commissioned by industrygroups and which try to reassure us and then are sometimes judged by courts to be "lies". Industry and governments disseminate on a regular basis quality assessment reports of these products. More and more often we hear criticism ofthe quality of these reports, which are submitted by the different corporationsand are not written by independent evaluators. In addition, scientific studies increasingly linknumerous health risks posed to people exposed to pesticides. Realizing that pesticides are omnipresent and that as farmers we come into contact with them every day, who among can say that they do not have in his or her circle of friends and colleagues someone suffering from a serious condition - cancer or Parkinson's - at an age when they should be at the top of their capacity? The aim In the first instance, we want to address the problems of farmers exposed to pesticides: to inform them of the current situationbut we also want to address the whole of the food processing industry and issue this message: "We, pesticide users, are in the front line of pesticide exposure. We want to unite to reject altogether this intoxication by pesticides and point out who is responsible for the current situation. "We also want to challenge decision makers and some key organisations in the agricultural community. We want to get products off the market thatthreaten our health, that of our loved ones, and more generally that of the population. We also call for establishing a system of evaluation, certification, and independent and transparent licensing. Finally, we want to gain support for farmers dealing with related illnesses, and we call for strong and binding decisions to halt this situation. "Today we openly demonstrate to the agricultural community what pesticides have done - and still are doing -that is wreaking havoc in the French farming community,"said Paul Francois, President of Phyto-Victimes. We are here today for future generations and also for those who have already died of pesticide exposure. The current situation, a consequence of the desire to produce more and more whatever the cost, is no longer acceptable. The truth needs to be told so that we will finally be recognized as victims, and so that we get adequate support to become free from these hazardous products in food production,” he concludes. For more information: Original Press Release (in French) at www.semaine-sans-pesticides.com/download/CP20022012_miseenligneinscriptionsSPAP.pdf Related Press Release (in French) Manifestation devant le stand de l’UIPP au salon de l’agriculture Related Press Kit (in French) at www.phyto-victimes.fr/2012/02/dossier-de-presse-manifestation-au-salon-de-lagriculture/ Phyto Victimes campaign website (in French) at www.phyto-victimes.fr Générations Futures website (in French) at www.generations-futures.fr See attachments for photos: Copyright Olivier Picard - Générations Futures http://jalbum.net/a/1131507/ As partner in the 2012 Pesticides Action Week, HEAL has translated and disseminated this press release originally provided by Générations Futures. Contact: Nadine Lauverjat, Générations Futures, Email nadine@generations-futures.fr or mdrgf2@wanadoo.fr Magali, Générations Futures, Email contact@semaine-sans-pesticides.fr Notes: [1]Cf. Jean-Charles Bocquet, executive director, UIPP (Union of Industry Plant Protection, an organization lobbying for the use of pesticides, said in 2011 in an interview with La Libération: "I want to point out that pesticides are not poisonous.” [2] Phyto-Victims |
| 31/01/2012 | RES: Film recommendation: “The nine months that made you” 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. |
| 31/01/2012 | 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. 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. |
| 31/01/2012 | 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 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. |
| 31/01/2012 | WECF warns women and children at greater risk of leukaemia if in vicinity of nuclear power plants 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. |
| 31/01/2012 | EPHA Briefing on EU Policies and their iImpact on Children’s Health 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. |
| 15/12/2011 | PAN Europe: new report on derogation for soil fumigation: Metam HEAL member Pesticide Action Network Europe has just published a report on the “essential use” of the soil fumigant Metam Sodium. After a first report which showed that derogations and loopholes are standard in EU pesticides policy, making it possible for EU Member States to continue to use pesticides which have been banned, the new report highlights this practice for Metam and shows the intransparent decision-making on this. EU Member States continue to use Metam Sodium for “essential use” even though it was banned in 2009. Read more here. HEAL will also be writing a letter to the Commission on this matter. |
| 15/12/2011 | INCHES: 3rd International Conference highlights urgency to protect children’s health from environmental threats Over 100 participants gathered in Lodz, Poland, to discuss the latest science on how air pollution or chemicals impact children’s health. HEAL organised a workshop on the science to policy transfer, where participants identified many opportunities to raise children’s environmental health concerns with EU decision-makers in the next months. A key point is also to continue to raise awareness with health professionals themselves. WHO has just updated their training manuals on this. |
| 15/12/2011 | EFA launches call to action on respiratory allergies The European Federation of Allergy & Airways Diseases Patients´ Association (EFA) was joined by EU policy-makers and the European allergy community in Brussels to launch its new respiratory allergies book. The book provides new data on the most common and underestimated chronic disease in the EU – respiratory allergies – and a call to action which includes improving air quality. Respiratory allergies create a heavy burden on the economy and society. It is estimated that asthma alone costs 17.7 billion EUR per year in Europe, and the loss of productivity is estimated at nearly 10 billion EUR. EFA is collecting signatories for its call to action. Further information can be found here. |
| 15/12/2011 | Réseau Environnement Santé (RES) launches "Taste a better world" Food is at the heart of consumer concerns, says RES. In wishing to reaffirm responsible food consumption habits and commit people to eating more respectfully of people and nature, they have launched the campaign “Taste a better world”. With it, they have produced a guide (in French) to provide practical solutions for consumers in order to make better purchasing habits available at www.goutonsunmondemeilleur.fr. Further information can be found here. |
| 15/12/2011 | ELF’s lung testing campaign highlights importance of clean air As air quality problems are set to rise in London during the 2012 Olympics, it offers a perfect opportunity for the European Lung Foundation (ELF), along with the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), to encourage citizens to get their lungs tested. The ELF and FIRS will be holding the second-ever World Spirometry Day next year to coincide with the London 2012 Olympics to raise awareness of the importance of healthy lungs across the globe. As has been the case with many Olympic host cities, air quality in London is due to suffer with increased traffic congestion, and experts are warning that the Olympic organisers need a convincing plan to tackle the air pollution problems that are expected during the Games. Although World Spirometry Day 2012 is not directly focussing on the issue of air pollution, it will serve as an opportunity to raise awareness about the damaging effects poor air quality can have on the lungs. The world’s largest lung function testing event will adopt the theme of ‘sport and the lungs’ and will be launched on 27th June 2012. If you’d like more information on World Spirometry Day, please contact the ELF at info@europeanlung.org. |
| 10/11/2011 | EPHA event: Public health advocacy and capacity in Poland, 12-13 December, Warsaw The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) together with our member the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER) and in partnership with the Polish National Public Health Institute are organising a one-day conference on 12 December 2011, followed by a half-day field visit on 13 December 2011 in Warsaw, Poland - on public health advocacy and capacity to ensure successful and sustainable policy change in the field of public health. Learn more at: http://www.epha.org/a/4763 |
| 10/11/2011 | Leading pesticide researcher receives prestigious award from ESPE Recently, Professor Charles Sultan, who is an expert advisor to Réseau Environnement Santé (RES), received the prestigious André Prader award from the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE). It rewards the team at the University Hospital of Montpellier that specializes in paediatric endocrinology. The doctors, led by Professor Sultan, have shown a link between pesticide exposure and risk of birth defects. HEAL has worked with Professor Sultan in several Paris Appeal conferences and is delighted to hear this. You can hear more about Prof. Sultan’s work in an investigative TV programme that showed on France 2 Thursday, November 10 on the environmental pollution and early puberty in young girls. |
| 10/11/2011 | ARTAC & ISDE run environmental health training for doctors in France The Association for Research on Treatment against Cancer (ARTAC) in collaboration with the International Society of Doctors for the environment (ISDE) are giving training in environmental medicine. Sessions began in April 2011, as a continuation of the Paris Appeal conference on "Children's Health and the Environment" and was a resounding success with participation of 43 physicians and health professionals. Its second session is from 22 - 23 November in Paris at the CISP, Centre Kellermann, Salle Massena - 17 Bd Kellermann 75013 (Metro: Porte d'Italie). Learn more at: www.artac.info/images/telechargement/NEWSLETTER/nap38.pdf The ARTAC was also recently appointed Representative of the International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE-International), the international society of "doctors" for the environment, international, medical, scientific and humanitarian. Thus was born the ISDE-France also called Société Française de Médecine Environnementale. Learn more at: www.medecine-environnementale.org |
| 10/11/2011 | IEE political action on sustainable health: Nordic cooperation launches “One Health from a Nordic perspective” The concept of One Health, being advocated by HEAL’s new member, the Infection Ecology and Epidemiology Network (IEE) recognises the relationship between disease and health in humans and animals, and the environment in which we are operating. To understand the origin and spread of contagious diseases the One Health initiative aims to build a holistic perspective on the interaction between humans, animals, nature, and the environment. Nordic countries are leading the way in several areas of One Health, one of which is antibiotic resistance, the topic for this fringe event so it is important to co-ordinate and disseminate Nordic experiences and knowledge in preventative measures and disease control. Following a recent presentation of the Nordic model One Health, a panel debate was held in Copenhagen. After the event, the Joint Committee of the Nordic Medical Research Councils (NOS-M) launched its white paper on medical research in the region in co-operation with NordForsk. Learn more at: http://www.norden.org/en/news-and-events/news/political-action-needed-on-sustainable-health |
| 10/11/2011 | RES highlights campaign to ban dental amalgams Several associations, including the Réseau Environnement Santé (RES) have alerted the public in a campaign called campaign is called ‘Non au mercure dentaire’ against what they consider to be a serious absence of healthy practice in using dental amalgams. Amalgams often contain mercury and are the main source of mercury exposure in developed countries. In France, "despite numerous warnings of scientists and patient groups’, dentists continue to use these fillings in molars or premolars" "explained Marie Grosman of the campaign in an article from Le Quotidian du Medicin. Learn more at: www.lequotidiendumedecin.fr/information/des-associations-veulent-interdire-le-mercure-dentaire |
| 10/11/2011 | WECF invitation to take part in testing children toys for dangerous substances Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) invites you to examine and discuss the toxic substances found in children’s toys in an effort to stop dangerous play. On November 10th and 16th, WECF will organize 2 events in France and the Netherlands to raise awareness on chemicals of concern in toys. WECF will also release results of tests made on 29 toys sold in the Netherlands, France and Germany. Learn more at: http://www.projectnesting.org/ |
| 10/11/2011 | Centre for Sustainable Healthcare UK tree planting project to raise awareness in healthcare The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare in partnership with the Forestry Commission, BTCV, Natural England and others started a NHS Forest project in 2008 with the idea of planting 1.3m trees across the UK, representing a sapling for every employee in the NHS. Recently, it held its first annual event to mark the success of its project and create a ‘Natural Health Service’. With 4,400 trees planted so far, over 30 NHS sites have engaged in the project, and one NHS Forest site who was awarded for their excellence was mentioned as a case study in the Forestry Section of the National Ecosystems Assessment. The day’s festivities included an award ceremony, outdoor activities such as tree planting and a NHS Forest quiz where the activities reflected the distinctive nature of the project and got participants thinking about and engaging with healthcare and nature. Learn more at: www.greenerhealthcare.org or www.nhsforest.org |
| 10/11/2011 | EFA pushes for EU funded Surveillance Network on allergies and asthma Breda Flood, President of the European Federation of Allergy & Airways Diseases Patients´ Association (EFA) recently provided testimony in the European Parliament from a patient’s perspective to support the creation of an EU funded Surveillance Network on allergies and asthma. The meeting gathered MEPs and other EU officials, patient and medical communities to discuss the urgent need to address allergies, and to reduce the burden of the disease by setting up a Pan-EU Surveillance Network. Learn more at: http://www.ga2len.net/ |
| 10/11/2011 | European Child Safety Alliance wins Gastein Award The European Child Safety Alliance (ECSA) was honoured to receive the Award of the European Health Forum Gastein for a (Health) Policy Initiative of European Importance. The European Jury selected ECSA`s Child Safety Report Card initiative as the winner of this year´s award. This award honours initiatives for the improvement of medical care in Europe. The Child Safety Report Card initiative is a component of ECSA´s Child Safety Action Plan project which launched in 2007, and the initiative will be continued under ECSA´s new TACTICS project with the support of the European Commission. Learn more at: www.childsafetyeurope.org Please visit the European Child Safety Alliance website for further details about the award and the winning initiative, as well as other news from our recent Alliance meeting in Rome. |
| 19/10/2011 | IPEN Co-Chair Olga Speranskaya interviewed on Voice of Russia In a recent interview with the Co-Chair of the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN), Olga Speranskaya, who also represents HEAL member Eco Accord, a discussion was held around how she became involved with the issue of chemical safety and hotspots in the EECCA region, what POPs are, and how NGOs work to address contaminated sites, etc. Hear the interview at: http://english.ruvr.ru/radio_broadcast/47136388/53535066.html |
| 19/10/2011 | Walk for Life: Malta raises Breast Cancer Awareness The Action For Breast Cancer Foundation celebrated car free day in Malta this year with our annual Walk For Life on 18/9/2011. The walk was 8 km and participants were encouraged to walk for someone they knew who has cancer, by pinning a paper with their name on their T-shirts. The event attracted many people who walked, and some even ran, and finished with a light snack and drink from a sponsor. Learn more at: http://actionforbreastcancer.com/event-registration/?regevent_action=register&event_id=3 |
| 19/10/2011 | CHE pamphlet on obesogens A new brochure by the US Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) helps uncover how “obesogens” are chemicals that can promote weight gain. It explains some pharmaceutical drugs affect the body’s hormone system and can influence weight and metabolism. Furthermore, the potential for these drugs to affect our bodies may be greatest when exposure occurs during sensitive periods of development, such as in the womb or in early life. HEAL is the European partner of CHE and in regular exchange with CHE members on this and other issues. Download brochure here. |
| 19/10/2011 | Sandra Steingraber Wins Heinz Award Dr Sandra Steingraber is a renowned scientist and environmental health advocate with whom HEAL has worked with over the past years on many different issues. She first highlighted her concerns about fracking last December in the context of our European Cancer and Environment week in the Parliament, and mentioned fracking as the next big environmental health threat. Her words, evidence and visionary foresight have inspired HEAL to mobilize around this issue over the past year. We are very pleased to hear that she has been named recipient of the prestigious Heinz Award and that her response on how she intends to use her cash award is to fight fracking in New York. Learn more at http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/newsfrom187/entry/6467/ |
| 19/10/2011 | AIM Invitation - International Conference on "Development of healthcare systems and challenges for long-term care: the mutual benefit societies’ point of view,” 14 Nov - Paris The year 2012 will be "the European Year on active and healthy ageing". Concerned to respond to the new needs of their members in terms of counseling, guidance and appropriate coverage, mutual benefit societies in Europe are acknowledged players in the sector of long-term care. To highlight their commitment in this field, the AIM has decided to devote its international Conference to "Development of healthcare systems and challenges for long-term care: the mutual benefit societies' point of view". Register before 15 October 2011 at http://www.aim-mutual.org. |
| 19/10/2011 | Ribbon of Hope / Ruban de l’Espoir 2011 The Réseau Environnement Santé (RES) and Appel de la Jeunesse (A2J) participated in the "Ruban de l’Espoir 2011" in its run for breast cancer in the woods of Vincennes. The money raised will fund research on "personalized treatment of breast cancer." More info at http://www.odyssea-paris.com/. Related to the event, at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris a presentation was given by André Cicolella, president of RES, on "breast cancer and environmental factors" as well as various workshops by Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) including one on "Nesting: Protect the health of your child by creating a healthy indoor environment". More details at http://fbl-paris.org/nl/actualites/details/ruban-de-l-espoir.6.html |
| 19/10/2011 | Bisphenol A: French efforts should serve Europe! |
| 19/10/2011 | IDEA takes HEAL to Durban and Kenya |
| 22/06/2011 | Health insurance group takes up environmental health |
| 21/06/2011 | Women in Europe for a Common Future celebrates 15th anniversary HEAL member, Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) celebrates its 15 year anniversary with a conference on "Innovation for sustainability; the crisis as opportunity". The conference will take place in The Hague on June 10, 2009. Experts in the fields of economics, politics, science and technology will clarify the major issues about the fundamental causes of the current economic crisis and how this may create an opportunity for a more sustainable world.. The emphasis of the debate will be on stimulating discussion on the initiatives been taken by women and men in the field of innovation. The panelists will present examples from the Netherlands and from WECF partner organisations in Western and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The Afternoon debate will address the following questions: How can initiatives taken by pioneers at the local level be translated to the national and international level. How will they lead to increased sustainability in the fields of energy and water, agriculture and consumer products? Financial representatives will suggest how greater investment can support and stimulate local economies and initiatives. Government representatives and politicians will address how barriers can be removed and people can be stimulated. Special attention will be given to the role of women in their participation in sustainable innovation. The keynote speech will be given by Professor Noreena Hertz, the well known economist and author, from the University of Cambridge, who is visiting Professor at Erasmus University of Rotterdam. She will present a critical analysis of the roots of the current economic crisis, and ways out towards a sustainable economy. The Netherlands Minister of Environment Jacqueline Cramer will present her vision on how innovation can create a sustainable economy. Minister Bert Koenders of Development Cooperation has been invited to give his views on the theme of the day. Andy Schroeter, Director of Sunlabob, winner of the Sasakawa sustainability award (UNEP) will tell us how even the poorest can afford light from solar energy. Looking Back and Looking Forward: Farewell to the first president and founder Marie Kranendonk and introducing the new President Christine van Weiszaecker. The closure of the WECF anniversary will be dedicated to the work of WECF founder and president of many years, Mrs Marie Kranendonk, who has been the driving force behind the international network the past 15 years. Please register before June 5 - 15jaar@wecf.eu The final program of the day can be found on the WECF website. No fees are charged for this conference, but contributions to WECF project and advocacy work are welcomed - donate online here-> https://www.allegoededoelen.nl/exte...] Or call Annemarie Hekkers, WECF Utrecht: +31.302310300 Or fax: +31.302310878 |
| 07/05/2011 | World Health Assembly adopts resolution targeted at saving the lives of children from injury In May 2011, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on child injury prevention, the first ever on the topic. The news was welcomed by Joanne Vincenten, Director of the HEAL member organisation, European Child Safety Alliance. “The resolution should serve as a further impetus for Member States to support uptake of evidence based measures. Injury is still the leading cause of death and disability for children in every Member State in Europe". The resolution, spurred by the WHO/UNICEF World report on child injury prevention, provides a platform to support action on preventing child injuries, which are the leading cause of death for children over the age of 5 years. More than 830,000 children die each year from road traffic crashes, drowning, burns, falls and poisoning. Under the resolution, Member States are urged to prioritise the prevention of child injuries; implement the recommendations of the World report on child injury prevention; and develop and put into practice a multi-sectoral policy and plan of action with realistic targets. It calls upon the WHO Director-General to collaborate with Member States in establishing science-based policies to prevent child injury; to encourage research, build capacity, and mobilise resources for child injury prevention; and to continue providing technical support to countries to develop and implement child injury prevention measures and strengthen emergency and rehabilitation services. The resolution also calls upon the WHO Director-General to establish a network with organisations of the United Nations system, international development partners and nongovernmental organizations to ensure effective coordination and implementation of activities for child injury prevention. Joanne Vincenten added: "We are thrilled that the World Health Assembly has adopted the resolution on child injury prevention. Child injury creates a huge environmental burden, annually killing thousands of children and sending hundreds of thousands to hospital or emergency services, sometimes leading to life-long disabilities. Injury is also the leading cause of inequity in childhood death in Europe, so this is not only a health concern in Africa or Asia." |
| 07/05/2011 | PAN Europe warns: UK and Germany lobby against controls on dangerous pesticides Suggestions for new criteria to define hazardous chemicals have been put forward by the UK and German governments that greatly undermine the levels necessary to protect people’s health, according to HEAL member the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe. The European Commission is currently developing ‘cut-off’ criteria for pesticides that damage the hormone system (so-called ‘endocrine disruptors’) and will release them by 2013, following a requirement of the new EU pesticides regulation. The new law would see a ban of endocrine disrupting pesticides as classified by Europe-wide criteria, an approach that has been welcomed by health and environment groups. PAN Europe warns that what the UK and Germany are proposing will lead again to lengthy discussions about dosage and health effects, instead of having a straightforward ban of endocrine disrupting pesticides. PAN Europe has sent their concerns to the Health Commissioner Dalli and the Environment Commissioner Potocnik. |
| 19/04/2011 | Say “no thanks!” to the guinea pig generation "Guinea Pig Generations, No thanks!" is a new campaign that aims to alert policy makers to the health effects of many environmental pollutants and technologies – from industrial chemicals to nanomaterials and genetically modified organisms. The campaign, known in France as “Générations Cobayes, Non Merci !”, is run by HEAL’s latest member, the youth group Appel de la jeunesse (A2J) and it targets at both national and European policy makers. The launch campaign calls for an outright ban on the endocrine disrupting chemical, Bisphenal A (BPA). Since March, the use of BPA in baby bottles has been banned across the EU, but there has been political reluctance to expand this ban to other areas, such as food packaging. Appel de la jeunesse plan to expand the "Guinea Pig Generations, No thanks!" campaign to pesticides and GMOs in the near future. Read more… |
| 19/04/2011 | Council of Europe: Report on health hazards of mercury and dental amalgams adopted The Council of Europe’s Committee for Social, Health and Family Affairs has adopted a draft resolution for the phase out of dental mercury. Members of the Committee voted on the draft report ‘Health hazards of heavy metals’ written by Jean Huss, Council of Europe member and President of HEAL member organization AKUT. The Council of Europe is an international organization based in Strasbourg bringing together 47 member countries of Europe. While the vote is not legally binding, it nevertheless gives support to the widening call for phasing out of dental amalgam. In the discussion on the dangers of using mercury in dental treatments, Huss highlighted that a growing number of illnesses, in particular chronic diseases, are thought to be caused by heavy metals and other chemical substances that are present in our environment. The draft report will be voted on by the Council of Europe Ministers on 27th of May. |
| 06/04/2011 | Collectif Appel de la jeunesse (A2J) The Collectif Appel de la jeunesse (A2J) is a French non-profit NGO that aims to improve health through public policy and promoting a cleaner and healthier environment. It aspires to a healthy planet for healthy people. A2J aims to: Gather and support students and youth structures concerned with the issue of health and the environment in France; Promote the introduction and implementation of policies to protect the environment as a means of improving the health of the population in Europe and worldwide; Raise awareness about how changes in environmental and related policies can impede or facilitate progress in terms of health and environmental impacts; Encourage and support the participation of citizens - including health professionals, groups concerned with health issues, youth and disadvantaged groups in EU decision-making; Engage stakeholders in all sectors on key issues of environment and health; Promoting change in existing laws in the sense of a greater consideration of health issues and the environment." For more information, please check out their website: http://appeldelajeunesse.org The organisation became a Full Member in 2011. Contact Person Olivier Mainnemard: 32 rue de Paradis, Paris 75010 - France Tel: (33) 173 79 22 92 Email: appeljeunesse@gmail.com |
| 19/03/2011 | Improving children’s health in Italy HEAL member, the Cultural Association of Pediatrics (Acp) Italy, has launched a new project to promote children’s’ and environment and health across 120 kindergartens of 64 municipalities in Padua province of Italy. The campaign, funded by UNESCO and supported by in collaboration with Padua Province, Holly and Marna, who are IT Mom correspondents from Better TV, and partners aims to raise awareness amongst children and parents of environment and health hazards, and to provide solutions to everyday problems. In different parts of Padua, teachers have been trained by health professionals about the links between environment and children's health, and given tools to aid understanding and avoid potential health hazards. One such tool is a set of books which highlights positive actions that children can take to create a healthier environment. The books cover topics such as energy and water savings, waste and recycling, and sustainable transport. Read more... |
| 19/03/2011 | Hand over of European Charter for Health Equity to EU Commissioner HEAL member, the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) is calling for health equity across the EU. On 14 April, as part of the EPHA Annual General Assembly, EPHA will be presenting the Charter for Health Equity to EU Commissioner John Dalli. With the Charter for Health Equity, EPHA aims to bring civil society together to call for immediate action and to ensure that the issue is kept on the agenda. The social determinants of health - such as environment, climate and food - all have huge potential to reduce health inequalities and benefit the whole society. Despite the EU’s growing focus on health inequalities, the issue remains very much in the domain of the health community and concrete EU actions are yet to be defined. HEAL has signed the charter, alongside almost 90 international, European and national organisations working on gender, youth, environment, agriculture and of course health alongside a host of environment, social and health groups. There is still the opportunity to sign here. |
| 19/03/2011 | Calling for pesticide-free public spaces in Luxembourg In March, Initiativ Liewensufank, HEAL member from Luxembourg, wrote letters to all municipalities asking them to make their public spaces, from parks to school play-areas, pesticide-free. The letters came as part of this year’s Week for Pesticide Alternatives. In Luxembourg, there are already ten municipalities that are pesticide free; we hope that the others will follow suit. HEAL monitors information on pesticide-free public spaces and provides the information on our Sick of Pesticides campaign website. Also as part of the Week for Pesticide Alternatives, Initiativ Liewensufank screened the new documentary, ‘Our Daily Poison’ by Marie-Monique Robin. The film, about the risks to health and the environment from pesticides and chemicals, was released this month in France and made waves across the media. Read more... . |
| 19/02/2011 | Hope for allergy sufferers as a new research programme begins HEAL member, the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients Associations (EFA), has joined a new EU research programme to investigate causes of allergies. The MeDALL project (Mechanisms of the Development of Allergy), funded by the EU Research Framework Programme FP7, will investigate the causes of a wide range of allergies. The results should help to provide better answers as to why and how allergies develop as well as target prevention and treatment opportunities. Read more… |
| 07/01/2011 | One Health Congress: Human Health, Animal Health, the Environment and Global Survival HEAL member the Clinical Microbiology Uppsala University Hospital will present at the 1st International One Health Congress: Human Health, Animal Health, the Environment and Global Survival, in Melbourne 14-16 February. The conference will see the launch of a new Open Access Journal (www.InfectEcolEpidemiol.net) on zoonoses, infectious diseases that can be transmitted from non-human animals, both wild and domestic, to humans or from humans to non-human animals. The Clinical Microbiology Uppsala University Hospital is a partner of The Infection Ecology and Epidemiology Network (IEE) - international and cross disciplinary forum which looks at the interface between wild and domestic animals and humans. Combating zoonoses is an increasing problem in an over populated world with diminishing resources. Today, 70% of recently emerged or re-emerging infections affecting humans and animals are transmitted from animals to humans or vice versa. IEE works to improve knowledge and prevent infections spreading. It advocates that more researchers acknowledge zoonoisis is a growing problem, and take an approach that embraces a ‘one health, one world’ concept. |
| 07/01/2011 | French supermarket removes toxic chemical, Bisphenol A, from sales receipts Le Réseau Environnement Santé (RES), HEAL member, has welcomed the recent decision of the French supermarket, Carrefour, to remove the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from their sales receipts. Currently there are over 1600 branches of Carrefour due to remove BPA from receipts. Carrefour follows the lead of the French cooperative Système U. This move is well ahead of any national policy to reduce exposure to BPA. RES calls on the retail sector to follow the lead of Carrefour and Système U. "RES is pleased with this action, which we hope will spread to the entire retail sector. This is a measure that the State should embrace in order to eliminate once and for all this source of population exposure to BPA, ", said Yannick Vicaire, Policy Officer at RES. Despite the positive move to remove BPA from receipts, RES is keen to emphasise that the endocrine disrupting chemical is also present in food contact materials. They call on retailers to ensure that BPA is removed completely from circulation in order to minimise people’s exposure. Companies have a duty to provide information to consumers, at no charge, about harmful chemicals present in many consumer products. But consumers must ask for the information! Read HEAL’s leaflet on using your right to know, and show companies you want safer products. RES Press Release |
| 07/01/2011 | Joint call for tap water temperature limits to reduce the number of severe scalds to children Hot bath water is the most common cause of severe scalds to young children in Europe. HEAL member, The European Child Safety Alliance (ECSA) has released a position statement and backgrounder on the danger of tap water scalds. The statement is supported by several European and international organisations, including HEAL, as well as national ECSA partners from over 20 European countries. Severe and life-threatening tap water scalds happen quickly. Children have skin 15 times thinner than adult skin, and therefore are more vulnerable. These injuries often end with long hospitalisations, painful surgeries, and even deformation or death. The position statement and background paper outline the severity of the risks and provide specific recommendations for the European Commission and Member States to adopt in order to reduce scald injuries. By limiting the maximum bath water temperature at the exit to 50° C in the European Community, severe scalds and disability to children would be greatly reduced. Read more.. |
| 08/06/2010 | PAN Europe launch guide to sustainable pesticide use HEAL member, the Pesticides Action Network Europe (PAN Europe), have published a guide for the sustainable use of pesticides to support EU member states in the production of their National Action Plans (NAP) - as required under the Sustainable Use Directive. As yet, several countries have come up with promising initiatives for reducing pesticide dependency, though none have yet delivered a complete National Action Plan. All EU member states must be proactive in making change happen. Entitled, “NAP Best practice: Sustainable use of pesticides: implementing a National Action Plan”, the guide provides examples on how some EU member states have already taken action on certain aspects of the National Action Plans and demonstrates that it is possible to make ambitious changes. HEAL’s Sick of pesticides campaign is also featured. The report was distributed at an informal meeting of EU member states and stakeholders to discuss the implementation of the pesticides directive on 14 June. NAP Best Practice; Meeting the challenge, protecting health,environment & biodiversity PAN Europe welcomes any further examples of good practice to reduce pesticide use. |
| 08/06/2010 | Health community call on governments to acknowledge environmental causation of chronic illnesses In April, health professionals met to discuss the latest science and policy developments on the increasing prevalence of chronic multisystem illnesses. The conference was hosted be HEAL member organisation, the European Academy for Environmental Medicine (EUROPAEM) and was held in Wuerzburg, German, April 23 to April 25, 2010. The well attended event saw renowned national and international scientists and health care professionals and patient groups share knowledge on the growing incidence of chronic multisystem illnesses - such as multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CSF), fibromyalgia (FMS) as well as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative diseases, auto immune diseases, and cancer. The conference highlighted that chronic diseases are based on similar pathological mechanisms, many of which are influenced by environmental factors such as chemical pollutants, biological infectious agents, and electromagnetic field (EMF) triggers. Chronic diseases mean long-term patients and such patients require consecutive higher medical costs. This often leads to social exclusion of the affected people. Facing the appalling reports of Europe´s growing financial constraints, especially in public health, a further increase of chronic illnesses will accelerate the ongoing collapse of the National Health Service and medical insurance companies in Europe. Remedy is only possible with a change of priorities from today´s unilaterally symptomatic oriented medicine to causally oriented medicine focusing on cost-effective primary prevention. Conference participants issued a call to European policy makers, urging them to take these findings into consideration and to place more weight, and investment, into precaution, early detection and diagnosis. Conference participants called for the implementation of the already ratified decisions of the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health Ministers held in Budapest in 2004. |
| 08/06/2010 | NGO disappointed as French government report ignores recommendations on the dangers of pesticides On the 28th April the French Parliamentary office for the evaluation of the scientific and technological choices (OPECST) released their final report on “Pesticides and health”. HEAL members Mouvement pour le droit et le respect des générations futures (MDRGF) and RES – Réseau Environnement Sante have both voiced disappointment in what they believe to be, a weak report that fails to acknowledge new science on the treats to health and the environment from pesticides. The disappointment of the NGO community is particularly acute as their welcomed input to the draft report year – where they had voiced their concerns and provided scientific evident to support these – was not acknowledged in the final version. You can read the read the press releases (in French) from MDRGF and RES. |
| 08/03/2010 | Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment HEAL member, The Association for Research and treatments Against Cancer (ARTAC's correspondence on environmental causation of prostate cancer was published in the National Cancer Institute (JINCI). The article highlights that increases in incidence of prostate cancer globally are not only due to the improvement of screening techniques but due to environmental factors. Summary - Re: Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment After the Introduction of Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening: 1986–2005 - the full article can be found here Over-diagnosis associated with screening is considered to be the explanation for the growing incidence of a variety of cancers, including prostate and breast cancers. But if we analysed the incidence of prostate cancer much before 1986, we could observed in several European cancer registries with sufficient follow-up and record quality that the incidence of prostate and breast cancers were already increasing before the use of screening tests. For example in Norway there is a break point in the slopes of the incidence curves occurs between 1992 and 1993, which corresponds to when routine mam¬mography and PSA screening became stan¬dard practice in this country. Before the introduction of these tests (1953–1993), the number of prostate cancers doubled and that of breast cancers nearly doubled. Other factors should therefore be considered to explain the growing incidence of these can¬cers. Indeed, endocrine disruption caused by environmental pollutants is a common mechanism of chemical carcinogenesis that might also account for a genuine growing incidence of both these two hor¬mone-dependent cancers. For example, mass production of the xeno-estrogenic polycarbonate plastic molecule bisphenol A has been shown to initiate and promote prostate cancer in laboratory animals, and this may be true in humans. So in this paper we suggest that in addition to overdiagno¬sis because of screening, the growing inci¬dence of prostate cancer may be associated with a genuine environment-related public health problem, as it may also be the case for breast cancer and nonscreened cancer types. |
| 08/03/2010 | Promoting green health care The health system generates thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, not to mention the wider environmental repercussions - all of which increase year on year. Earlier this month the Economist Online ran an article on greening our health care systems. HEAL member, Health Care Without Harm Europe, provided useful input from the NGO community, highlighting the vision of a health care sector that does no harm and promotes the health of people and the environment. Anja Leetz encourage the implementation of ecologically sound and healthy alternatives to the current health care practices that pollute the environment and contribute to disease. Article: First, do no harm The best way to make hospitals green is to keep people out of them March 2nd 2010 IN JANUARY the National Health Service (NHS) in England calculated its carbon footprint as the equivalent of 21m tonnes of carbon dioxide a year—just short of the amount emitted by the Drax coal-fired power station in Yorkshire, western Europe’s largest. Unlike the power station’s emissions, though, those of the health service have been increasing: they have grown by half since 1990. Other countries fare no better. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association estimates that America’s health-care industry accounts for 8% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. In Germany, a study by the Viamedica Foundation showed that a hospital’s energy expenditure per bed was roughly the same as that of three newly built homes. The past few years have seen efforts to make things greener. The King Edward Memorial hospital in Mumbai, for example, was recently remodelled with solar heaters and rainwater-collection units. Many hospitals are switching from standard light-bulbs to compact fluorescent or LED lights. The Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas, was the first hospital to be certified “platinum” under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards of the United States’ Green Building Council—the highest designation there is. Moves towards energy efficiency are essential to reduce carbon emissions, but they are not enough. “When hospitals start looking at their energy usage, it is only the first step in a long way,” says Anja Leetz, executive director of Health Care Without Harm, an organisation whose purpose is to implement more environmentally sustainable health care round the world. The NHS study suggests that energy expenditure is responsible for only a quarter of hospital carbon emissions. Procurement—primarily that of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals—is the main culprit, swallowing 60%. Simply disposing of unused pharmaceuticals contributes over 22,000 tonnes of CO2 every year. There are also protocols and procedures which add a lot of carbon without providing a great deal of health. Before the risks of mad-cow disease were understood, the NHS routinely reused its nailclippers. Now the one-in-10m estimated risk of transmitting Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, the human equivalent of mad-cow, has made it common to use clippers only once. A low risk creates a mountain of waste. One way to avoid such problems is for people to stay at home and, when necessary, be visited by a podiatrist who uses the patient's own clippers. And this illustrates one of the wisest tactics hospitals and clinics can make use of as they try to become greener: keeping people out and looking after them at home instead. Fewer admissions, lower emissions. Easier said than done. David Pencheon, the director of the NHS’s Sustainable Development Unit, says shifting health care out of hospitals means reworking the system from the inside out. But it is possible. “We have the technology to deliver services in more accurate ways,” says Dr Pencheon. Smaller and more efficient machines, for example, make it easier for treatments like dialysis and chemotherapy to take place in the home. Consultations, too, need not necessarily involve travel. Kidney-transplant patients at the University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire are given the option to have three out of four of their quarterly post-operative “visits” conducted by phone. That is a couple of tonnes of CO2 saved right there. Like the first wave of environmental responsibility, which focused on energy efficiency and design, moves to decentralise health care in this way can often reduce environmental impacts without sacrificing quality and safety. Much of this greenery could also save money. The Confederation of British Industry, a business lobby group, estimates that £15 billion could be saved by treating chronic diseases at home. |
| 08/02/2010 | New project promoting children’s environment and health HEAL member, The Paediatric Cultural Association (ACP), will launch a project to promote children’s environment and health this month (February). “Let’s give a helping hand for a better world” will be run jointly by ACP and the district of Padua. The campaign aims to work with young children from 0-6 years and their families to promote awareness of environment and health issues and the adoption of positive environmental health practices. The project called “Let’s give a helping hand for a better world” aims to demonstrate that small changes by individuals and communities to improve the environment and people’s health can have significant long-term environment and health benefits. The campaign will work across the district of Padua, with some 104 municipalities and a total of 900.000 inhabitants. The campaign will use specifically tailored ‘tool-kits’ to enhance their messages, such as children’s books, interactive posters. The kits will be distributed to all local authorities for use in schools, public libraries and doctors' surgeries. Four children's stories have been created to explain and encourage good environmental health practices and demonstrate how these can easily be achieved.. The ultimate goal of this project is to engage children, their families and communities in small actions that help promote the environment and people’s health. By raising awareness of environment and health issues, the project aims to improve health, reduce climate change, and decrease urban pollution and increase children’s physical activity in the Padua region. |
| 08/02/2010 | New coalition created for safer toys HEAL member organisations WECF and Eco Accord, alongside a group of international health and environment non-governmental organisations have formed a new working group to ensure safe toys for the healthy future of children. The “Safe Toys Coalition” aims to protect children’s health by striving for a world free of toxic and unsafe toys. They address decision makers, producers, retailers and the public on national, regional and international level and help consumers to make informed decisions about the products they buy. The coalition has set out the following aims for the first year of the campaign; To promote their mission at events on national and international level (such as the international toy fair in Nuremberg, the SAICM working group on chemicals in products, the re-opening of the discussion on endocrine disruptors in the EU toys directive etc.), To call on national governments for safer, toxic-free toys, To establish a joint work plan of activities, To publish and disseminate the consumer guide on safe toys (already available in 13 languages). If you are working in the area of children’s environment and health and would like to become part of the Safe Toys Coalition please send at email to Alexandra Caterbow. |
| 08/02/2010 | New child injury fact sheets HEAL member, the European Child Safety Alliance have launched a new range of fact sheets on child injury prevention. The new fact sheets cover a range of injury topic themes including water, road, home and leisure, and product safety. Each sheet includes European based data and injury facts, effective prevention measures, and recommended actions and policies. European Child Safety Alliance is a programme of the European Association for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (EuroSafe). Direction for the programme is provided by a Steering Group (committee), composed of representatives of the 30 Member States of the European Union (observers also participate from EU applicant countries) and affiliated child injury prevention organisations. Download the fact sheets |
| 08/12/2009 | Preventing Obesity in Europe- EUROPREVOB Project HEAL member, the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) participated in the final meeting of the EURO-PREVOB project as a policy adviser. The project aims to link scientific knowledge to policy making to reduce the burden of obesity in Europe. The meeting brought together project partners and advisers to discuss the work conducted to date and consider strategies for taking this work forward. Partners involved in this project include the WHO Europe Office and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). The EURO-PREVOB project is a three-year Coordination Action project that supports collaboration among existing networks working on the social and economic determinants of obesity in Europe, taking account of the diversity among European countries and the strong social gradient associated with obesity. EPHA has participated in most of the projects meetings- please find a more comprehensive overview of the project here. The final meeting focussed on the devlopment of a set of recommendations to feed into the policy-making processes across Europe. The recommendations were compiled with the data collected from policy analyses and community questionnaires carried out by the project partners across a number of EU Member States. They outline a number of policy options for obesity prevention and the creation of health-supporting environments across the socioeconomic spectrum. Discussions amongst the participants identified the need to make the recommendations as strong and specific as possible, given the extensive evidence-base that already exists. Following input from the participants, the Scientific Committee will adopt a final set of recommendations by the end of January 2010. The project has resulted in extensive literature and policy reviews, and a not insignificant amount of data has also been collected. Following the conclusions of the project, the deliverables will be widely disseminated, including possible peer-reviewed papers. |
| 08/12/2009 | No More BPA Campaign launched in UK and France On December 1st a dual campaign was launched in the UK and France to ban the use of the toxic chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) in baby bottles as there is increasing evidence and concern of risks to health posed by BPA. HEAL members, Breast Cancer UK and Réseau Environnement Santé (RES) met during the October HEAL annual general meeting, and launched the campaign at the beginning of December in the UK and France. BPA is widely used in plastics and has been a growing concern for scientists in many countries and has been banned in Canada. You can read more about BPA on the Chemicals Health Monitor website UK campaign The No More BPA Campaign, run by Breast Cancer UK, is calling for the UK Government to take action to end the use of BPA in baby bottles sold in the UK. This call is backed by NCT (formerly National Childbirth Trust), UNISON, The Women’s Environmental Network, the Cancer Prevention and Education Society and CHEM Trust. In a nationwide UK public opinion poll, released by Breast Cancer UK, of more than 2000 UK adults, 79% said ‘that it is important that the UK Government acts in a precautionary way when it comes to protecting babies and very young children from BPA’. While 61% of the public think that the UK Government should ‘act to end the use of BPA in baby bottles’ while only 10% think the Government ‘should follow the current Food Standards Agency guidelines and leave things as they are’. An influential group of UK scientists, have also written to the UK Secretary of State for Health urging him to ‘to adopt a standpoint consistent with the approach taken by other Governments who have ended the use of BPA in food contact products marketed at children’. The launch of the campaign received huge coverage by both broadcast and print media in the UK and internationally. No More BPA Campaign – www.nomorebpa.org.uk French campaign The campaign in France was launched at a well attended press conference in the Assemblee Nationale in Paris. Delegates heard from Gerard Bapt, Mayor of the municipality of Saint Jean in the south west department of France, Haute-Garonne. Mayor Bapt announced his decision to ban BPA in drinks bottles within the municipality of Saint-Jean. Mayor Bapt revealed that the regional government of Haute-Garonne had asked him to remove the ban but he had insisted that it be kept in place saying: “The scientific evidence published in the last 6 months on BPA confirms the toxicity of this chemical substance and calls for a ban of the substance on food packaging”. Also speaking at the conference, Andre Cicolella from RES presented his recent detailed review of the latest scientific studies on BPA. The work highlights many new studies that indicate the threats to health posed by BPA. In particular he revealed a study showing the link between BPA exposure in pregnant women and effects on behavior of their children at 2 years old. Andre’s review is currently only available in French but will also be available in English soon. As part of the campaign, RES have translated the excellent short film made by BCUK on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and breast cancer. You can watch the film in French here. Full report on the Paris press conference |
| 08/12/2009 | No More BPA Campaign launched in UK and France On December 1st a dual campaign was launched in the UK and France to ban the use of the toxic chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) in baby bottles as there is increasing evidence and concern of risks to health posed by BPA. HEAL members, Breast Cancer UK and Réseau Environnement Santé (RES) met during the October HEAL annual general meeting, and launched the campaign at the beginning of December in the UK and France. BPA is widely used in plastics and has been a growing concern for scientists in many countries and has been banned in Canada. You can read more about BPA on the Chemicals Health Monitor website UK campaign The No More BPA Campaign, run by Breast Cancer UK, is calling for the UK Government to take action to end the use of BPA in baby bottles sold in the UK. This call is backed by NCT (formerly National Childbirth Trust), UNISON, The Women’s Environmental Network, the Cancer Prevention and Education Society and CHEM Trust. In a nationwide UK public opinion poll, released by Breast Cancer UK, of more than 2000 UK adults, 79% said ‘that it is important that the UK Government acts in a precautionary way when it comes to protecting babies and very young children from BPA’. While 61% of the public think that the UK Government should ‘act to end the use of BPA in baby bottles’ while only 10% think the Government ‘should follow the current Food Standards Agency guidelines and leave things as they are’. An influential group of UK scientists, have also written to the UK Secretary of State for Health urging him to ‘to adopt a standpoint consistent with the approach taken by other Governments who have ended the use of BPA in food contact products marketed at children’. The launch of the campaign received huge coverage by both broadcast and print media in the UK and internationally. No More BPA Campaign – www.nomorebpa.org.uk French campaign The campaign in France was launched at a well attended press conference in the Assemblee Nationale in Paris. Delegates heard from Gerard Bapt, Mayor of the municipality of Saint Jean in the south west department of France, Haute-Garonne. Mayor Bapt announced his decision to ban BPA in drinks bottles within the municipality of Saint-Jean. Mayor Bapt revealed that the regional government of Haute-Garonne had asked him to remove the ban but he had insisted that it be kept in place saying: “The scientific evidence published in the last 6 months on BPA confirms the toxicity of this chemical substance and calls for a ban of the substance on food packaging”. Also speaking at the conference, Andre Cicolella from RES presented his recent detailed review of the latest scientific studies on BPA. The work highlights many new studies that indicate the threats to health posed by BPA. In particular he revealed a study showing the link between BPA exposure in pregnant women and effects on behavior of their children at 2 years old. Andre’s review is currently only available in French but will also be available in English soon. As part of the campaign, RES have translated the excellent short film made by BCUK on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and breast cancer. You can watch the film in French here. Full report on the Paris press conference |
| 08/12/2009 | HEAL welcomes three new members This month, HEAL welcomes three new provisional member organisations from Hungary, Armenia and France. Their full membership will be confirmed at the next HEAL annual general meeting. We look forward to working with these new members in the coming months and years. Clean Air Action Group Clean Air Action Group is a public benefit organisation based in Hungary, working at national level. Aims of the Clean Air Action Group: • Working to implement the most fundamental human right, the right to live and to be healthy. All other human rights can only be put into effect with full respect of this basic human right. • Supporting efforts that aim to keep the impact of human activities within the limits of nature’s capacity. • Achieving healthy environments for people in built-up areas, including the interior environments. Find out more about the Clean Air Action Group on their website Women for Green Way for Generations (WGWG) Women for Green Way for Generations is an NGO based in Armenia. It was founded in 2001. WGWG contributes to the sustainable way of people’s living (predominantly women’s and children’s) and to the perception of their rights to be healthy, to have healthy generations and to live in healthy environment. Find out more about the Women for Green Way for Generations on their website Committee for Sustainable Development in Health C2DS C2DS was set up by a group of hospitals in order to establish a healthcare community committed to environmentally responsible healthcare. It is based in France. C2DS is endorsed by the French Ministry of Health. C2DS are involved in a range of environmental issues in healthcare, with a focus on providing a “green education” for the healthcare sector. They are closely involved in developing their work on Green Purchasing. If you would like to know more about C2DS you can visit their website |
| 08/12/2009 | Ireland hosts 19 countries for discussions on Child Safety Action Plans in Europe The Ministry of Health and Children and the Health Services Executive of Ireland hosted the European Child Safety Alliance and its partners on the Child Safety Action Plan (CSAP) initiative for a two-day meeting on December 2-3. Held in the historic Dublin Castle, the meeting was officially opened by Minister Aíne Brady who welcomed representatives from 19 countries and indicated that Ireland’s performance grade of ‘fair’ on their Child Safety Report Card meant they had work to do on child injury and would address this. During the meeting project partners shared progress and current challenges in developing and/or implementing their child safety action plans and discussed the great value the project has had for child injury in their countries. In particular, it was identified how the Child Safety Action Plan project has become the umbrella programme from which all the other activities of the European Child Safety Alliance flow. The framework and information the initiative has provided and the capacity it has built have established a stronger base from which the Alliance network can take specific child safety actions. Representatives from 19 European countries participated in the European Child Safety Alliance CSAP meeting in Dublin, Ireland. The CSAP initiative is part of a larger European Commission funded project, PHASE, which officially runs to June 2010. |
| 08/12/2009 | Book: Paediatric evidence in environment and health February 2010 will see the launch of new book highlighting examples and evidence of children’s environment and health. The book will provide examples from leading Paediatricians and aims to emphasis the link between pollution and childhood illnesses, and raise of awareness of preventive healthcare. “Children and Environment: what the Paediatricians say” is the work of the Italian scientific organisation, the Paediatric Cultural Association (ACP). Following the report on children’s environment and health 2004 by World Health Organization, ACP conducted a survey of over 400 Italian paediatricians. The results revealed that many paediatricians are not aware of the link between environmental pollution and child health. This new book seeks to emphasize to the Paediatric community the importance of links between environment and health. The book highlights particularly the vulnerability of children to environment pollution, indoor and outdoor atmospheric pollution, food and water contamination, ultraviolet and electromagnetic radiation, noise pollution. It combines the most current scientific evidence regarding linking pollution and child health, with examples of good practice risk reduction for both individuals and community. In accompaniment to the book there is a series of brochures for the public which demonstrate key factors to improve environment and health. “Children and Environment: what the Paediatricians say” will be published in February 2010 by ‘Pensiero Scientifico Editore’. It will be the first of its kind in the Italian scientific publishing market, and will be followed by series reports highlighting individual case studies in environment and health. |
| 10/11/2009 | Tackling inequalities in home safety The European Child Home Safety Conference, hosted by Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and HEAL member, the European Child Safety Alliance, took place on November 2nd and 3rd in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Over 100 child safety experts from across Europe attended the conference, representing nearly 20 European countries. Injuries which occur in the home are one of the leading causes of death of European children 0 to 14 years of age. Children from lower income communities as well as those from lower income countries across Europe suffer much higher rates of life-threatening injuries, including dangerous falls, burns and scalds and poisonings. Yet we know that many of these injuries are easily preventable with simple measures tied to engineering, enforcement and education. Janice Cave, RoSPA director of public affairs, who represents the charity at the European Child Safety Alliance, said: “One of the outstanding strengths of this event is the diversity of experience among participants, both delegates and speakers. The varied programme offers a glimpse of the many different aspects of the child home safety dialogue.” Monday’s programme focused on the role of national governments and European-level interventions. Morag MacKay of the European Child Safety Alliance presented an overview of national policies of EU countries and emphasised that national legislation is an important step in beginning to address inequalities. Delegates heard from Henry Watson of the Department of Children, Schools and Families, who highlighted their national “Safe at Home” initiative, which provides home safety equipment and education to deprived families with young children. In the afternoon the delegates broke into workshop sessions which targeted the themes multi-sectoral partnering, education, and product safety legislation challenges. Tom Vanrenterghem of Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, provided perspective on the challenges he, as a product engineer, faces in creating packaging that is both safe for children and environmentally sustainable. During an evening dinner, a theatrical performer in the role of Queen Elizabeth regaled and educated the crowd with true tales of children’s health and safety during the medieval era. Photo: Surprise guest Queen Elizabeth presenting on medieval child safety practices, during the gala dinner at the European Child Home Safety Conference in England, with Joanne Vincenten, European Child Safety Alliance. Tuesday’s programme provided a fascinating look at several international case studies. Delegates were treated to presentations on several diverse interactive education programmes: England’s LASER programme which focuses on educating teens to manage risk; Austria’s Child Safety House, which teaches parents and children to identify dangers at home; Israel’s SafeHome programme, which works closely with the Arab population on how to build their own homes safely; and a presentation from Portugal showing how home safety can be tied directly into elementary science education programmes to the great benefit of both disciplines. Further presentations were made on tap water scald prevention in England, and community engagement actions in Scotland which tied together caring for the young and the elderly. The final presentation illuminated the relationship between injuries and the portrayal of risky behaviour on television. Joanne Vincenten, Director of European Child Safety Alliance, who provided closing remarks to the conference, said: "The investment in prevention of home injuries has not been commensurate with the size of the problem and attention to this matter needs to occur at the same level of that as in road safety." |
| 10/11/2009 | Report - Improving school sanitation in a sustainable way In the European Region (of 53 countries), 120 million people do not have access to safe drinking water, and even more lack access to hygienic sanitary facilities. Better management of water and sanitation would prevent over 30 million cases of water-related disease per year in the region. HEAL member, Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), have released a report on how to improve school sanitation in sustainable way. Little is known about access to adequate water supply and safe sanitation for public institutions such as schools in the eastern European region. Since the independence of former Soviet states, such as Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia and others, existing central water and sewage systems are often badly maintained and no longer functioning. WECF carried out research on issues of water and sanitation in rural areas of the EU countries Romania and Bulgaria, and in 10 EECCA countries. Many of these countries have some of worst conditions of school sanitation in rural areas – with groundwater often polluted by infiltration of nitrates and micro organism. It was found that in many situations, visiting the latrine is a threat to children's health. The toilets are often far from the school, with little privacy and are unhygienic. Very often children and school staff try to avoid a visit to the facility by reducing their intake of liquids. In demonstration projects, WECF improved the sanitary condition of the schools and showed how to manage human excreta in an affordable, safe and sustainable way. It was shown, that even without a connection to the central water or sewage system, the dry urine-diverting toilet is a very fast and easy tool to improving the sanitary conditions of schools in an affordable and sustainable way, and to protect groundwater against infiltration of human excreta. WECF call for more attention to be paid to school sanitation amongst regional, national and international policy makers. In order to improve the sanitary conditions in schools, regulations on the adoption of urine-diversion systems and the reuse of the human excreta in agriculture are needed. |
| 10/11/2009 | Report - Many cancers linked to environmental factors In a report published this month, The Association for Research and Treatments Against Cancer (ARTAC) states that the majority of cancers may be linked to factors external to the body. The report, ‘Basic properties and molecular mechanisms of exogenous chemical carcinogens’ was published in the American Journal Carcinogenesis in November. The authors, Philippe Irigaray and Dominique Belpomme, found that most cancers are exogenous, caused by external factors, rather than endogenous, caused by internal factors. Until now, chemical carcinogenesis has predominantly been attributed to endogenous factors. However, this report highlights that exogenous chemical carcinogens (ECCs), which result from tobacco smoking or from involuntary exposure to environmental chemicals may also be important contributors to carcinogenesis. It is already known that this is the case for micro-organisms and ionizing radiation. Exogenous chemical carcinogenesis is an extremely complex multi-factorial process during which gene-environment interactions, involving chronic exposure to ECCs and polymorphisms of cancer susceptibility genes, add further complexity. The report describes the properties and molecular mechanisms of ECCs that contribute to induce and generate cancer, and discusses the hypothesis according to which these properties and mechanisms may make exogenous chemicals more prone to cause cancer than endogenous natural molecules. ECCs have different characteristics – but most share the basic ability to build-up in the body, to bio-accumulate, and from here they may be released into the blood circulation and target peripheral tissues for carcinogenesis. Another basic property of ECCs is their ability to induce stable and bulky DNA adducts which cannot be simply repaired by the different repair systems and so generate mutations. In addition, following ECC exposure, mutations of genes may also be caused indirectly by free radical production and by epigenetic alterations. The report concludes that because of the numerous and complex molecular properties and action mechanisms, ECCs could be major contributors to human cancer, and therefore are a clear threat to public health. |
| 10/11/2009 | Letters sent to EU Environmental Ministries asking for tighter control over chemicals In October, Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) wrote letters to Environmental Ministries in Germany, France and The Netherlands asking them to set ambitious standards for chemicals during the revision of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) The RoHS Directive on the restrictions of hazardous chemicals in electrical and electronic equipment (2002/95/EC) is currently under review. In October, the WECF sent letters to the German, French and Dutch Ministry of Environment (the German letter was cosigned by the Friends of the Earth) to ask them to add more hazardous chemicals to the restricted list. WECF called for a ban of all organobromine and organochlorine compounds including as a minimum TBBP-A (tetra bromo bisphenol A), chlorinated paraffins such as MCCPs, SCCPs (short chain & medium chain chlorinated paraffins) and chlorinated cycloaliphatic compounds such as HBCDD (hexabromocyclododecane) and PVC and all phthalates including as a minimum DEHP, BBP, DBP, DINP and DIDP. All these substances constitute significantly health and environmental risks, while alternatives already available. Many electrical and electronic equipment producers have already stopped using them and actively communicate this in the context of their environmental policy. Of specific concern is the endocrine disrupting potential of many of these chemicals. Endocrine disruptors affect the development of the body's vital organs and hormonal systems. Infants, children and developing fetuses are more vulnerable to exposure. These groups are also at greater risk from the cumulative effects of endocrine disruptor exposure. And as was the case with the chemical diethylstilbestrol (DES), parents' exposure to certain chemicals may produce unexpected and tragic effects in their children, even decades later. As RoHS is embraced globally by other political entities. Setting a high environmental and health standard in EU during the current directive revision will set a bench mark globally. |
| 10/09/2009 | Test your nest: New kit to test air quality in your home The Nesting campaign - a project of Women in Europe for a Common Future, aiming to help new parents make a safe home environment for their children - has launched its second phase of the campaign to test the nest. Test your nest offers new parents a unique opportunity to test the air quality in their homes and especially the air in their baby's room. The kit will be provided to families in five European countries (UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Greece) and measures pollutants indoors such as formaldehyde and other VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds. WECF encourages parents to participate in these tests. The questionnaire can be found on the WECF website. The test aims to measure the air quality in baby rooms during October. Participation costs are £20 and include the postage fee, the test itself is free. Participants will receive two samplers in protected packaging from WECF. The samplers have to be placed for seven days in the baby's room. The procedure is simple and there is no risk on your part. After this period, the samplers can be returned to WECF will send the samples for laboratory analysis. The individual test results will be sent to the parents in the following weeks. |
| 10/09/2009 | Short film on EDCs and breast cancer HEAL member, Breast Cancer UK have released a new video on endocrine disrupting chemicals and their links to breast cancer. The 5 minute video forms part of Breast Cancer UK's ongoing No More Breast Cancer campaign, that began in 2005. As part of this push, they will soon also be launching a campaign calling for the banning of the use of Bisphenol-A from baby and toddler products. |
| 10/09/2009 | Research: key mechanisms of pesticide-induced cancer ARTAC (the Association for Research and Treatments Against Cancer) have recently published new research on the effects of pesticides on the rise of cancer incidence in the West Indies. Prostate and breast cancers have become frequent in Martinique. The study reveals that the growth curves of incidence rates for Martinique and metropolitan France have been significantly diverging since 1983. They suggest that among possible environmental factors in Martinique, the intensive and prolonged exposure to pesticides may account for the observed growing incidence of prostate cancer. Further to this, they suggest pesticides may also be causally involved in the growing incidence of breast cancer through a common endocrine disruption mechanism. The authors call for protective medical recommendations to be immediately set up and carried out by general practitioners, paediatricians, obstetricians, gynaecologists and urologists. The also recommend that public health measures of primary precaution and prevention should be urgently taken in close collaboration with health professionals in order to protect the population, especially pregnant women and children, to contibute to a reduction in Martinique's cancer epidemic. |
| 10/09/2009 | International Conference on Children’s Environment and Health - Call for abstracts and registration The 5th International Conference on Children’s Environment and Health offers a worldwide platform dealing with health problems of children caused by important environmental influences. Bangalore 1st of February – 3rd February 2010 This conference, the fifth after Amsterdam (1998), Washington (2001), London (2004) and Vienna (2007) is initiated by HEAL member, the International Network on Children’s Health, Environment and Safety (INCHES) - in collaboration with the H.P.Foundation in Bangalore, India and with support of the previous organisers the University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology; Dept. of Public Health, and the Medical University of Vienna, Institute of Environmental Health. Who should attend This cross-sectional conference is intended for health professionals, scientists (clinical, environmental epidemiological and community oriented) and policy makers who have a special interest in children's environmental health, as well as leaders from the private sector, non-governmental organisations and community organisations, and all levels of government. Call for abstracts All participants are invited to submit an abstract for an oral or poster presentation during the conference. The abstracts will be reviewed by the scientific committee. Each presenter will receive a confirmation letter of acceptance and the decision if the presentation is accepted as a poster presentation. Abstracts should preferably address the conference themes: Children and the health effects due to climate change Children’s Health, Environment and Policies Children and water related problems Children and heavy metals Childhood-based cancer causes Children and air pollution Neurodevelopmental effects in children Endocrine Disrupters Children as risk group and cross-cutting issues Children and noise Clustering of diseases Risk communication Children's right to a healthy environment |
| 10/09/2009 | Guidance: sustainable and safe school sanitation To underline the importance of sustainable and safe school sanitation, HEAL member WECF, has published a guildlines on how to provide hygienic, affordable and indoor sanitation in areas without a functioning waste water system. School sanitation is an important but often neglected issue for public health. Children are most vulnerable and affected by poor sanitation conditions. Related diseases, particularly diarrhoea and parasite infections hinder the children´s physical and intellectual development. In a number of countries, evaluations have shown that pupils are dropping out of school due to bad toilet conditions. The publication provides information on how to make school sanitation sustainable and succesfull. The focus is on urine diverting dry school toilet (UDDT) systems (or often called ecosan systems) which were successfully implemented by WECF together with local partners in different countries of the EECCA region. UDD toilets offer high quality and comfort. Because of the separation technology in the toilet device, these toilets do not smell or attract flies. For the operation, no water is used for flushing. Water is however needed for the hand washing facilities which are always included in the projects. The content of this publication is based on the experiences of WECF and its partners on how to provide hygienic, affordable and indoor sanitation in areas without a functioning wastewater system as they are also implemented in sub-urban areas, with examples from Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. The publication is written for school directors and teachers, administration employees, engineers, architects and construction workers from the field and NGOs. |
| 10/08/2009 | New research on environmental justice in Roma communities Environmental injustice and the social exclusion of Roma communities in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has roots in historical patterns of ethnic exclusion and widening socioeconomic inequalities, according to a new report. Tamara Steger, Vice-President of HEAL and assistant professor at the Centre for Environmental Policy and Law in Hungary, has co-authored a new publication on environmental justice in Roma communities. The report finds that historical patterns of ethnic exclusion and widening socio-economic inequalities, following the collapse of state socialism and the transition to multi-party parliamentary governments in 1989, have lead to the current environmental and social injustices experienced by Roma communities in CEE. The report examines some of the methodological considerations in environmental justice research and the theoretical perspectives on environmental inequalities and social exclusion. Particularly, they discuss the dynamics of discrimination and environmental protection regarding the Roma in Central and Eastern Europe, summarising two case studies on environmental justice in Slovakia and Hungary. The authors argue that with the perception of some landscapes and social groups as outside the limits of environmental regulation, public participation and civil rights, local means of avoiding environmental harms can be created. |
| 10/08/2009 | HEAL Secretariat News July - August 2009 Staff changes In July we said goodbye to Monica Guarinoni, HEAL Deputy Director. Monica is moving to work on environmental projects with the European Commission. Having been with HEAL since our beginnings, Monica’s hard work and cheerful outlook will be missed very much. We wish her the best of luck for her new position, and are very thankful that her new office is only 100 meters from HEAL! From September, Gill Erskine who joined the HEAL team in March as an intern, will be starting as our Policy and Information Officer. Gill will be the first point of contact for HEAL members’ and will be coordinating the newsletter and HEAL members’ projects. She will also be following the policy areas of pesticides and air quality. Publications Guidance: Damp and Mould Health risks, prevention and remedial actions Report: Green 10: European Commission environmental progress report & lessons for the next commission Open letter: 17th July – HEAL, the European Federation for Transport and Environment and the European Environmental Bureau sent a letter to President Barrosso regarding possible postponement of the entry into force date of Euro VI air pollution standards for heavy goods vehicles Press Releases 31/07/2009 Respiratory doctors call for EU action on climate change 25/06/2009 EU says cancer prevention needs to address environmental factors 18/06/2009 Green groups: European Commission off target Conferences and Meetings 10th June - The Green 10 held a press conference for the launch of their Commission End of Term review. Both Monica Guarinoni and Gill Erskine->gill@env-health.org] attended. 12th June – Gill Erskine presented the joint HEAL and European Federation of Allergy and Airway Diseases Patients Association (EFA) project Know Your Air For Health->www.knowyourairforhealth.eu] at the EFA AGM in Rome. 15th – 16th June- Lisette attended the 2nd Meeting of the Competent Authorities for REACH and Classification, Labelling & Packaging of Hazardous Substances. The meeting chaired was by the European Commission, with representatives of Member State Ministries responsible for chemicals management, of the European Chemicals Agency, and stakeholders, concerning the implementation of REACH & CLP. 16th – 17th June - Genon attended the WHO European Environment and Health Committee (EEHC) meeting in Andorra in preparation for the Fifth Ministerial Conference to be held in Parma, Italy, in 2010. 17th June – Lisette participated in a steering committee meeting to guide the joint environment & health NGOs’ representative on the European Chemicals Agency Management Board. 18th June - Lisette represented HEAL at the press conference in Paris to launch the new HEAL and MDGRF Victimes des pesticides. 22nd – 23rd June – Gill attended the European Environmental Bureau’s (EEB) Clean Air Working Group in Brussels, proving updates on HEAL’s joint air quality projects with the European Respiratory Society European Federation of Allergy and Airway Diseases Patients Association. 2nd – 3rd July Lisette participated in the bi-annual meeting of the European Environmental Bureau’s Chemicals Working Group in Brussels. Lisette gave policy updates on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals; REACH and Consumer Right to Know, and Pesticides. 5th July – Pendo attended the Ecosphere Environmental Enforcement Round-table. Discussions focused on EU environmental law implementation with presentations by Commissioners. Pendo presented our HEAL and Healthcare Without Harm Europe (HCWH E) climate change work. 6th July- Lisette attended a Roundtable with European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) stakeholders (industries, health & environmental NGOs, European Parliament). This meeting discussed ECHA’s plans & policies to make the newly available information on chemicals from the registration dossiers available to the public, which must be on the internet and free of charge according to the REACH law. Lisette gave an oral presentation of a joint NGO comments paper. 8th July – Gill and Lisette hosted a workshop with young people on climate change and chemicals and health. The workshop was organized as part of the European Commission’s Youth and Health Conference (9th – 10th July). Gill also attended the conference which was held in Brussels. |
| 10/08/2009 | HEAL and MDRGF launch new network for health risks from pesticides exposures HEAL (the Health and Environment Alliance) and our French NGO member, MDRGF (Movement for the Rights and Respect of Future Generations) and have launched at network for people with health problems related to pesticide exposure. The launch took place at a press conference on Thursday 18 June 2009 in Paris. Aurèle Clémencin, who is joint pesticides campaign coordinator for MDRGF and HEAL in France, said: "We want to help people who are affected, by raising awareness of the dangers of exposure and calling for reductions in exposure and for substitution of the most harmful pesticides in current use." The campaign by will be known as "Victimes des pesticides - votre santé, notre priorité" (Pesticide sufferers - your health, our priority). The launch heard from a farmer with Parkinson's Disease, a person suffering coughs and allergies caused by living next door to a frequently-sprayed apple and nectarine orchard, and from the father of a four year-old boy suffering from hyperthyroidism. Dr S Alkhallaf, a paediatric oncologist at Raymond Poincaré Hospital near Paris, reviewed the scientific evidence; and, lawyer Stéphane Cottineau described existing regulation. François Veillerette, MDRGF President, told the meeting that his organization had been receiving telephone calls from people complaining about the effects of pesticide exposure for many years. He said that a new website had been created to give these affected people an opportunity to describe their experiences. The farmer from Alsace told the meeting that he had developed Parkinson's Disease having been "showered in herbicides" when a pipe in the spraying machine had burst. Then 25 years old, he was treated in hospital for acute poisoning. Eight years later, at the young age of 33 years, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's, a condition known to be associated with pesticide exposure, and otherwise normally appearing later in life. A recent US study on pesticide and Parkinson's Disease shows that exposure to Maneb and/or Paraquat in the environment (within 500 meters of spraying) increases the average risk of developing Parkinson's by 75%. The medical expert at the launch emphasised the special vulnerability of young people and children. Child cancer paediatrician, Dr Alkhallaf cited a UK report on the risk of cancer in children as a result of their mother's exposure to pollutants. Children born to mothers living near "hot spots" for the emission of certain chemicals have 2-4 times greater risk of developing leukaemia or other child cancer before the age of 16 years. Dr Alkhallaf reminded participants that last year Inserm, the national health research institute in France, had produced a report on cancer and the environment that had identified the risks related to the use of pesticides in the home. It stated that mothers' use of insecticides at home either during pregnancy or while the child was young was associated with leukaemia and, to a lesser extent, brain tumours in the child. Obtaining justice for those affected by pesticide exposure was extremely difficult. Lawyer Stéphane Cottineau was disappointed by "the absence of any serious regulation to protect individuals from pesticide spraying." No protection zone around households exists nor are there any norms for the protection of bystanders. In theory, farmers are forbidden from spraying when the wind is blowing faster than 19 km/hour but this requirement is difficult to monitor and carries no legal sanction. It is left to the person affected to provide proof that the law has been broken. MDRGF would like to see protection zones around households, schools, buildings and open spaces that are close to pesticide spraying. They have asked three French ministries (health, ecology and agriculture) for three changes: to remove the most dangerous pesticides from the market, to install protection zones in the countryside to protect people exposed to intensive farming, and to ban the ‘cosmetic’ use of pesticides in towns. >> European context Lisette van Vliet, HEAL Policy Advisor, told the meeting that the European Union had recently introduced new pesticides legislation and a thematic strategy. One of the objectives of the EU reform is to reduce the negative impact of pesticides on health. EU legislation requires countries to introduce national action plans over the next two years. "A possibility therefore currently exists to push for strong national action plans on pesticides, such as setting targets for 50% reductions in pesticide use," she said. Countries will have two years to transpose the new directive into national law once it has been approved by the Council, which will probably take place in September or October 2009. The new network is believed to be the first of its kind in Europe. In the UK, Georgina Downs has been campaigning against passive exposure to pesticides for more than 10 years but no formal support network exists. The UK Pesticides Action Network in London answers telephone enquiries to those affected by pesticide exposure and offers a series of leaflets on health and pesticide exposure, known as the PEX briefings |
| 10/08/2009 | Call for global action on Chronic Respiratory Disease The World Health Organisation (WHO) and HEAL member, the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases (EFA), brought together over 150 international delegates to discuss the growing epidemic of Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRD) that affects one billion people worldwide, and is responsible for four million deaths annually. The conference, held in Rome in mid-June, discussed the implementation of a five-year initiative to unite policy makers, providers and patient groups. EFA and the WHO Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD) are working for and with respiratory disease patients for a world where everyone breathes freely. The conference examined the role of patient organisations and the implementation of the GARD Action Plan 2008-2013 within the framework of the WHO’s Action Plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2008-2013. The action plan shows that there is a clear need for collaboration between health policy makers, providers and patient organisations to improve care and the environment and the integration of health concerns into all policies4. By joining forces of European patient associations through EFA with GARD, this major alliance has become a global influence through a strong united patients’ voice in all five continents. One billion people in the world currently suffer from chronic respiratory diseases and every year four million people die as a result, a figure higher than for deaths related to other global diseases such as AIDS. The fact that this epidemic is on the rise and that every person in the world is exposed to the risk factors of CRD5 has been the key motivator to bring together delegates from around the world to attend this important conference. HEAL and EFA Joint Initiative HEAL’s Information and Policy Officer, Gill Erskine, presented at the conference the updates to the EFA and HEAL joint air quality project – Know Your Air for Health->www.knowyourairforhealth.eu. The project aims to help communicate EU air quality information and alerts to allergy, asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Last year saw the launch of the website (www.knowyourairforhealth.eu) in three languages. This year will see an expansion of the site, with more languages available as well a further section on climate change and health. The project’s policy arm will involve letters to national governments, sent by EFA members, questioning applications to the European Commission to extend the timeline to meet the air quality regulations and the availability of governmental advice to parents, schools and children on air quality. The responses from these letters will feed in letters to MEPs regarding the review of the air quality package in 2013. An update on progress will be available on the website - www.knowyourairforhealth.eu |
| 10/08/2009 | The Natural Health Service: a new campaign for healthier lifestyles HEAL member, Natural England, has launched a new campaign, designed to provide more open spaces in cities as a way of dealing with the mounting health problems caused by urbanised, sedentary lifestyles. In the face of projections suggesting that nine out of ten adults in the UK could be overweight or obese by 2050, Natural England have launched the ‘Natural Health Service’ which calls for a step-change in the way that people are given access to green spaces and the ways in which outdoor activity programmes are supported by GPs. The aim of the Natural Health Service is to provide accessible green space for all, bringing the countryside back into urban living. The project is borne out of Natural England’s recent research highlighting that people who live close to a park are more likely to lead active lives and less likely to be overweight. Natural England is the UK government’s advisor on the natural environment, providing practical advice on how best to safeguard England’s natural wealth for the benefit of everyone. Through this new campaign, Natural England wishes to encourage people in England to make the most of their green space. Believing that parks, woodlands, and countryside, even our tree lined streets are a major resource that can help combat rising levels of diseases such as diabetes, obesity and depression in England. The natural health service has two key aims: 1. To increase the number of households that are within five minutes walk of an area of green space of at least two hectares 2. To enable every GP or community nurse to be able to signpost patients to an approved health walk or outdoor activity programme. |
| 05/01/2009 | Initiativ Liewesufank reports on WHA executive board meeting At a recent meeting of the World Health Assembly (WHA) Executive board, Maryse Arendt from Initiativ Liewensufank, a HEAL member from Luxemburg representing the International Lactation Consultants Association at the WHA, prepared a statement (see below) on Climate change and Health. She highlighted the availability of operational guidance and training material for infant feeding in emergencies which can also be used in case of natural disasters caused by climate change. She was not allowed to deliver the statement but the technical staff showed interest in including references into their list of documents for strengthening health systems preparedness to cope with the health threats posed by climate change. She will follow up this discussion in May. During the same meeting, the delegation of Slovenia supported by others asked to include an item on the Strategic Approach to chemicals management for the upcoming meeting of WHA in May 2009. As the SAICM will have a high level meeting in Geneva before the WHA, this would enhance the collaboration between SAICM and WHO. Slovenia is concerned by the worldwide increase in the use of pesticides and the huge stock of obsolete pesticides around the world, an important part of which is located in Eastern Europe. They are ready to prepare a draft resolution on obsolete chemicals to be considered by the WHA. After some discussion and in spite of the opposition of the USA and the Bahamas, it was decided to include this item on the agenda of the upcoming World Health Assembly in May 2009. |
