Find HEAL's latest press releases from all of our activity areas here, we update this page weekly.
The press releases are listed chronologically, but you can also search but subject area in the box on the right.
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| 19/06/2013 | HEAL joins calls for France to maintain its leadership on endocrine disrupting chemicals HEAL has joined 27 French civil society organisations in calling on France to maintain its leadership for better regulation on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). This mass mobilisation coincides with the fifth and final meeting of the stakeholders in the National Strategy on Endocrine Disruptors (SNPE) in France. Press statement Brussels, 19 June 2013 – The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) has joined French civil society organisations in calling on France to maintain its leadership for better regulation on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). (1) Twenty-seven not-for-profit organisations in France have declared the start of their mass mobilisation today to coincide with the fifth and final meeting of the stakeholders in the National Strategy on Endocrine Disruptors (SNPE) in France. The groups have published a manifesto (2) and public petition (3) calling on the French government to adopt an ambitious strategy to reduce exposure of populations and ecosystems to endocrine disruptors. The signatories comprise a diverse coalition of French civil society groups, including environmental groups, health insurance bodies, patients groups, consumers, unions and women’s groups. Progress in negotiations within the National Strategy on Endocrine Disruptors (SNPE) in France appears to be stalling or even receding, according to the press release to launch the campaign. (1) Implementation of the labelling requirement from the existing law on bisphenol A in food packaging does not seem to be taking place, and the anticipated measures on phthalates, which was promised by the environment minister Delphine Batho, has not happened. (1) “HEAL is today urging France to stay the course and ensure that it carry its positions into the EU realm. So far, France has shown good leadership on the regulation of EDCs at home, and we hope that they will also take these lead positions in the relevant EU decision making processes, including on criteria to identify EDCs, future EDC strategy, and how REACH treats EDCs,” says Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Adviser, Health and Environment Alliance. In recent months, two important statements from scientific experts have urged action on EDCs to protect public health. In May, the world’s leading experts published the Berlaymont Declaration, which pointed to the high or increasing levels of endocrine-related conditions in Europe. (4) This month, 180 leading scientists at the Collegium Ramazzini published their statement urging action on endocrine-disrupting chemicals. (5) Equally or more important was the publication of the recent joint report by the World Health Organization and United Nations Environment Programme United for the Environment on EDCs. (6) Although WHO is traditionally cautious on scientific issues in which there is controversy, it has deemed EDCs a global threat which need to be resolved. Yannick Vicaire from Reseau Environnement Sante in France notes that French mobilisation is contributing to - and complementing - a European-wide EDC Free campaign (7) in which several French civil society groups are founding members. “It is high time that EU decision makers hear from the wider pan European public - we will no longer tolerate this ongoing contamination of our bodies and our environment with these poisonous hormone disruptors. We want real action now that ensures healthy future,” he says. Contacts Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Advisor, HEAL, lisette@env-health.org Tel: +32 2 234 36 45. Mobile: +32 484 614 528 Yannick Vicaire, Réseau Environnement Santé, + 33 6 08 75 50 15, res.yvicaire@gmail.com Diana Smith, Communications, HEAL, +33 1 55 25 25 84, diana@env-health.org Notes 1. Press release can be found below in French and English 2. Manifesto: Perturbateurs endocriniens : le temps de l’action, http://stop-aux-pe.weebly.com/manifeste-des-associations.html 3. Public petition: Ensemble contre les PE : http://www.stop-aux-pe.org and petition on Change.org at: http://www.change.org/StopPE 4. Berlaymont Declaration, http://www.brunel.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/300200/The_Berlaymont_Declaration_on_Endocrine_Disrupters.pdf 5. The Collegium Ramazzini releases an official position on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) and Chemicals Safety Policy in the EU, 13 June 2013, http://collegiumramazzini.org/ 6. WHO/UNEP report http://www.who.int/ceh/publications/endocrine/en/ 7. EDC Free website www.edc-free-europe.org Press release in French here Press release in English here |
| 27/05/2013 | HEAL responds to Berlaymont Declaration on endocrine disruptors On 24 May a group of the world’s leading scientific experts on endocrine disrupting chemicals made the strongest ever call for regulatory action on endocrine disrupting chemicals with the launch of the Berlaymont Declaration PRESS STATEMENT HEAL responds to Berlaymont Declaration on endocrine disruptors Brussels, 24 May 2013 – A group of the world’s leading scientific experts on endocrine disrupting chemicals have made the strongest ever call for regulatory action on endocrine disrupting chemicals with the launch of the Berlaymont Declaration. (1) The Declaration makes an urgent plea to the European Commission “to implement regulatory measures that are in line with the best available science”. It says that “scientific uncertainty should not delay regulatory action and commercial interests must not take precedent over concerns about risks associated with endocrine disruptors”. The signatories to “The 2013 Berlaymont Declaration on Endocrine Disrupters” point to alarming signs of a growing public health burden in Europe. They say that: “the prevalence of endocrine-related diseases is higher than it has ever been and that this disease burden continues to increase in the EU and globally.” The scientists express their concern that: Breast cancer is rising rapidly in Eastern and Southern European EU countries and that in Western Europe although the increases are slower or leveling off, the rates are much higher than 30 years ago; Large proportions of young men have semen quality that is so poor that it will seriously affect their changes of siring children; and obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome have increased dramatically in almost all EU member states. Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Adviser, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) said: “The Declaration is the latest and perhaps most pointed expression that scientific experts have made for urgent and comprehensive regulatory action. It is explicit about the need for a regulatory regime that classifies endocrine disruptors in a scientifically sound manner. It is also categorical about the need to update the testing requirements of various laws, without which it says our ED regulation will fail. How much louder and clearer do our top scientists have to be before the EU acts to protect public health? We hope the EU Commissioners fully take these points on board in their upcoming decisions on the EU Strategy for endocrine disruptors and on Criteria to identify them, as well as in the review of how the REACH law treats endocrine disruptors.” Contact Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Adviser, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Tel: +32 2 234 36 45. Mob: +32 484 614 528, Email: lisette@env-health.org Notes 1. The 2013 Berlaymont Declaration on Endocrine, officially launched on 24 May 2013 is signed in a personal capacity by 89 scientists, including Prof Ake Bergman, Stockholm University; Prof Susan Jobling, Brunel University, UK; Prof Karen A Kidd, University of New Brunswick, Canada; Prof Andreas Kortenkamp, Brunel University, UK; Prof Niels E Skakkebaek, University Dept of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Prof Jorma Toppari, University of Turku, Finland; and, Prof R Thomas Zoeller, University of Massachusetts, USA. The 2013 Berlaymont Declaration on Endocrine Disrupters signatories |
| 25/04/2013 | HEAL responds to vote on 7th Environment Action Programme Press statement Brussels, 25 April 2013 – Yesterday the European Parliament’s Environment Committee adopted their position on the 7th EU Environment Action Programme (EAP). MEPs will now enter negotiations with member states with a view to adopting a first reading agreement. Anne Stauffer, HEAL Deputy Director said: "HEAL welcomes the prominence given to improving health in Europe in this environmental action programme, including the focus on reducing asthma and allergies related to indoor air pollutants and to reducing exposure to harmful chemical substances, including endocrine disrupting chemicals. Hazardous chemicals are the top environmental health worry of Europeans, and the MEPs have rightly underlined the urgency of reducing exposure.” Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Adviser adds: “We are also particularly pleased that biomonitoring has received support. Once properly resourced, this should allow EU policy makers to take better informed decisions and to effectively track the benefits for health of environmental action in Europe over time." Contacts Anne Stauffer, Deputy Director, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Email: anne@env-health.org, Mobile: +49 173 10 70 712, +32 473 711092 Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Email: lisette@env-health.org Tel: +32 2 234 36 45. Mob: +32 484 614 528 Other resources on the 7th EU EAP -* HEAL position paper on the 7th EU EAP |
| 26/03/2013 | Which endocrine disrupting insecticides are children exposed to everyday? Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals, report series launch, Part 1 - (EXposition aux Pesticides PERTurbateurs endocriniens, EXPPERT enquiry 1) Brussels, 25 March 2013 - The results of the first part of an enquiry by French NGO, Generations Futures into everyday exposure to endocrine-disrupting pesticides was launched on 20 March 2013. Endocrine disrupting pesticides: Endocrine disruptors are substances that are foreign to the human body and which can have harmful effects on the human organism or on that of his or her descendants by disturbing the hormone signalling system. These substances are most likely to have negative effects on the fetus and the young child. Numerous pesticides are proven, or strongly suspected, to be endocrine disruptors. Act now: To demonstrate the urgency of preventative action on endocrine disrupting chemicals, Generations Futures has developed a series of reports based on analyses and in-depth surveys showing the omnipresence of many endocrine disrupting chemicals in our environment, which creates a very significant exposure for the population. This series of reports is called EXPPERT (in French, EXposition aux Pesticides PERTurbateurs endocriniens). A targeted report: EXPPERT 1 shows that we are exposed on a daily basis to two families of endocrine disrupting (ED) insecticides: organophosphates and pyrethroids. This exposure may be through food (EXPPERT 1 addresses ED pesticide contamination of cereal-based products) but also through household insecticides, which may be impregnated in bedding and other textiles or used to kill bugs in the garden or used for human or animal treatments (such as flea, tick and mite treatments). Among the cereal-based food products, 75% of samples analysed contain pesticide residues - of which all contain one or several organophosphate or pyrethroid substances. Among the non-food products, 108 of the 181 commercially-available items analysed in this report contained one or more organophosphate or pyrethroid substances at the time of the test. Organophosphate and pyrethroid substances are suspected of disrupting the endocrine system. Results: Everyday exposure to endocrine disrupting insecticides The following list shows the products tested in the EXPPERT 1 enquiry and the endocrine disrupting pesticides and insecticides that they were found to contain. Food Biscuits with fillings - Pirymiphos methyl and piperonyl butoxide (PBO) Chocolate cereal - Pirymiphos methyl and PBO Soft bread – Cypermethrine, pirymiphos methyl and PBO Brioches - Chlorpyrifos methyl, pirymiphos methyl and PBO Croissants - Chlorpyrifos methyl, pirymiphos methyl and PBO Durum wheat pasta - Chlorpyrifos methyl, pirymiphos methyl and PBO Indoor treatments Spray for houseplants against bugs – Pyrethrine and PBO Anti-flea textile spray – Bifenthrine Anti-flea lotion - Malathion Anti-moth tablets - PBO “Natural” (sic) insecticide spray – Deltamethrine and cypermethrine Anti-mite mattress treatment - Permethrine “Essential oil” (sic) anti-mite tablets - Permethrine Home insecticide powder – Deltamethrine and PBO Outdoor treatments Outdoor insect powder – Bifenthrine Garden insecticides – Deltamethrine and Cypermethrine Treatments for pets Anti-tick and anti-mosquito dog collar – Deltamethrine Anti-parasite spray - Bioallethrine and PBO “We need to act urgently – starting today – to reduce public exposure to endocrine disrupting substances as much as possible. The European Parliament has made this exact same call for action by adopting the Westlund report on the protection of public health from exposure to endocrine disruptors on 14 March 2013,” says Francois Veillerette, Generations Futures spokesperson. “Our report allows a clear understanding of the ubiquitous exposure to endocrine disrupting insecticides. Its ultimate aim is to create awareness among our politicians of the urgency of preventative action in this area. We will officially present this report, and those that follow, to the committee working on the future national strategy on endocrine disruptors during a meeting on 22 March 2013 as well as to various relevant ministers. Our objective is to ensure that in future no human body or animal organism contains endocrine disrupting chemicals in order to protect the health of children yet to be born,” he concludes. Press contact Francois Veillerette, Generations Futures spokesperson, 06 81 64 65 58 Nadine Lauverjat, 06 87 56 27 54 Notes (1) Find the full report here (in French) (2) Tests on the following products showed they contain residues of pesticides: Wholemeal flour BN biscuits with strawberry filling, Belvita breakfast biscuits, Chocapic cereal, Special K cereal, wholemeal bread from the supermarket Carrefour, Harris soft bread, Panzani spaghetti, Pasquier croissants, Doowap brioches with chocolate morsels. Download the Press release here - EN- FR |
| 21/03/2013 | EFSA opinion on endocrine disruptors problematic The EFSA opinion report on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) released yesterday is problematic in a number of areas, according to HEAL and CHEM Trust. The EFSA opinion is one of the several inputs that contribute to the EC's development of Criteria to identify EDCs. Brussels, 21 March 2013 – The EFSA opinion report on endocrine disrupting chemicals released yesterday is problematic in a number of areas, according to the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the Chemicals Health and Environment Monitoring Trust (CHEM Trust). The EFSA opinion is one of several inputs that contribute to the European Commission’s development of criteria to identify chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties (or endocrine disruptors) (1). The Commission is formulating criteria which can be used in various EU laws, to ensure that a chemical identified as an endocrine disruptor under one law is also considered an endocrine disruptor under a different law. The mandate to develop these criteria is given in the pesticides and biocides regulations (Regulation 1107/2009 and 528/2012). These laws require the criteria in order to enable regulators to identify and ban pesticides with endocrine disrupting properties which may cause adverse effects. Environment and Health NGOs have several criticisms of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) report. “Firstly, the EFSA opinion tries to re-introduce risk assessment via the backdoor”, says Gwynne Lyons of CHEM Trust. The opinion says that risk assessment makes the best use of information for the purposes of risk management (2). “This contradicts both the spirit and letter of the EU Pesticides law, which bans endocrine disruptors for their inherently harmful nature.” “Risk assessment is not the way forward for EDCs as it is unlikely that they have thresholds for effects, because they are acting on top of our own hormones, on a biochemical system that is already active and off the baseline. Moreover, it is well known that some EDCs can cause opposite effects at low doses as compared to high doses, such that it is impossible to be certain that so-called no observed effect levels derived by a risk assessment are really correct, without an enormous amount of animal testing – covering a very wide spectrum of doses and endpoints, which is clearly unacceptable,” explained Ms Lyons. “The EU must stick to the letter of the law, and not be deflected by those who want to pander to industry,” said Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Adviser for HEAL. Secondly, the EFSA report appears to be protecting “business as usual”, even in the face of mounting concern about the harm caused by chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties. The EFSA report plays down much of the recent science, including the Kortenkamp State of the Art of Endocrine Disruptors report (3), which indicates that the currently available testing methods are inadequate to detect endocrine disrupting effects that are linked to many human diseases, such as breast and prostate cancer (4). The World Health Organization has also recently published a report concluding that the internationally agreed and validated test methods “capture only a limited range of the known spectrum of endocrine disrupting effects” and that this “increases the likelihood of harmful effects in humans and wildlife being overlooked” (5). Thirdly, the EFSA opinion is out of touch with international discussions about the existence of non monotonic dose response curves (NMDRCs) and low-dose effects (6). EFSA says that there is "a lack of international consensus in the scientific community about the existence or relevance of low-dose effects and non-monotonic dose response curves (NMDRCs)". This is one of the principle areas of discordance between EFSA and its critics who maintain such effects are well established for some endocrine disruptors. A joint conference organised by several EU member state Environment and Food agencies and the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Berlin 2012, generated a considerable measure of agreement on the existence of low dose effects amongst the participants. Last week, the European Parliament invited the Commission to take a series of measures “to effectively protect human health and to work to reducing human short and long term exposures to endocrine disruptors where necessary (7).” Both HEAL and CHEM Trust are calling for criteria that include all chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties, so that the criteria will protect our health and stimulate industry to search for safer alternatives. “We urge people to support our joint call for an EDC free future”, concludes Lisette van Vliet (8). Contact Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Email: lisette@env-health.org Tel: +32 2 234 36 45. Mob: +32 484 614 528 Gwynne Lyons, Director, Chemicals Health and Environment Monitoring Trust (CHEM Trust), Email: gwynne.lyons@chemtrust.org.uk Tel+44 1603 507 363, Mob +44 7944 422 898 Notes to editors 1. In autumn 2012, EFSA was asked by DG Health and Consumers to provide a scientific opinion on EDCs. The mandate to EFSA was called into question by several public interest organisations, in part because of concerns about EFSA’s track record on conflicts of interest and the influence of industry on EFSA. In December 2012, HEAL together with social and environmental organisations demanded a radical overhaul of European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). “We are calling for profound changes to ensure that EFSA fulfils its intended role of providing unbiased and up-to-date scientific advice to protect public health,” it said. http://www.env-health.org/resources/position-papers/article/joint-statement-calling-efsa-to 2. The opinion states “Furthermore, to inform on risk and level of concern for the purpose of risk management decisions it is the opinion of the SC that risk assessment (taking into account hazard and exposure data/predictions) makes best use of available information. EDs can therefore be treated like most other substances of concern for human health and the environment, i.e. be subject to risk assessment and not only to hazard assessment.” 3. State of the Art of the Assessment of Endocrine Disruptors, Authors: Andreas Kortenkamp et al, released February 2012. See http://www.env-health.org/resources/press-releases/article/report-paves-way-for-ban-on-gender 4. While the EFSA statement acknowledges the need for further development of testing strategies, it states that a reasonable complete suite of standardized assays is available for the oestrogen, androgen, thyroid or steroidogenesis modes in mammals and fish (our emphasis). 5. WHO/UNEP. State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals 2012, Summary for Decision-Makers, p. 3. It goes on to point out that for a large range of human health effects, such as female reproductive disorders and hormonal cancers, there are no viable laboratory models. This seriously hampers progress in understanding the full scale of the risks. 6. See the comprehensive review of the low dose and non-monotonic dose response (NMDR) literature (Vandenberg et al. 2012) 7. Report on the protection of public health from endocrine disrupters (2012/2066(INI)) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A7-2013-0027+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN 8. See www.edc-free-europe.org HEAL is a leading European not-for-profit organization addressing how the environment affects health in the European Union. With the support of its more than 65 member organizations, which represent health professionals, not-for-profit health insurers, patients, citizens, women, youth, and environmental experts, HEAL brings independent expertise and evidence from the health community to different decision-making processes. Members include international and Europe-wide organisations as well as national and local groups. Website: www.env-health.org CHEM Trust (Chemicals, Health and Environment Monitoring Trust) is a UK charity which aims to protect humans and wildlife from harmful chemicals so that they play no part in causing impaired reproduction deformities, disease or deficits in neurological function. www.chemtrust.org.uk |
| 14/03/2013 | European Parliament vote on EDCs conveys urgency of protecting health The European Parliament vote adopting MEP Asa Westlund’s report on the protection of public health from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) today reflects the serious concern and the strong desire to see comprehensive and multifaceted EU policy action. Brussels, 13 March 2013 – The European Parliament vote adopting MEP Asa Westlund’s report on the protection of public health from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) today reflects the serious concern and the strong desire to see comprehensive and multifaceted EU policy action, says the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) (1). “The Parliament has rightly called for the European Commission and other legislators to take measures to reduce people’s exposures to endocrine disruptors, and that measures to protect health should not wait for final proof of causal links between EDCs and diseases,” says Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Adviser for chemicals and chronic disease prevention at HEAL (2). “MEPs want to see a systematic overhaul of EU legislation and policy so that by June 2015, existing laws are changed and new laws are proposed to properly deal with EDCs, including requiring the right tests to correctly identify them – the whole purpose being to protect people especially during vulnerable phases of their lives” (3). “The vote mirrors the implications of a recent World Health Organisation and United Nations Environment Programme report, which clearly shows that this leading international health agency is very concerned about the potential negative health impact of EDCs,” adds Lisette van Vliet. The WHO/UNEP report entitled “The State of the Science on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals 2012” released in mid February notes that although there remains significant knowledge gaps about the links between EDCs and some endocrine diseases, associations are apparent for harmful effects on the reproductive system (male genital defects); the neurological system (impaired brain development) and increased risks for certain types of cancer (e.g. breast, prostate) (4). Moreover, the WHO/UNEP clearly states that the risk of disease due to EDCs may be significantly underestimated, and that an important focus should be on reducing exposures to humans and wildlife. HEAL welcomes the Parliament’s report, and particularly the way in which it recognises that the EU must shape its chemical policies to address vulnerable phases of life and the ‘cocktail effect’ of mixtures. “We need an EU Strategy and laws that catch up to the reality of EDC exposures that our bodies face every day. The laws should protect us before every last scientist and the chemical manufacturing industry organisations concede the relationship between our internal contamination and our expanding rates of endocrine-related diseases,” emphasises Lisette van Vliet. The Parliament’s report: “Calls on the Commission to revise its EU Strategy on endocrine disruptors so that it delivers effective protection of human health by placing greater emphasis on the precautionary principle ... to work towards reducing human exposure to endocrine disruptors where necessary.” (Para 18) A number of EU member states have already legislated on EDCs on the basis of existing science to protect public health. France has banned the use of the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) in all food contact materials intended for the under three year olds from 2013, and for all ages from 2015 (5). From January, Belgium has banned the use of BPA in food contact materials for children under three. Sweden has also banned BPA in children’s food contact materials starting this year. Last year, Denmark announced that four phthalates (DEHP, DBP, DIBP and BBP) would no longer be allowed in shower curtains, table cloths and other consumer goods as they are EDCs (6). The Danish authorities had already banned bisphenol A in food contact materials for young children in 2010. Contact Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Adviser, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Tel: +32 2 234 36 45. Mob: +32 484 614 528, Email: lisette@env-health.org Notes to editors 1. Asa Westlund is rapporteur for the EP’s own initiative report on the “Protection of public health from endocrine disruptors”. Report on the protection of public health from endocrine disrupters (2012/2066(INI)) prior to the Plenary vote: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A7-2013-0027+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN 2. Paragraphs 1 and 3 of Westlund Report 3. Paragraph 5, 12, 20, 22 of Westlund Report 4. WHO and UNEP report State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals 2012 (PDF, 2.77 MB), published 19 February 2013 - HEAL has an article about the WHO Report and a link to it at: http://www.env-health.org/news/latest-news/article/who-report-calls-endocrine 5. French parliament takes the path towards BPA- and EDC-free products http://www.env-health.org/news/members-news/article/french-parliament-follows-the-road 6. Newsletter from the Danish Consumer Council, Four phthalates banned in Denmark, August 2012, http://taenk.dk/sites/taenk.dk/files/edc_newsletter_12_1.pdf |
| 07/03/2013 | Coal’s health bill reaches €43 billion a year Air pollution from burning fossil fuels blamed for premature deaths and illnesses, health groups urge major rethink of EU energy policy New study shows how moving away from fossil fuels would boost health by significantly reducing chronic lung disease and some heart conditions Recent upturn in the use of coal makes awareness of health costs more urgent and is at odds with events promoting the EU Year of Air 2013 Brussels, 7 March 2013 - The health costs of coal-fired power stations add a financial burden to the European population of up to €42.8 billion a year. The assessment is published today in a major new report from the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) (1). The report, entitled ‘The unpaid health bill: How coal power plants make us sick’ (2), provides the first-ever calculation of the effects of coal-fired power generation on chronic lung disease and some heart conditions. Coal power generation in Poland is associated with the highest health impacts as well as health costs, estimated at over €8 billion per year. Romania and Germany both rank second with more than €6 billion in health costs each (3). “Our report offers the scientific evidence on the health impacts of coal and provides vital information from a health perspective that should be taken into account when determining energy policy,” says Genon Jensen, Executive Director at HEAL, which brings together more than 70 networks and groups in 26 European countries. “The findings are particularly worrying given that the use of coal is now rising after years of decline. The startlingly high costs to human health should trigger a major rethink on EU energy policy,” adds Ms Jensen. Two-fold burden The report quotes public health experts who express concerns that carbon emissions associated with coal use will contribute to climate change and add to future public health problems - on top of the serious consequences of coal burning we are already seeing today. (4) The report launch marks the beginning of a coal and health campaign in which HEAL will work closely with medical, health and climate advocacy groups, especially in countries where coal is a particular threat to health. In coming months, the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME), which has 27 members representing medical doctors in EU countries, will be raising awareness of the risks of coal burning as part of its work underlining the importance of cleaner air. 2013 as the EU Year of Air provides strong opportunities to improve public health as the Commission gears up to review EU air legislation and put forward proposals later in the year. “European doctors know air pollution to be an important risk factor for health and the CPME has a long-standing interest in this topic. Health professionals are committed to bringing new evidence-based information to the public as well as to decision makers and using their voice to bring about policy changes,” said Birgit Beger, Secretary General, Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME). Mitigating climate change On top of the benefits to health from cleaner air, the report also highlights how stronger regulation of coal would help mitigate climate change. Coal is the most carbon-intensive energy source in Europe - responsible for approximately 20% of carbon emissions. Controlling long-term temperature rises and avoiding heat waves are particularly important for vulnerable groups, such as young children and older people and anyone with an existing respiratory or heart condition. MEP and medical doctor, Peter Liese recognises coal as both an immediate and a long-term threat to public health because of its contribution to climate change: "The EU has committed to protect public health from air pollution as well as from climate change impacts. As the use of coal in Europe is currently increasing, there is a significant threat to people’s health in the short and long term." Abandoning coal: A win-win for public health and the climate HEAL’s report recommends that no new coal plants should be built and that Europe should abandon coal by 2040 for better public health. “If accepted, this approach would avoid the unnecessary respiratory and heart problems associated with exposure to coal pollutants in the air. It would offer longer term health benefits by mitigating climate change. Opting for alternatives to coal would also put right a current injustice in which Europeans are made to shoulder the burden of an unpaid health bill caused by coal,” said Ms Jensen. ENDS Press release FR - Press release ES - Press release IT - Press release RO- Press release DU Notes to Editors 1. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) is a leading European not-for-profit organisation addressing how the environment affects health in the European Union (EU). We demonstrate how policy changes can help protect health and enhance people’s quality of life. HEAL has more than 65 member organisations, representing networks of health professionals, non-profit health insurers, patients, citizens, women, youth and environmental experts working at the international, EU, national and local level. Together, we help to bring independent expertise and evidence from the health community to different decision-making processes. 2. Link to report on website www.env-health.org/unpaidhealthbill. The evaluation in the new report is based on a calculation of the costs associated with premature deaths resulting from exposure to coal-related air pollution, medical visits, hospitalisations, medication and reduced activity, including working days lost. 3. Economic evaluations of health impacts by source country: Annual health costs associated with coal power generation per country in million Euros (2009 data) Country Total costs (million Euro), upper bound estimate Poland - 8,219 Romania - 6,409 Germany - 6,385 Bulgaria - 4,629 Greece - 4,089 UK - 3,682 Czech Republic - 2,842 France - 1,879 Slovakia - 925 Italy - 857 Spain - 827 Estonia - 445 Netherlands - 386 Hungary - 268 Slovenia - 228 Ireland - 201 Finland - 169 Belgium - 134 Portugal - 90 Austria - 74 Denmark - 63 Sweden - 7 Latvia - 3 EU27 42,811 Turkey - 6,689 Serbia - 4,987 Croatia - 243 TOTAL 54,730 4. Statements from scientists, medical and health representatives and policy makers featured in the report - available here 5. Air pollution is ranked as top health risk factor in Europe, HEAL press release, http://www.env-health.org/resources/press-releases/article/air-pollution-ranked-as-top-health Contacts Genon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Tel: +32 2 234 3642, Mobile: +32 495 808 732. Email: genon@env-health.org Julia Huscher, Coal and Health Officer, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Tel: +32 2 234 3646, Mobile: +32 489 97 74 69, Email: julia@env-health.org Diana Smith, Communications and Media Adviser, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mobile : +33 6 33 04 29 42, Email : diana@env-health.org Ella Elesse, External media and communications consultant for HEAL coal report, Mobile: +32 471 09 25 65, Email: ellaelesse@yahoo.fr |
| 06/03/2013 | Winner of “Health and Environment Film Prize” announced “Unacceptable levels'' became the winner of the first-ever health and environment film prize at the 30th International Environmental Film Festival (FIFE) tonight in Paris. The prize of a trophy and cheque for 5,000 Euros was presented to Ed Brown by Sylvie Gilman, one of the judges in this new prize. Paris, 26 February 2013 - “Unacceptable levels” by Ed Brown, (USA) became the winner of the first-ever film prize on health and environment at the 30th International Environmental Film Festival (FIFE) tonight. (1) The prize was established by a partnership between FIFE, the festival organisers and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). The film addresses the theme of the chemicals that are invading our environment. The director invites his audience to put practical questions to themselves about these substances, which are potentially harmful to health – and are found in our water, food, cosmetics, toys and paints. He tries to offer the audience answers by questioning scientists and representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). This leads to the conclusion that governments are not necessarily doing all they should to protect the public. Ultimately, the film encourages everyone to look more deeply into these questions for ourselves. “This excellent film brings home in a very real way the link between our environment and our health,” says Genon Jensen, Executive Director of HEAL. “We were delighted to discover from the discussions after each of the screenings just how interested the general public is in these issues. This energy will help us in our work in Brussels where we promote environment and health by calling for primary prevention to be the number one reason for better laws.” The five films on health and environment were selected for the competition by the festival organisers and included in the official programme of the festival which took place from 19-26 February 2013. The festival is funded by Ile de France (Greater Paris) and has attracted more than 14,000 visitors. The four other films in the competition address human sensitivity to electromagnetic fields (“Les sacrifiés des ondes”, Jean-Yves Bilien); the destructive side-effects of carbon trading projects in poorer countries (“Carbon Rush” by Amy Miller); the losses to health and well-being from large-scale, genetically-modified agriculture in Argentina (“Pour un lopin de terre” by Maria Van Munster and Cyril Crusson); and, the threat to all aspects of health posed by losing traditional rights to land in Australia, (“Heritage fight” by Eugenie Dumont). Full details and links to trailers below. (2) The award of a trophy and cheque for 5,000 Euros was given to Ed Brown by Sylvie Gilman, one of the judges in this new “Health and Environment Film Prize”. (3) The seven judges, who gave their time in a personal capacity to judging the five films, were: Sylvie Gilman, television documentary film director; Robert Barouki, a leading research scientist at Inserm, Paris; Sylvia Medina, an expert in air quality and public health; Yannick Vicaire, Reseau Environnement Sante (RES) and Nadine Lauverjat, Generations Futures representing two leading not-for-profit organisations addressing health and environment in France; Sascha Gabizon, representing Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) and Monika Kosinska of the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), the largest network of non-governmental organisations working on health in Europe. (4) Yannick Vicaire, representing the judges and HEAL member, Reseau Environnement Santé (RES) in France said: “This competition has been introduced at the right time. Health and environment is currently a booming area in film – not only among film makers but also with the public. Everyone suspects that the environment impacts their health but they are not sure how and what they can do about it. ” “The winning film mirrors the current European and global agenda on better control of chemicals, including endocrine disrupters. We hope this film creates greater awareness in Europe - and especially in the US where chemical reform lags behind Europe,” Vicaire concludes. Contacts Genon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Tel: +32 2 234 3642, Mobile: +32 495 808 732, Email: genon@env-health.org Yannick Vicaire, Réseau Environnement Santé (RES), 148, rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, 75010 Paris, Tel.: +33 (0)9 51 59 08 35, Mob.: +33 (0) 608 755 015, Email: res.yvicaire@gmail.com, Website: http://reseau-environnement-sante.fr/ Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mob: +33 6 33 04 2943, E-mail: Diana@env-health.org Notes 1. 30th International Environmental Film Festival (FIFE) website 2. Click here to view the trailers 3. Photos of the winner with trophy here - all photos from the award ceremony available here 4. More details about the judges in the Health and Environment Film Prize jury are available here. |
| 06/02/2013 | Beyond disappointment – European lawmakers on the side of automobile industry on traffic noise vote Brussels, February 6 - The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) (1) and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) (2) regret the outcome of today’s plenary vote at the European Parliament (EP) on the regulation on the sound level of motor vehicles. The majority of European Parliamentarians – the elected representatives of the citizens - have turned a blind eye to people’s concerns, and prioritised the automobile industry over everyone’s health and well-being. Today the EP has watered down a Commission’s proposal to address the issue of noise emitted by cars, vans, trucks and buses. The current vehicle noise standards date from 1995. Seventeen years on, the number of cars populating Europe’s streets and roads has dramatically gone up to reach more than 250 million and is expected to increase further (3). There is no way around it - the 1995 standards need to be urgently upgraded towards stringent standards with more effective noise reductions. People’s health and well-being are closely determined by the quality of the environment, and noise levels are a good indicator of its liveability. Over the last few decades, vehicle noise has steadily impacted on the daily life of millions of people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), noise can cause hearing damage, cardiovascular disease, learning impairment in children and sleep disturbance. (4) Almost half of the people living in Europe are regularly exposed to traffic noise levels that put their health at risk. One in five is negatively impacted by vehicle noise at night. Traffic noise is the most harmful environmental problem after air pollution in the European Union. (5) After decades of traffic noise disturbing people’s life to worrying levels, there is little uncertainty that, for the overall well-being of a society, the monetary benefits of quieter traffic by far outweigh the costs of developing quieter vehicles. (6) “Today, the European Parliament has demonstrated a depressing lack of commitment when it comes to tackle the noise pollution that disturbs the life of millions in different, in many cases dramatic, degrees,“ said Monika Kosińska, Secretary General of the European Public health Alliance (EPHA). “At least one million healthy life years are lost every year from traffic-related noise in the western part of Europe (1). Today could have been the beginning of the end of Europe’s policymakers’ shameful inaction on noise pollution. Instead, corporative interests seem to have prevailed,“ Ms Kosińska went on to say. “The European Parliament voted today to put the interests of noisy car makers ahead of their constituencies’ health, even though we have solid evidence on how current noise levels in Europe harm our health and our healthcare budgets. EU governments still have a chance to improve this draft law before its final adoption. We are calling on them to turn down the volume on noise in Europe’s cities and tune into the positive health benefits of stricter noise limits,” said Genon K. Jensen, Executive Director of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). END Contacts Javier Delgado Rivera, European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), Email: javier@epha.org, Tel: +32(0) 2 230 3056, www.epha.org Anne Stauffer, Deputy Director, HEAL, Email: anne@env-health.org, Tel: +32 2 234 36 43 Notes to the editors (1) The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) is a change agent - a dynamic member-led organisation made up of public health NGOs, patient groups, health professionals, and disease groups working together to improve health and strengthen the voice of public health in Europe. EPHA is a member of, among others, the Social Platform, the European Public Health and Agriculture Consortium (EPHAC), the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), and the EU Civil Society Contact Group. (2) The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) is a leading European not-for-profit organisation addressing how the environment affects health in the European Union. We demonstrate how policy changes can help protect health and enhance people’s quality of life. (3) Vehicles in use, The European Automobile Manufacturer Association. (4) Burden of disease from environmental noise. Quantification of healthy life years lost in Europe, The World Health Organisation (WHO) (5) Burden of disease from environmental noise. Quantification of healthy life years lost in Europe, The World Health Organisation (WHO) (6) Expert support for stricter vehicle noise emissions standards, |
| 06/02/2013 | European parliament condemns European citizens to noisier cities Brussels, 6 February 2013 - The lives of millions of Europeans will be blighted by an increase in road traffic noise for years to come as the European Parliament today voted to weaken current noise limits for sports cars and trucks. Sustainable transport group Transport & Environment (T&E) and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) express their disappointment in today's parliamentary vote, and resume calls on Member States to strengthen limits to lead to quieter and, hence, healthier cities in Europe. The amendments proposed by the Rapporteur, Miroslav Ouzký, and approved by the full Parliament will lead to the loosening of the current noise limits for some vehicles, which were set almost twenty years ago. The weaker standards will allow much louder sports cars on to the road and mean that lorries stay at today's unacceptable noise levels. T&E policy officer Cécile Toubeau commented: “Today’s vote wastes a once-in-a-generation opportunity to give us all quieter lives. It overturns a positive result from the Environment Committee, and shows that MEPs put the scaremongering of the automotive industry above the health of citizens. As a result, our roads will get louder in the coming years.” Reducing noise from vehicles is a public health imperative, with nearly half of all EU citizens exposed to road traffic noise over the level the World Health Organisation (WHO) considers to pose a serious risk to health [1]. The four-decibel cut in vehicle noise emissions proposed by the Commission would have been equivalent to more than halving current traffic levels [2]. HEAL deputy director Anne Stauffer added: “MEPs today turned down a huge opportunity to improve the quality of life and health of European citizens. We urge the EU Member States to correct this approach and commit to effective vehicle noise reductions in order to reap substantial economic and health benefits.” ENDS Contacts Cécile Toubeau - Policy officer, clean vehicles, Transport & Environment (T&E), Email : cecile.toubeau@transportenvironment.org, Tel: +32 2 893 0859 Anne Stauffer – deputy director, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Email: anne@env-health.orgTel: +32 2 234 3643 Notes to editors (1) WHO (2011): Burden of disease from environmental noise. Quantification of healthy life years lost in Europe -http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-... (2) Commission’s proposal: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ... |
| 23/01/2013 | EP Committee tells Commission “the sooner the better” on EDCs Today the European Parliamentary Committee on Environment, Health and Food Safety voted a draft Resolution sending a clear message to the Commission that prompt action is needed to protect public health from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Brussels, 23 January 2013 – The European Parliamentary Committee on Environment, Health and Food Safety has voted a draft Resolution today sending a clear message to the Commission that prompt action is needed to protect public health from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The draft resolution says that measures to reduce public exposure to EDCs are a priority. It deals with improvements in the EU regulatory system and addresses how the science should be used in hazard and risk assessment. The clear message to the European Commission is that the EU Strategy on EDCs needs a complete overhaul. The draft resolution states: “The Strategy must deliver effective protection of human health by placing greater emphasis on the precautionary principle to work towards reducing human exposure to endocrine disruptors where necessary.” (Para 10) (1) MEP Asa Westlund (2) says: “Our report makes clear that the time for coherent political action has come. Even if we do not have all the answers, we do know enough to regulate these substances in accordance with the precautionary principle.” The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) welcomes the vote on the report. Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Advisor, HEAL says: “A recent EU-wide study that monitored synthetic chemicals stored in the bodies of Europeans showed that we carry these hormone disrupting chemicals. Scientific studies link exposure to these chemicals, particularly in the womb and in early life, to a range of health problems, including genital defects in baby boys, early puberty in girls, infertility, obesity, diabetes, hormone-related cancers and other chronic conditions (3). Reducing exposure to EDCs offers a major opportunity to stop the development of some of these diseases before they start. The sooner the EU reorients itself to eliminating EDCs, the better.” Part of the foot-dragging on implementing the precautionary principle in relation to EDCs has come from industry’s fears of rising costs. However, a report published today by the European Environmental Agency (EEA) suggests that encouraging the development of alternatives to harmful chemicals could actually drive innovation. It provides guidance on how to maximise innovation and minimise harm. (4) A number of EU member states have already legislated on EDCs on the basis of existing science to protect public health. France has banned the use of the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) in all food contact materials intended for the under three year olds from 2013, and for all ages from 2015. (5) From this month, Belgium has banned the use of BPA in food contact materials for children under three. Sweden has also banned BPA in children’s food contact materials starting this year. Last year, Denmark announced that four phthalates (DEHP, DBP, DIBP and BBP) would no longer be allowed in shower curtains, table cloths and other consumer goods as they are EDCs.(6) The Danish authorities had already banned bisphenol A in food contact materials for the children in 2010. The draft resolution represents for the first time in a decade that the European Parliament is formally addressing the issues of endocrine disruptors. The resolution will be voted on in plenary in March 2013. Contacts Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), lisette@env-health.org Tel: +32 2 234 36 45. Mobile: +32 484 614 528 Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), E-mail: Diana@env-health.org, Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mob: +33 6 33 04 2943, . Notes 1. Amendment to draft resolution, paragraph 10. 2. Asa Westlund is rapporteur for the European Parliament’s own initiative report on the “Protection of public health from endocrine disruptors” 3. Lancet, Early-life prevention of non-communicable diseases (Comment, January 2013) and see Barouki R, et al, Developmental origins of non-communicable disease: Implications for research and public health, June 2012, http://www.ehjournal.net/content/11/1/42 4. European Environment Agency, Late lessons from early warnings: science, precaution, innovation, 2013. 5. French parliament takes the path towards BPA- and EDC-free products http://www.env-health.org/news/members-news/article/french-parliament-follows-the-road 6. Newsletter from the Danish Consumer Council, Four phthalates banned in Denmark, August 2012, http://taenk.dk/sites/taenk.dk/files/edc_newsletter_12_1.pdf |
| 07/01/2013 | Global mercury treaty would make Europe’s children brainier A recent paper published in 'Environmental Health' highlights that preventing environmental exposure to mercury could save the EU €8-9 billion per year by protecting children’s brain development. Given the worrying risks especially pre-natal exposures to mercury, a strong, legally binding treaty to control mercury pollution is absolutely necessary. Brussels, 7 January 2013 – Preventing environmental exposure to mercury could save the European Union €8-9 billion per year by protecting children’s brain development, according to a paper published in Environmental Health today. (1) The most worrying aspect of human exposure to mercury is the effect of maternal levels on the fetus’ brain as it develops in the womb. Adults in Europe are exposed mainly through eating certain fish. Mercury accumulates in large predatory fish, such as tuna and swordfish, usually after being released into the air as a by-product in industrial processes such as coal-burning, and then being deposited into sea and rivers. (2) The evidence that methylmercury (MeHg), formed in the environment from inorganic mercury, is a neurotoxicant (harmful to the brain) is well-documented. (3) Pre-natal exposures are of particular concern because smaller amounts of methylmercury can cause irreversible health effects in a developing brain compared with that of an adult. Professor Philippe Grandjean, one of the study authors, explained how the estimate was developed. “If we convert the effects of MeHg on developing brains into IQ points then the benefits of controlling MeHg pollution equates to 700,000 points per year and monetary benefits of €8,000 to €9,000 million per year for the whole of the EU,” he said. The new calculations were made possible by data gathered from a recent EU biomonitoring project. (4) Levels of mercury found in hair samples taken in 17 European countries showed one third to be above the 0.58 µg/g hair level shown to be safe in the most recent scientific studies. This suggests that 1.8 million of the 5.4 million babies born in European countries each year are affected by unsafe maternal mercury levels. About 200,000 infants would be exposed to a higher safety limit of 2.5 µg/g proposed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). (1) Not every child in Europe is at equal risk. The mercury levels are lowest in Eastern Europe and highest in Southern Europe. In Spain, 88% of samples tested were found to be above the 0.58 µg/g safety level, a country in which fish consumption is particularly high. (1) “These disturbing findings make a strong, legally binding treaty to control mercury pollution absolutely imperative,” says Genon Jensen, Executive Director of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). “We now have research that shows the extent of harmful exposures in Europe - and the economic benefits to the tune of billions of Euros each year which would be derived from preventing these exposures.” “Europeans – and especially women – should be made immediately aware of the risks of exposure for their babies. But equally, the EU must do its utmost to achieve a strong global treaty if mercury pollution is to be properly controlled. A global treaty is to be decided at the UNEP meeting in Geneva on 13 January. HEAL is calling for a legally binding agreement, national implementation plans and specific health protective measures to enhance awareness regarding the adverse health effects of mercury exposure.” (5) HEAL’s Stay Healthy, Stop Mercury campaign has been calling for action to control environmental mercury exposure on health grounds since 2006. The EU biomonitoring results from Spain confirm the worryingly high levels found by HEAL’s own small-scale study of hair samples published six years ago. Since then, HEAL has maintained pressure on EU policy makers through letters and awareness raising activities. (6) If nothing is done, the problem is likely to worsen significantly. The Zero Mercury Working Group has shown that mercury levels in the Pacific Ocean are likely to increase by 50% by 2050 if current pollution trends continue unabated. (7) What level is safe? A particular public health concern is that health effects are occurring at levels considered safe just a few years ago, according to the latest research. This suggests that current health benchmarks should be revised. (6) “There may not be a safe level for fetal exposure to mercury,” Ms Jensen says. “In 2006, we highlighted these uncertainties as well as our concerns that US and EU authorities did not agree on what represents a safe level of exposure to mercury. As more research results have become available, levels considered safe are steadily falling.” Contacts Genon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Tel: +32 2 234 3642, Email: genon@env-health.org Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), lisette@env-health.org Tel: +32 2 234 36 45. Mobile: +32 484 614 528 Notes to editors 1. Economic benefits of methylmercury exposure control in Europe: Monetary value of neurotoxicity prevention, Martine Bellanger, Céline Pichery, Dominique Aerts, Marika Berglund, Argelia Castaño, Mája Čejchanová, Pierre Crettaz, Fred Davidson, Marta Esteban, Marc E. Fischer, Anca Elena Gurzau, Katarina Halzlova, Andromachi Katsonouri, Lisbeth E. Knudsen, Marike Kolossa-Gehring, Gudrun Koppen, Danuta Ligocka, Ana Miklavčič, M. Fátima Reis, Peter Rudnai, Janja Snoj Tratnik, Pál Weihe, Esben Budtz-Jørgensen, Philippe Grandjean, Environmental Health, a BioMed Central open access journal. See also Commentary by Elsie M Sunderland and Noelle E Selin, Environmental Health. Articles available on journal website from Monday, 7 January 2013, 00.01 (GMT) More information from Dr Hilary Glover, BioMed Central, Hilary.glover@biomedcentral.com Tables in the paper provide national figures for all EU countries. 2. Halting the child brain drain, Why we need to tackle global mercury contamination, 2006, Health and Environment Alliance, “Stay Healthy, Stop Mercury” campaign.. Child development problems were first identified in the Faroe Island communities, where diet includes whale meat. A recent Canadian study has found an association between prenatal methylmercury exposure and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in childhood. Methylmercury has also been linked with possible harmful effects on the cardiovascular, immune and reproductive systems in adults. 3. Methylmercury is formed from inorganic mercury by anaerobic aquatic organisms in bodies of water, sediments, and soils. Evidence that methylmercury is a neurotoxicant is provided in Grandjean P, Herz KT: Methylmercury and brain development: imprecision and underestimation of developmental neurotoxicity in humans. Mt Sinai J Med 2011, 78(1):107-118, and Mergler D, Anderson HA, Chan LH, Mahaffey KR, Murray M, Sakamoto M, Stern AH: Methylmercury exposure and health effects in humans: a worldwide concern. Ambio 2007, 36(1):3-11. 4. Cyprus EU Presidency press release, European projects measure chemicals in people across Europe for the first time. 5. The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury (INC5) will be held in Geneva, from 13 to 18 January 2013. HEAL and many of its members support a motion by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Pakistan, available from SPDI here. 6. See HEAL’s recent joint letter to environment ministers of EU member states: Last chance to develop strong treaty to reduce mercury exposure and HEAL Fact Sheet, Mercury and Fish Consumption. 7. Ahead of UN Treaty negotiations, reports show greater mercury risks than earlier thought, 4 December 2012, Mercury Policy Group. |
| 14/12/2012 | Air pollution ranked as top health risk factor in Europe A global review of the burden of disease recently published by the leading British medical journal, The Lancet recognises outdoor air quality as a top health risk factor for public health in Europe. For the first time, the Global Burden of Disease assessment has ranked an environmental factor among the more widely discussed ‘life-style’ risk factors. Brussels, 14 December 2012 – A global review of the burden of disease published today shows outdoor air quality has been recognised as a top level risk for public health. (1) The new rankings are taken from the 2010 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) assessment, which is released today in a special issue of the leading British medical journal, The Lancet. The project was completed by 450 experts in a consortium of five partners, including the World Health Organization, and led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). (1) The study shows exposure to air pollution as one of the top ten risk factors for health globally. It is ranked 11th for countries of Western Europe, 14th for Central Europe and 15th for Eastern Europe, which includes Russia. (2) “Everyday exposure to outside air pollution in Europe is now recognised as one of the big factors affecting our health,” says Anne Stauffer, Deputy Director of Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). “For the first time, the Global Burden of Disease assessment has ranked an environmental factor among the more widely discussed ‘life-style’ risk factors, such as tobacco and alcohol.” The Health Effects Institute, an independent, non-profit research institute in the US, played a lead role in preparing the air pollution analysis. President, Dan Greenbaum said: “Outdoor air pollution now ranks among the top global health risk burdens because earlier assessments reported much smaller figures.” He says that better modelling of population exposure and more detailed analysis of the relationship between outdoor levels of air pollution and effects on mortality and ill-health have played an important role in the revisions. (3) In Western Europe, the new rankings show exposure to “ambient particulate matter pollution” in eleventh position. This is below top risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol, lack of physical activity and some aspects of diet but above factors such as “diet high in processed meat”, “diet low in vegetables” and “drug use”. (4) Health burden in figures The analysis shows over 430,000 premature deaths and over 7 million years of healthy life lost in Western, Central and Eastern Europe in 2010 from exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), with 166,000 premature deaths in Western Europe, 95,000 deaths in Central Europe, and 169,000 deaths in Eastern Europe, which includes Russia. (3) The Global Burden of Disease Study 2020 began in 2007 and is the most comprehensive effort since the GBD 1990 to produce complete and comparable estimates of the burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors for the years 1990, 2005, and 2010 for 21 regions covering the entire globe. It is significantly broader in scope than previous versions, including 235 causes of death, 67 risk factors, and improved methods for the estimation of mortality and disability. Overall the study results reveal substantial shifts in the burden of disease from premature mortality to morbidity and disability as well as from communicable, maternal, neonatal and nutritional conditions to non-communicable diseases. This shift in population health towards more life years with chronic, non-communicable disease is likely to imply heavier health care costs and productivity losses. The effects on children’s health are detailed separately and reveal a shift in the global burden of disease from children to younger adults. Contacts Anne Stauffer, Deputy Director, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), E-mail: anne@env-health.org Tel: +32 2 234 3643 Mobile phone: +32 473 71 10 92 Diana G. Smith, Communications, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), Email: diana@env-health.org Mobile phone: +33 6 33 04 2943. Notes for journalists 1. Global burden of disease study http://www.thelancet.com/themed/global-burden-of-disease. For more information contact Diana G. Smith, Email: diana@env-health.org 2. Western Europe category includes 17 EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Central Europe includes 7 EU countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Eastern Europe includes 3 EU countries: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. 3. Press release, Outdoor air pollution among top global health risks in 2010, 13 December 2012, Health Effects Institute, http://www.healtheffects.org/international.htm 4. Risk factors ranked by attributable burden of disease, Western Europe. Source: 2010 Global Burden of Disease (Full article on 67 risk factors, page 2248). Ranking of risk factors 1 Tobacco smoking, including second-hand smoke 2 High blood pressure 3 High body mass index (BMI) 4 Alcohol use 5 Physical inactivity and low physical activity 6 High fasting plasma glucose 7 Diet low in fruits 8 High total cholesterol 9 Diet low in nuts and seeds 10 Diet high in sodium 11 Ambient particulate matter pollution 12 Diet high in processed meat 13 Diet low in vegetables 14 Drug use 15 Diet low in seafood omega-3 fatty acids |
| 05/12/2012 | Doha health declaration wins major support from European groups The Doha Declaration on Climate, Health and Well-being, signed by more than 50 organisations and almost 1000 individuals, calls on governments to recognize that a carbon intensive economy and changing climate contributes to major health problems and increased mortality rates. This declaration inspired a group of medical students and youth NGO delegates to demonstrate with placards demanding action on climate adaptation, mitigation and capacity building. UN Climate Change Conference, COP 18, Doha, Qatar, 26 November-7 December, 2012 Brussels, 5 December 2012 - Health and medical associations sanctioned a protest at the international climate talks in Doha today to highlight the health benefits of taking action on climate change. Healthy Planet UK, (1) a group of medical students and youth non-governmental organisation delegates staged a sketch showing the planet as a pregnant woman carrying our future - but in need of reanimation. Others demonstrated with placards demanding action on climate adaptation, mitigation and capacity building. (2) This event came after the launch of the Doha Declaration on Climate, Health and Well-being (3) at a World Health Organization event. The Declaration calls on governments to recognise that a carbon intensive economy and a changing climate contributes to major health problems and increased mortality rates. The organisations in Doha join other medical practitioners and experts such as Hugh Montgomery, director of the UCL institute for human health who have systematically described (4) not only the health benefits, but the associated cost savings, of supporting effective action to combat climate change at home and abroad. More than 50 organisations, including five European networks, have signed up to the Doha declaration, which argues that health must be central to climate action. Among the signatories are World Medical Association, International Council of Nurses, International Federation of Medical Students Associations and five European networks: Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), European Public Health Alliance, European Public Health Association, European Respiratory Society and European Central Council of Homeopathy. HEAL members, International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE), International Network on Children’s Health, Environment and Safety (INCHES) and Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), have also signed. In welcoming the Declaration, HEAL calls on the European Union to show leadership by increasing the EU emissions reduction target. “A move by the European Union to announce a 30% reduction target for 2020 is needed to bring negotiations in Qatar forward. Health in Europe will benefit substantially from increasing the EU reduction target. Moving up the bar from 20% to 30% domestic reductions would yield substantial health savings, worth up to 30.5 billion Euros per year (5),” says Génon Jensen, Executive Director of Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). A HEAL report (5) published in 2010 estimated the extent to which health in Europe would benefit if the EU increased its target on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 from 20% to 30%. It evaluated the costs that could be avoided from this move at 30.5 billion Euros per year by 2020 - quantified by summing up the savings from reduced deaths due to cleaner air, fewer cases of bronchitis and other respiratory illness, and a fall in days of restricted activity due to respiratory symptoms. The Doha Declaration also highlights how reductions in emissions can deliver many benefits to health worldwide: “Reducing fossil fuel consumption simultaneously improves air quality and improves public health. Shifting to cleaner, safer, low carbon energy systems will save millions of lives each year.” EU a key actor The European Union is a key player in implementing and financing measures that benefit both people’s health and the climate. But most importantly, a European commitment to more ambitious climate action has a huge potential to secure real progress at Doha by making other countries follow suit and increase their pledges. According to a new briefing (6) from Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe the EU is already on course to reach 25% emissions reductions by 2020, or 27% if including reductions from further EU initiatives which are currently in the pipeline. "Without taking further action, the EU is set to reach 25% emissions reductions by 2020. Surely this is the moment for Commissioner Hedegaard and ministers to show leadership by increasing the EU target to 30%?" says Ms Jensen. "The Doha declaration has achieved support from some of the most influential European health groups yet the EU's 20% target reflects neither ambition nor the climate and energy policies they are developing," she continues. Notes for journalists 1. Healthy Planet UK, see www.healthyplanetuk.org 2. Photos of the protest in Doha (Please credit Laurence Watson) 3. The Doha Declaration on Climate, Health and Wellbeing 4. Professor/Dr Hugh Montgomery, newspaper interview and Video: Making connections between health and the environment 5. The full report and a background briefing on Acting NOW for better health: A 30% reduction target for EU climate policy (report by Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care without Harm) are available at http://www.env-health.org/resources/publications/article/acting-now-for-a-better-health-30 6. CAN briefing (4 Dec. 2012), Closing the ambition gap: What Europe can do, available at www.climnet.org More on climate change and health Factsheet: 10 Facts on Climate Change and Health (WHO) Slideshow: Climate Change and Health (WHO) Websites: Communicating the links between climate change and health: (Climate and Health) http://www.climateandhealth.org/resources.html or (Healthy Planet UK) http://www.healthyplanetuk.org/key-links-and-resources.html Website: Adaptation resources for Health organisations (WHO) Health costs of climate change Report: DARA Vulnerability Monitor Health co-benefits of climate action Report: Acting NOW For Better Health: A 30% Reduction Target for EU Climate Policy Article: Lancet Series on Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions: low-carbon electricity generation Contacts Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), E-mail: genon@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Diana G. Smith, Communications, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), Email: diana@env-health.org, Mobile phone: +33 6 33 04 2943. |
| 09/11/2012 | HEAL announces “Health and Environment Film Prize” HEAL will be awarding a prize for the best environment and health film at the International Environmental Film Festival (Fife) in Paris, 19-26 February 2013. Eligible films will focus on how environmental issues impacts human health. They will also demonstrate originality and boldness. As part of our 10th anniversary, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) will be awarding a prize for the best film addressing how environmental factors affect health. The “Health and Environment Film Prize” will be awarded as part of this year’s International Environmental Film Festival (Fife) in Paris, 19-26 February 2013 (www.iledefrance.fr/fife-english) The winner will receive 5,000 Euros. The International Environmental Film Festival is a key event in creating a bridge between film and environmental and social issues. The festival attracts a huge audience (13,000 people in 2012), including environmental groups and representatives of the Paris-region authorities, Ile-de-France, which funds the festival. It attracts extensive media coverage in France and internationally. This year, thanks to the competition for the best film on health and environment, we can expect a special high profile for the human health impact of certain environmental issues and a strong presence from within the European health and environment community. Entries for the health and environment prize must address how the environment affects health. The film should be between 20-90 minutes in length and must not have premiered in France prior to the festival. HEAL is responsible for the selection of the competition jury, which will comprise leading personalities from the world of environment, health, and science. The prize will be awarded to the director of the winning film on Tuesday, 26 February at the awards ceremony. Film documentaries are a powerful and exciting way to raise the profile of health and environment issues. HEAL already has strong track record in supporting video and film, including a film screening of Marie-Monique Robin’s Notre Poison Quotidien at our 2011 annual general assembly and of Sandra Steingraber’s film, Living Downstream in the European Parliament. We believe that the establishment of this new prize with its associated jury and awards ceremony offers an important opportunity for environmental films to become a driver for social and public policy change in Europe. The screening of these films will offer new opportunities for public engagement and significantly raise the profile of films that focus on the health impact of environmental issues, including through more media attention. After the festival, HEAL plans to show the winning film at our 10th Annual General Assembly celebrations in Brussels. Do help to make this the success it deserves to be by encouraging anyone you may know to submit entries. More information on the film festival and possible submission is available here www.iledefrance.fr/fife-english/news/international-environmental-film-festival/call-for-entries Registering period is closed. We hope you will also put the dates in your diary and aim to be with us at the prize award ceremony on Tuesday 26 February 2013 in Paris. |
| 25/10/2012 | EU bio-monitoring shows mothers and children exposed to harmful chemicals Analysis of 4,000 urine and hair samples in 17 European countries suggests all mothers and children have chemicals in their bodies that should not be there. The findings reveal that the human body is contaminated with small levels of mercury, cadmium, cotinine (a measure of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke) and five phthalates (which are endocrine disrupting chemicals used in plastics). Nicosia, Cyprus, 25 October 2012 Analysis of 4,000 urine and hair samples in 17 European countries suggests all mothers and children have chemicals in their bodies that should not be there. The samples were taken as part of first-ever biomonitoring survey by COPHES/DEMOCOPHES (1), two EU-funded research projects. The findings reveal that the human body is contaminated with small levels of mercury, cadmium, cotinine (a measure of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke) and five phthalates (which are endocrine disrupting chemicals used in plastics). Six of the 17 countries involved also tested people for bisphenol A, parabens and triclosan, which are also endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). (2) HEAL Senior Policy Advisor, Lisette van Vliet says: “We appreciate that the point of these projects was to conduct a first pan-European biomonitoring survey, and we’re very pleased that it succeeded.” However, HEAL wishes to emphasize that although the project concluded that the levels found are not of high concern, they do represent an important threat to public health. “The truth is that none of these chemicals belong in our bodies,” Ms van Vliet continues. “More worrying is that endocrine disrupting chemicals are all linked to serious health problems ranging from premature puberty in girls and birth defects in baby boys’ genitals to increased risk of hormone related cancers, such as breast and prostate.” In addition, the levels found are only a part of picture. The timing of exposure, such as in the womb or during infancy, may be just as crucial and exposure to mixtures of chemicals is important because combined exposures may be more harmful than each of these chemicals alone. Accumulating scientific evidence makes endocrine disrupting chemicals a major issue in public health. A recent scientific consensus statement, which includes implications for public policy, says that exposure to environmental contaminants in the womb may result in many individuals being more susceptible to serious disease later in life. Written by five leading international scientists, it now has 87 co-signatories from scientists all over the world. (3) HEAL is concerned about all EDC exposure but particularly about that which occurs during critical windows of human development – such as infancy and, even more, the exposure of babies in the womb as a result of maternal exposure. (4) “To protect public health, EU laws should be eliminating people’s exposures”, Ms van Vliet says. “We believe that policy change is now urgently needed to prevent exposure and therefore reduce health risks from contaminants in everyday life that disrupt our hormone systems. The EU is currently undertaking a review of EDC policy and we shall now be calling on the European Commission and the Members of the European Parliament, who are currently writing a report on EDCs, to take these new findings into account (5),” she adds. The project tested mothers and children for a range of EDCs (mercury, cadmium, cotinine, five phthalates, bisphenol A, parabens and triclosan). Scientific research has found associations between EDCs and a range of chronic diseases (2), including: Male Reproductive Health – genital malformations in baby boys; decrease in semen quality, testicular and prostate cancer (collectively known as the testicular dysgenesis syndrome). Female Reproductive Health – precocious puberty, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, breast cancer, falling fertility/fecundity, adverse pregnancy outcomes. Hormonal Cancers – cancer of the breast, prostate, testis, and thyroid. Diabetes & Obesity – rates have doubled in most countries since 1990. Neurological disorders & diseases - neurodevelopmental disturbances and behavioural changes, such as Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s. Thyroid dysfunction – hypo- and hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. Contacts Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Advisor, HEAL, Tel: +32 2 234 36 45, lisette@env-health.org. Genon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +32 2 234 3642, Email: genon@env-health.org. Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +33 6 33 04 2943, +33 1 55 25 25 84. E-mail: diana@env-health.org. Notes for journalists 1. Cyprus EU presidency press release, European projects measure chemicals in people across Europe for the first time available at http://www.cy2012.eu/index.php/fr/news-categories/press-release-european-projects-measure-chemicals-in-people-across-europe-for-the-first-time 2. See Kortenkamp et al, “State of the Art Assessment of Endocrine Disrupters”, January 2012, http://ec.europa.eu/environment/endocrine/documents/studies_en.htm 3. The scientific consensus statement, Developmental origins of non-communicable disease: Implications for research and public health”, http://www.ehjournal.net/content/11/1/42/abstract from the ‘PPTOX’ conference in Paris earlier this year has been co-signed by 87 scientists. See www.ehjournal.net/content/11/1/42/comments 4. Carol Kwiatkowski, Executive Director of The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), USA demonstrated Critical Windows of Development timeline: A science based tool for exploring environmental origins and disease at a HEAL seminar on EDCs in September 2012. More information at: http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/prenatal.criticalwindows.overview.php 5. The EU is currently revising its strategy on EDCs http://ec.europa.eu/environment/docum/01262_en.htm In preparation, the European Parliament is set to publish a report on EDCs soon. HEAL recently held a workshop on this theme to highlight the growing body of evidence linking EDCs with chronic disease. See http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/120904_agenda_policy_workshop_chronic_diseases_and_edcs.pdf |
| 19/10/2012 | Delegates Decision Prolongs Toxic Pollution Government delegates to a committee of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) have failed again to take urgent action on a group of harmful toxic chemicals. They have postponed the decision for another three years at least, thus continuing the global contamination of the environment, wildlife and humans with these harmful chemicals. (Geneva, Switzerland) Government delegates to a committee of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) have failed again to take urgent action on a group of harmful toxic chemicals, known as short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and instead have postponed the decision for another three years at least, thus continuing the global contamination of the environment, wildlife and humans with these harmful chemicals. SCCPs are a group of industrial chemicals used as lubricants in small scale metal cutting, exposing unsuspecting workers, as well as people and wildlife in areas near and far away from their point of release. They are also used in drilling fluids by the expanding gas industry, at a time when the polluting process of hydraulic fracturing for natural (unconventional) gas is vastly increasing worldwide. The risks posed by SCCPs to human health and the environment were identified 6 years ago. In 2006, Convention delegates recognised that SCCPs show high persistence in the environment; the capability to bioaccumulate in tissues of living organisms such that they have been found in human breast milk; the potential for serious effects on humans such as causing cancer, liver and thyroid damage, and other toxic environmental effects; and the potential to travel long distances and reach regions where they have never been used. SCCPs have been found in the Arctic and contaminate beluga whales as well as seals and walrus, which threaten the Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic, as they are intimately reliant on the marine environment for their physical, cultural, and spiritual sustenance [1]. Several countries have already stopped production or restricted the use of SCCPs, and the EU has banned SCCPs under an amendment to its POPs Regulation. In contrast, Chinese production of SCCPs has increased by 30-fold in less than 20 years. It is opposition from countries like Japan and China, where SCCPs are still produced, that is blocking the regulation of SCCPs, and the resulting delay is inconsistent with the Convention’s objective to protect human health and the environment. The undersigned health and environmental organisations therefore call on the European Commission and Member States to do their utmost to ensure that SCCPs are listed in the Stockholm Convention for global elimination as swiftly as possible. #### NOTES: [1] As the Inuit Circumpolar Council has stated, the presence of SCCPs in the breast milk of Inuit women in northern Canada also is cause for concern and provides further justification for global action. See Intervention by Pamela Miller, Executive Director of Alaska Community Action on Toxics, at the current POPRC meeting. The European Union initiated consideration of international measures under the Stockholm Convention. The Persistent Organic Pollutant Review Committee (POPRC) has been deliberating about moving SCCPs to the next stage of assessment on the path to a global ban for several years. The discussion and decisions have been taken at POPRC’s 8th meeting in Geneva, and the outcome of this meeting has relegated the decision to the 2015 meeting of the Committee (POPRC11). This effectively means that a decision to list SCCPs under the Convention is postponed for at least another 5 years (COP8 in 2017), because the next Committee meets in 3 years time; one additional year would be taken to assess SCCPs according to the Socio-economic Annex F, and another additional year to be approved at the Conference of the Parties. SCCPs are mainly used as metal-working fluids and fat liquoring of leather, with other major uses being in paints, coatings and sealants and as flame-retardants in rubber and textiles. The main sources of inputs to the sea are therefore production sites for SCCPs and products containing them and metal-, leather- and rubberworking-sites where they are used. SCCPs’ potential effects on human health include cancer and disorders of the immune and reproductive systems as well as hormone disrupting properties. SCCPs are also involved with serious adverse effects in animals, such as endocrine disruption, reproductive dysfunction, behavioural abnormalities, birth defects, disturbance of the immune system and extinction of whole populations, among others. The Decision of the Review Committee that SCCPs meet the criteria of being a POP. Decision POPRC-2/8: Short-chained chlorinated paraffins Stockholm Convention documentation on SCCPs http://chm.pops.int/Convention/POPsReviewCommittee/Chemicals/tabid/243/Default.aspx Draft Risk Profile on Short-chain chlorinated paraffins http://chm.pops.int/Convention/POPsReviewCommittee/POPRCMeetings/POPRC8/POPRC7WorkingDocuments/tabid/2801/Default.aspx SCCPs on the EU REACH Candidate list: http://echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table/-/substance/241/search/+/del/75/col/INCLUSIONDATECL/type/desc/pre/2/view Recommendation from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to include SCCPs in the Authorisation list: http://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/13640/annex_xiv_subst_inclusion_en.pdf Opinion of the European Chemicals Agency Member State Committee on the draft recommendation of the priority substances and annex XIV entries: http://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/13576/opinion_draft_recommendation_annex_xiv_en.pdf Commission decision of 20 April 2010 on the re-examination of the restriction concerning short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) listed in Annex XVII to (REACH) Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:100:0015:0016:en:PDF CONTACTS: Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Advisor, lisette@env-health.org, +32 2 234 3645 WECF - Women in Europe for a Common Future, Alexandra Caterbow, Coordinator Chemicals and Health, alexandra.caterbow@wecf.eu, +49 1795244994 European Environmental Bureau, Tatiana Santos, Senior Policy Officer on Chemicals and Nanotechnology, tatiana.santos@eeb.org, +32 2 289 10 94 ClientEarth, Vito Buonsante, Health and Environment Lawyer, vbuonsante@clientearth.org, +32 (0)2 808 34 72 CHEM Trust, Gwynne Lyons, Director, gwynne.lyons@chemtrust.org.uk, +44 (0)1603 507 363 Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL), David Azoulay, Geneva managing attorney, dazoulay@ciel.org, +41 (0)22 789 05 00 |
| 03/07/2012 | Green 10: Mid-term assessment of the Commission shows poor environmental track record Our assessment of the Commission's record on environmental health is off track. Read why in our Green 10 report. Press release Green groups: No medals in sight for Barroso II Brussels, 3 July 2012 – Halfway through its term in office, the European Commission is falling behind in the race to create sustainable long-term prosperity in Europe, warn Europe’s leading green groups in a critical assessment of the Commission’s environmental performance since 2010. The report released today finds that the Commission has so far acted to protect the environment even less than the first Barroso Commission [1], according to environmental organisations. Unless it changes track, the Barroso II Commission could have one of the worst ever environmental records, said the Green 10 coalition [2]. The report, inspired by a topical Olympic theme, assesses progress in nine EU policy fields with impacts on the environment and reviews the track record of 13 European Commissioners and Commission President José Manuel Barroso. Each policy field is given a mark out of ten based on two main factors: environmental ambition and the extent of environmental issues that the Commission has addressed. Faced with the breakdown of an economic system operating beyond planetary limits, the Commission has so far lacked the courage to propose legislation for a new, sustainable economy and has continued to favour short-term fixes over long-term solutions for people’s health and the planet, said green groups. Despite encouraging statements on the need for a smart, inclusive and sustainable economy, the Commission has so far failed to harness the potential for environmental policies to create jobs, improve health and reduce energy and resource use. Industry lobbyists have continued to pull the strings on many political files, leading to woefully inadequate policies, according to the Green 10. While the Commission has in some measure recognised the environmental, health and economic impact of enduring problems linked to resource depletion, pollution and ecological destruction, swifter action is required. Its flagship reform proposals on EU fisheries and agriculture policies would not put an end to industrial overfishing, nor halt animal and plant extinctions, nor soil, water and food pollution from pesticides. The Commission therefore only scores a 3.5/10 on agriculture and a 4.5/10 on fisheries. The Commission has acknowledged the economic and environmental rewards offered by clean energy and transport and an end to fossil fuel subsidies. But its mixed record on energy policy has not delivered clear measures to bring Europe closer to a modern energy system built around renewables and efficiency, and free from expensive energy imports and polluting greenhouse gases. Failure to live up to its own rhetoric has contributed to another low score of 4.5/10 for energy policy. The Green 10 assessment includes a series of policy-specific recommendations for the remaining two-and-a-half years of the Commission’s term that will help Europe successfully tackle the economic, climate and resource challenges facing the continent. To download the Green 10 report, go to: www.green10.org/docs/2012commissionreview.pdf For pictures from today's launch event, click here. For more information on HEAL's website click here. Notes to editors: [1] To view the Green 10 assessment of the outgoing Barroso Commission in 2009, go to http://green10.org/docs/2009_07_green_10_commission_review_v2%20.pdf [2] The Green 10 is an alliance of ten of the largest European environmental organisations and networks, with a membership of over 20 million people. www.green10.org For media enquiries: +32 (0)2 274 1911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org |
| 11/06/2012 | HEAL welcomes Environment Ministers’ inclusion of “health protection” in 7th EAP The Health and Environment Alliance strongly supports the EU Environment ministers’ call for environmental policy measures, which will help prevent rising rates of chronic disease, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. We especially welcome the important recognition that initiatives on EDCs should aim to reduce exposure, especially for children, and that attention must be given to measures to identify and assess chemicals mixtures. Brussels, 11 June 2012 – The Health and Environment Alliance strongly supports the EU Environment ministers’ call for environmental policy measures, which will help prevent rising rates of chronic disease, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, in the 7th Environmental Action Programme. (1) The conclusions adopted today by the EU Environment Ministers on “Setting the framework for a Seventh EU Environment Action Programme” urges the Commission to address health and environment in the forthcoming 7th EAP proposal “to ensure the continuation and enhancement of policies to protect human health and the environment.” HEAL Executive Director, Genon Jensen says: “Ministers are urging the Commission to make sure that health and environment continues to be a priority, and is enhanced. This is good news. Surveys show that citizens all over Europe are concerned about the impacts on their health of exposure to chemicals, air and noise pollution, and climate change. Just last week the GEO-5 report (Global Environment Outlook) warned that governments will preside over unprecedented levels of degradation if current trends continue. (2) The report shows that what works is setting goals with specific measures and timelines. HEAL therefore calls on EU Commissioner Janez Potocnik to bring forward a proposal with concrete targets and actions to put Europe on a path to healthy and sustainable development.” The 7th EAP represents a key policy instrument for tackling environmental factors that result in ill-health. It can help contribute to the achievement of significant health benefits as well as reductions in healthcare costs. HEAL Senior Policy Advisor, Lisette van Vliet says: “We especially welcome the important recognition that initiatives on EDCs should aim to reduce exposure, especially for children, and that attention must be given to measures to identify and assess chemicals mixtures. The support from Ministers on human biomonitoring is also important, especially given the need for future financing for an EU approach to using this tool in determining population exposure to environmental contaminants.” “The Ministers have stressed that EU actions on the issues covered in their Conclusions should not wait until the 7th EAP proposal has been adopted. We therefore look to a thorough revision of the EU strategy on endocrine disruptors which formulates a definite framework for swift exposure reduction measures.” Ms Van Vliet continues. Contacts: Genon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +32 2 234 3642, Email: genon@env-health.org Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Advisor, HEAL, lisette@env-health.org Tel: +32 2 234 36 45. Mobile: +32 484 614 528 Notes: 1. Draft Council conclusions are available at http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/12/st10/st10706.en12.pdf EP resolution on the 7th EAP available at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&reference=P7-TA-2012-0147&language=EN&ring=A7-2012-0048 2. http://www.unep.org/geo/pdfs/geo5/GEO5_report_full_en.pdf Background: Environmental Action Programmes (EAPs) have been crucial in outlining the direction of EU environmental policy, legislation, and giving direction to EU funding since the first one began in 1973. “Health and environment” is one of four priorities in the 6th EAP and has been a driver for important action in the field, including for example the new pesticides package. A recent informal paper prepared for DG Environment shows the many challenges that still exist in Europe regarding protecting public health from environmental degradation. (Rappolder Marianne, Environment and Health strategic policy outline, informal paper for DG Environment, European Commission, 15 March 2012 (PDF - 420K - 24/04/2012)) It provides recommendations for future activities in environment and health policy that are intended as a follow up of the European Environment and Health Action plan (2004-2010). It says that the next phase should consider the impact of various environment policies on health and that a cross cutting and strong collaboration among various experts and sectors is needed to allow the consideration of health aspects at an early stage of planning in order to avoid negative health impacts. |
| 31/05/2012 | Response to European Commission’s position on chemical mixtures released today Health environmental and consumer groups have expressed deep concern at today’s Communication from the European Commission on people’s exposure to mixtures of chemicals, the so-called “cocktail effect”, especially as it relates to endocrine disrupting chemicals. PRESS RELEASE Response to European Commission’s position on chemical mixtures released today (Communication on the combination effects of chemicals; chemicals mixtures – see Note 1) Communication on chemical mixtures lacks urgency Brussels, 31 May 2012 – Health environmental and consumer groups have expressed deep concern at today’s Communication from the European Commission on people’s exposure to mixtures of chemicals, the so-called “cocktail effect”, especially as it relates to endocrine disrupting chemicals. (1) “This Communication is a serious disappointment. It lacks any sense of urgency. Even though the Commission admits that it is not possible to do a proper assessment of the combination effects from different chemicals under the current structure of EU law, they are not proposing any changes to EU legislation,” says Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Advisor, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL). In December 2009, the EU Environmental Ministers expressed concerns that the health of European citizens might not be properly protected from the combined effects of hazardous chemicals, particularly those that can disrupt hormones. They asked the Commission to produce a report on how existing EU legislation deals with risks from mixtures, saying that further action was required “to address combination effects of chemicals”. (2) An increasing number of scientific studies have suggested that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), particularly in combination, play a role in both chronic diseases, including hormone related cancers (such as breast and testicular cancer), obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and also in reproductive problems, including low sperm counts and birth defects in baby boys, such as un-descended testes. (3) “What is particularly worrying is that the foetus is being exposed to these chemicals – and foetal development is a uniquely sensitive developmental phase in human life. A recent study by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency showed that pregnant women have a number of different endocrine disrupting chemicals in their bodies,(4) and these EDCs are known to be capable of passing through the placenta,” Ms. van Vliet says. Daily, concurrent exposure to multiple chemicals, particularly endocrine disruptors, takes place through inhalation of pollutants in the air, absorption through the skin or ingestion through food and drink. (5) A number of EU laws are aimed at protecting citizens from exposure to harmful chemicals. However, the laws usually assess each exposure individually as opposed to in combination. In addition, the risks from chemicals, such as pesticides, biocides and industrial chemicals, are assessed separately under different pieces of legislation. In reality, people and wildlife are exposed to many different chemicals at the same time. (5) “We desperately need a plan for how and when the EU will tackle people’s exposures to harmful mixtures, especially because the rates of these expensive, painful and debilitating chronic diseases are continually rising,” said Francois Veillerette, spokesperson for Générations Futures, and President of Pesticides Action Network Europe. “This response is nowhere near the kinds of action we need to swiftly reduce people’s daily exposures to the chemical cocktail”. The Communication proposes a platform for existing chemical monitoring data and improved coordination across the different Commission entities responsible for the various EU laws. It announces technical guidelines to promote consistency across different legislation that will not replace existing rules and a report by June 2015, but it does not propose any changes in risk assessment procedures to take mixtures into account nor any updates or adjustments of EU legislation. Contact: Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Advisor, HEAL Health and Environment Alliance, Phone +32 2 234 3645 lisette@env-health.org Yannick Vicaire, Policy Officer, Réseau Environment Santé, Mobile +33 608 755 015, res.yvicaire@gmail.com Isabelle Pinzauti, Communication Officer, PAN Europe, Phone +32 497695842, isabelle@pan-europe.info Francois Veillerette, Spokesperson, Générations Futures; President PAN Europe, Mobile +33 (0)6 81 64 65 58, mdrgf@wanadoo.fr Alexandra Caterbow, Chemicals and Health Coordinator, Women in Europe for a Common Future, Phone +49 (89) 23 23 93 8-16, alexandra.caterbow@wecf.eu Gwynne Lyons, Director, CHEM Trust, Phone +44 1603 507 363, Mobile +44 7944 422 898, gwynne.lyons@chemtrust.org.uk Jerker Ligthart, Senior Chemicals Advisor, ChemSec - International Chemical Secretariat, Phone +46 (0)739-54 44 67, jerker.ligthart@chemsec.org Lone Mikkelsen, Chemicals Policy Officer, Danish Ecological Council, Phone +45 33 18 19 34, lone@ecocouncil.dk Mikael Karlsson, President, SSNC, Phone 46 703162722, mikael.karlsson@naturskyddsforeningen.se Vito Buonsante, Health and Environment Lawyer, ClientEarth, Phone +32 (0)2 808 34 72, vbuonsante@clientearth.org Christian Schaible, Senior Policy Officer, European Environmental Bureau, Phone +32 (0) 2 289 10 94, christian.schaible@eeb.org Johannes Kleis, Head of Communications, European Federation of Consumer Unions BEUC, Phone +32 (0)2 789 24 01 communications@beuc.eu Notes for journalists (1) Communication from the Commission to the Council, The combination effect of chemicals, Chemical Mixtures, Brussels 31 May 2012. Official Journal: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOIndex.do European Union Commission, DG Environment website on combination effects of Chemicals http://ec.europa.eu/environment/che... (2) Council conclusions on combination effects of chemicals, 2988th ENVIRONMENT Council meeting, Brussels, 23 December 2009 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/homepage/showfocus?lang=en&focusID=65453 (3) Human exposures to EDCs may arise from various sources, including from consumer products, pesticides and other chemicals contaminating food. It is now known that many EDCs can act together in an additive way, and this increases the urgency of the need to eliminate public exposure whenever possible. In wildlife, adverse effects have also been seen on the reproductive health of male animals. For more information on assessment of the risks from mixtures, see report, “State of the Art of Mixtures Toxicology”, by Andreas Kortenkamp, Thomas Backhaus, and Michael Faust, contracted by EU Commission DG Environment. See http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/pdf/report_Mixture%20toxicity.pdf Amongst others, the study recommendations include: That the EU should develop integrated guidelines addressing both human health and environmental concerns on the assessment of chemical mixtures; That the legal mandate for mixtures risk assessment in the European Union should be strengthened; That at the level of the EU, the concentration (dose) addition model should be applied as the default concept for mixture effects in the context of tiered assessment approaches. In a Commission workshop on the results of the contracted study, the Chair concluded, amongst other things: It is necessary and appropriate to address the issue of mixture effects as part of chemicals' risk assessment in the EU. The assessment of mixture toxicity should be undertaken both in product oriented chemicals' legislation and media oriented environmental legislation. We have sufficient information to develop technical guidelines for the assessment of mixture toxicity which could be applied across the different pieces of EU legislation. The legal form of such guidelines (Commission decision, recommendation etc) is to be decided. As and when existing pieces of EU legislation dealing with chemicals are reviewed and revised, language should be introduced that allows mixture effects to be assessed and acted upon. The review of REACH foreseen to be completed by 2012 presents an excellent opportunity for ensuring that the assessment of mixture toxicity is properly addressed in this key piece of legislation. It was recognised that the question of responsibility/liability is an important issue that would need to be tackled. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/pdf/Summary_Combination%20Effects.pdf (4) A recent study by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency showed pregnant women’s exposure to multiple EDCs: http://www.mst.dk/English/About+the+Danish+EPA/News/20120328pregnant.htm |
| 16/05/2012 | Common diseases linked to chemical exposures before birth Scientists' consensus released on diseases linked to pre-natal exposure. Exposure to environmental contaminants in the womb may result in many individuals being more susceptible to serious disease later in life, according to a consensus statement released at a scientific conference, which closes in Paris today. INFORMATION RELEASE Paris/Brussels, 16 May 2012 – Exposure to environmental contaminants in the womb may result in many individuals being more susceptible to serious disease later in life, according to a consensus statement released at a scientific conference, which closes in Paris today. The draft consensus statement represents the current outcome of the conference, “PPTox III, Environmental stressors in the developmental origins of disease: Evidence and Mechanisms”, 14-16 May 2012. The meeting was attended by over 250 participants, many of them leading researchers on early life exposures and diseases.(1) The statement highlights that nutritional imbalances, infections, stress, and exposure to chemicals, including contaminants in our environment, are all factors which can act on the child in the womb to increase its risk of future disease. The statement entitled, “Developmental Origins of Non-Communicable Diseases and Dysfunctions: Implications for Research and Public Health”, was presented in the final session of the PPTox conference for comments from participants. Written by a group of international scientific experts (2), it describes how nutritional imbalance and exposure to certain chemicals during pre and postnatal development leads to disease in adults, including cancer and diabetes, and how prevention of the long term health impacts needs to be addressed. Important points include: Early development (particularly in-utero) is particularly sensitive to perturbations by chemical exposures with likely adverse consequences for health in later life, including obesity, diabetes, neuro-developmental disorders, precocious puberty, and hormone related cancers, such as of the breast, prostate and testes. Undescended testicles, low semen quality, sub-fecundity, polycystic ovarian syndrome and uterine fibromyoma have also all been linked to chemical exposures. Chemicals termed endocrine disruptors are of particular concern as these de-rail the home-grown hormones that carry signals from one cell in the body to another. These endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can have effects at very low doses which are not predictable from testing at high dose levels. 900 chemicals are now suspected EDCs. All complex diseases have an environmental component. The fraction that scientists attribute solely to fixed genetic variation is shrinking as a result of better understanding of the role of environmental influences.(3) The diseases and dysfunctions resulting from the increased susceptibility can manifest years or decades later and will depend on the exposure and timing. Disease examples: DIABETES and OBESITY: Exposure to environmental chemicals has been linked with increased risk of obesity and diabetes in later life. There are now about 20 chemicals that can lead to increased risk of weight gain in later life; these chemicals are referred to as obesogens. REPRODUCTION: Development of the human reproductive system begins towards the end of the first trimester. A variety of dysfunctions and diseases, such as undescended testicles, low sperm count, polycystic ovary syndrome and testicular cancer have been linked to developmental exposures to EDCs. Policy implications: Because early development is particularly sensitive to perturbations with adverse health consequences, both research and disease prevention strategies should focus on the life stages that are most vulnerable. A policy change towards ‘primary prevention’ is needed. Improved nutrition and reduced environmental chemicals exposures pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy and in the first few years of life is vital. This policy shift is likely to have a very large impact on disease rates and the costs of health care, whilst at the same time increasing the quality of life for the population at large. Representatives from regulatory authorities and civil society organisations were called upon to consider the consensus statement in terms of their future EU and national policy and programme discussions. Robert Barouki, INSERM - Paris Descartes University and co-chair of the conference organizing committee said: “Scientific evidence is now available which wasn’t the case a few years ago. Nutritional imbalances or exposure to certain chemicals during the prenatal period could have consequences for health later in life. Although we don’t know the exact magnitude of the consequences, the science is there and is ripe for public action.” Genon Jensen, Executive Director of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) said five civil society groups (HEAL), Réseau Environnement Santé (RES), Générations Futures (GF), Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), and CHEM Trust welcome and support the consensus statement. The health and environment civil society organisations plan to bring this call to the relevant discussions at EU level, including related to the revision of the EU strategy on EDCs, as well as to other relevant policy fora. “The consensus statement provides important direction for future policy discussions and decisions on endocrine disrupting chemicals. It shows that more focus needs to be given to preventing harmful exposures during sensitive periods of human development. Up till now, despite the growing evidence of harm from EDCs, changes in regulatory action are happening so slowly as to be ineffective. We expect this important new statement to galvanize primary prevention rather than solely early detection and treatment,” she said. The consensus statement will be published as a commentary in the prestigious online publication Environmental Health (anticipated in early June 2012). Notes 1. Details of the conference at http://www.toxicology.org/ai/meet/c... 2. The consensus statement was written by Robert Barouki, INSERM UMR-S 747, Université Paris Descartes, Paris 06, 75270 France; Peter D. Gluckman, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 01142, New Zealand; Philippe Grandjean, Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark; Mark Hanson, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA; University of Southampton, Mailpoint 887, Southampton General Hospital, SO16 6YD, UK; Jerrold J Heindel, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, P O Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. The draft consensus statement is open for comments from conference participants until 28 May 2012, and then will be open for signatories. 3. One reason for this conclusion is the substantial increase in incidence of many chronic diseases during the last 20-40 years, a time interval much too short to be attributable to genetic change. Contacts Genon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL) Tel: +32 2 234 3642, Email: genon@env-health.org Yannick Vicaire, Réseau Environnement Santé (RES) Mobile: +33 (0) 608 755 015, Email: res.yvicaire@gmail.com Lisette van Vliet, Senior Policy Advisor, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL) Tel: +32 2 234 36 45, Mobile: +32 484 614 528, Email: lisette@env-health.org |
| 25/04/2012 | EU citizens call for quick action to curb traffic noise Today is International Noise Awareness Day. For this occasion HEAL has teamed up with Transport & Environment (T&E) and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) to launch a video focusing on traffic noise and what EU citizens think. It is meant to urge EU decision-makers, who are currently discussing a proposal to reduce vehicle noise, to support tighter noise standards for all road vehicles. Watch it here. Wednesday 25 April - International Noise Awareness Day Brussels 25 April 2012 - Traffic noise is a serious concern for Europeans, and the EU must act quickly to tackle the issue. That is the call from citizens from several European countries in a video clip published today (1) for International Noise Awareness Day. The video, published by Transport & Environment (T&E), the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) urges the European Parliament and member states to support tighter noise emissions standards for all road vehicles. It highlights the fact that traffic noise is associated with 50,000 deaths and a quarter of a million cases of heart disease per year. In December 2011, the European Commission put forward a proposal to update vehicle noise limits which would require cars and vans to be four-decibels and lorries three decibels quieter five years after the new law is approved. The environment committee of the European Parliament will vote on the new rules in July. T&E, the EEB and HEAL want the revised legislation to be adopted faster and to go further in lowering traffic noise levels (2). According to the environmental and health groups, the Parliament should improve the Commission’s proposal by mandating an extra two-decibel reduction for cars, vans, lorries and buses to come into force by 2020. These tighter standards would reduce the number of people highly impacted by noise by 40% and the number of sleep-disturbed people by almost a third. A report for T&E, published earlier this month (3) showed the benefits of ambitious vehicle noise legislation would outweigh the costs by thirty times (4). Greg Archer, Programme Manager for Clean Vehicles at Transport & Environment said: “The EU has turned a deaf ear to traffic noise for far too long. Traffic noise levels have been getting worse for fifty years, and vehicle noise standards haven’t been changed for twenty. The European Parliament has a great opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of millions of Europeans by proposing stricter standards to enter into force as quickly as possible.” Louise Duprez, Policy Officer for Air Quality and Noise at the European Environment Bureau said: “Traffic noise causes stress and disturbance to people all over Europe; interfering with their sleep, rest and study. EU leaders must grasp this opportunity to directly improve the quality of life of their citizens by cutting noise at the source and making vehicles quieter. They have nothing to lose, apart from their hearing if they don’t take any action.” Anne Stauffer, Deputy Director at HEAL said: “Noise is not only an irritation, it also affects physical health. Research shows that vehicle noise pushes up the number of people suffering a stroke for the first time. For example, last year a study in Denmark involving over 57,000 people found that for every 10-decibel increase in traffic noise there was a 14% increase in the risk of stroke. Reducing traffic noise is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for health protection." Environmental and health organisations are also calling for a labelling system to enable consumers to have more information on how noisy vehicles are, for test methods that better reflect real world noise emissions and for stricter limits for noise peaks of over 90 decibels. Notes to editors: 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZnJzUVrVhc 2. NGO position paper on vehicle noise standards http://transenv.eu/I8QuTA 3. Reduction of vehicle noise emissions - Technological potential and impacts, report by TNO http://transenv.eu/I7pW7o 4. The further two-decibel reduction advocated by environmental and health groups would result in additional benefits worth EUR 51 billion compared to a cost of only EUR 3 billion. For further information: Cécile Toubeau, T&E (tel: +32 490 400 448, cecile@transportenvironment.org) Louise Duprez, EEB (tel: +32 2 289 1307, louise.duprez@eeb.org) Anne Stauffer, HEAL (Tel: +32 2 234 36 43, anne@env-health.org) |
| 24/04/2012 | Shale gas: A dangerous experiment on the environment and human health Press release by Friends of the Earth Europe, Health and Environment Alliance, Food and Water Europe Health and environment groups call on member states to suspend existing ‘fracking’ projects and ban new ones Brussels, April 24, 2012 – A coalition of environmental and health NGOs warned the European Parliament today that hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’) of shale gas, shale oil, and coal bed methane represent an dangerous experiment on the environment and human health [1]. The warning comes following a draft report on shale gas published on the 11th of April by MEP Boguslaw Sonik for the parliamentary committee working on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety [2]. The draft, which promotes the expansion of shale gas developments in Europe, will be presented in front of the ENVI Committee tomorrow. It will influence Europe’s position on shale gas, potentially steering Europe’s energy policy in completely the wrong direction. The report ignores the risks and negative impacts of fracking, while presenting overly optimistic industry interests. Antoine Simon, shale gas campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe said: “Europe must not fall into the shale gas trap – it threatens the health of local communities, the environment, locks Europe into fossil fuel dependency, and undermines renewable energy developments.” “European politicians must resist industry rhetoric and take account of the very real dangers of shale gas. Member states must suspend ongoing activities, and ban new projects – we must put a stop to this socially and environmentally damaging technology before it spreads across Europe.” Exploiting shale gas, shale oil and coal bed methane in Europe will increase greenhouse gas emissions and ensure fossil fuel dependency at the expense of renewable energy or cheaper and safer policies to save energy. Additionally, loopholes in European legislation allow companies to remain secretive about chemicals used during fracking, making it impossible to assess the environmental and health risks [3]. Lisette van Vliet, Senior policy officer for Health and Environment Alliance said: “Getting natural gas from shale is a mark of desperate addiction to fossil fuels and threatens our public health by polluting the environment. Toxic chemicals used in fracking can contaminate groundwater, and subsequently drinking water, and fracking worsens our air quality. We call on Parliament to take a strong stand, and not to feed this addiction!” Geert De Cock, policy officer for Food and Water Europe said: “Detailed analysis of how European water legislation covers, or fails to cover, the impacts of fracking on the water quality, is dangerously absent.” “Fracking for shale gas has led to thousands of water contamination cases in the US – leaks, spills, blowouts, and improper treatment of wastewater – yet Europe is turning a blind eye. We must take heed, and suspend all ongoing shale gas developments in Europe”. Civil society calls on member states to suspend ongoing activities, to abrogate permits, and to place a ban on any new projects, and urges the European Parliament not to promote further development of shale gas. For more information please contact: Antoine Simon, shale gas campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, Tel: +32 (0) 2 893 10 18, Mob: +32 (0) 486 685 664, email: antoine.simon@foeeurope.org Lisette van Vliet, Senior policy officer for Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +32 (0) 2 234 3645 Mob: +32 (0) 484 614 528, email: lisette@env-health.org Geert De Cock, policy officer for Food and Water Europe, Tel: +32 (0) 2 893 10 45, Mob: +32 (0) 484 629 491, email: gdecock@fweurope.org Notes: [1] http://www.foeeurope.org/sites/default/files/press_releases/foee_shale_gas_joint_position_240412.pdf The joint statement was drafted by Friends of the Earth Europe, Health and Environment Alliance, Food and Water Europe and Greenpeace and signed on by a group of European, North American, South African and Australian NGOs and groups of active citizens including Climate Action Network Europe, CEE Bankwatch Network, European Environmental Bureau, Health Care Without Harm Europe, National Toxics Network, Global 2000, Weinviertel Statt Gasviertel, Fracking free Bulgaria, Bulgarian anti-fracking group, Bulgarian greens (Zelenite), Les Amis de la Terre France, Agir pour l'environnement, AITEC, ATTAC France, CNMSE, France Libertés, Réseau Action Climat France, Réseau Environnement Santé, WECF France, Aktionsbündnis No-Moor-Fracking, Schönes Lünne, Fracking Free Ireland, Netherlands ShaleGas Free, Eko-Unia, fractual.co.za, Ecologistas en Acción, Heaven or sHell, Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Citizens' Environmental Coalition, Environmental Health Fund, IPEN, Science corps [2] http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/documents/envi/pr/892/892948/892948en.pdf [3] Toxic chemicals used whilst fracking, along with the hazardous and radioactive materials naturally present underground, smog particulates and other pollutants released during the process can contaminate surface and groundwater, and pollute the air and soil. Vast amounts of water are required to extract shale gas, creating significant social and environmental pressures at local and regional levels. Fracking also increases the risks of earthquakes, with recorded cases across the US and UK. |
| 20/03/2012 | Daily chemical exposure adds to obesity and diabetes risk Our new leaflet highlights how chemicals in food and consumer products may be causing obesity and diabetes. It outlines some of the evidence and how individuals and policy makers can take preventive actions. PRESS RELEASE Brussels, 20 March 2012 – A scientific review of more than 240 papers published today by CHEM Trust provides new urgency for banning certain chemicals to protect health. (1) “Review of the Science Linking Chemical Exposures to the Human Risk of Obesity and Diabetes” was undertaken by two of the world’s leading epidemiology researchers, Professor Miquel Porta (2) and Korean Professor Duk-Hee Lee. It summarises recent laboratory investigations and community-based studies linking increasing incidence of obesity and diabetes with exposure to certain common chemicals. Scientific evidence on the role of chemicals in obesity and diabetes has grown rapidly over recent years, and has become particularly persuasive during the past six years. It challenges the view that rising rates of obesity and diabetes can be explained by bad diet and lack of exercise alone. The review highlights studies showing that mice exposed to low doses of chemicals known as “endocrine (or hormone) disruptors” in their food produce offspring that are obese in adulthood, whereas non exposed mothers on the same diet do not produce such young. It also shows evidence linking people’s bodily levels of contaminants with their increased likelihood of developing diabetes. Professor Porta says: “Our review provides the strongest possible incentive to minimise human exposure to all relevant hormone disruptors. This is especially important for women planning pregnancy as it appears to be the foetus developing in utero that is at greatest risk.” The human population is exposed to these suspect chemicals on an everyday basis, mostly via food and consumer products. Some of the chemicals identified as suspects have already been banned, such as DDT and PCBs, but others are still on the market, such as Bisphenol A (which escape into food from plastic packaging) and brominated flame retardants (which are released from upholstered furniture and electronic equipment). Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor at Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) says: “The EU is currently working to decide how to tell which chemicals are EDCs so that they can be controlled more carefully or removed entirely from the market. But those definitions won’t be given until the end of 2013 and even then will not apply to all relevant EU laws. This is very slow. We'd like to see European governments taking swift regulatory action and companies making pro-active moves towards safer alternatives. For example, getting BPA out of all food packaging materials now.” CHEM Trust and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) have jointly produced a leaflet about the report outlining the preventive action that individuals and policy makers can take. (3) Genon Jensen, Executive Director of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) says that given rapidly rising rates of obesity and diabetes in Europe, the benefit of political action to reduce human exposure to chemicals is likely to be considerable. “The number of people with diabetes in the EU is estimated to rise from approximately 33 million in 2010 to 37 million in 2025. We therefore need a much greater focus on prevention at every level. If chemical exposures play even a small part in diabetes, the benefits of better chemicals regulation will be significant, both in terms of better quality of life and cost savings for health services.” (3) Danish MEP Christel Schaldemose, who co-chairs the European Parliamentary working group on diabetes, would like to see all avenues in the prevention of diabetes pursued rapidly. “Recent estimates suggest that about 10% of EU health budgets are taken up by diabetes. This is simply not sustainable. If this new review shows there is enough evidence, action should be taken very swiftly to help bring down rising incidence of diabetes and obesity.” (4) A resolution in the European Parliament addressing the EU diabetes epidemic was adopted on 14 March. It recalls the importance of integrating prevention into “environmental, food and consumer policies”. Motions were received from MEPs Christel Schaldemose and Linda McAvan, on behalf of the S&D Group; Sarah Ludford, Antonyia Parvanova, Frédérique Ries and Giommaria Uggias, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Simon Busuttil and Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, on behalf of the PPE Group, and Marisa Matias, Patrick Le Hyaric, Kartika Tamara Liotard, Nikolaos Chountis and Jiří Maštálka, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group. Contacts: Genon Jensen, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance, E-mail: genon@env-health.org Tel: +32 2 234 36 42 Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance, E-mail: lisette@env-health.org Tel: +32 2 234 36 45, Mobile: +32 484 614 528 Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, E-mail: diana@env-health.org Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84 Notes: 1. CHEM Trust press release and full report are downloadable from www.chemtrust.org.uk and from www.env-health.org CHEM Trust press release: click here CHEM Trust executive summary and conclusions: click here (8 pages) CHEM Trust report: click here (26 pages) 2. Professor Miquel Porta, Medical School at Barcelona University also has a professorial role in the US and is (co-)author of 280 papers and editor of several leading epidemiology publications. 3. HEAL and CHEM Trust brochure entitled, “Chemicals in our food and consumer products – A missing link in the epidemics of obesity and diabetes?” (available in English, French, Spanish, German, Hungarian, Czech, Dutch and Swedish). For additional information on the availability contact daniel@env-health.org 4. For figures of various European countries: See “Figures on obesity and diabetes in the European Union” at www.env-health.org Figures from France on obesity and diabetes available in ECOD report, published 14 March 2012, http://reseau-environnement-sante.fr/ECOD report (in English at www.env-health.org/ECOD report) |
| 01/03/2012 | HEAL backs 10 guiding principles and call to tackle an invisible killer HEAL joins European lung experts’ recommendations of stronger EU air quality legislation and calls on EU and national leaders to also respond to this public health threat by also adopting more ambitious climate policies. The 10 guiding principles of the European Respiratory Society are relevant not only for air quality but also for climate policy. PRESS STATEMENT Brussels, 1 March 2012 HEAL backs 10 guiding principles and call to tackle an invisible killer The Health and Environment Alliance has supported a call from European lung experts for cleaner outdoor air to tackle an “invisible killer” (1). HEAL joins the authors’ recommendation of stronger EU air quality legislation and calls on EU and national leaders to also respond to this public health threat by also adopting more ambitious climate policies. In the editorial published today in the European Respiratory Journal (2) by members of the Environment and Health Committee of the European Respiratory Society (ERS), ten guiding principles summarise the evidence linking air pollution to ill-health and provide guidance for policy makers. (3) The respiratory health experts call for stronger air quality legislation to improve public health. Their paper says that exposure to poor outdoor air quality reduces the average European’s life expectancy by 8.6 months. The effect of fine particles in ambient air leads to an average loss of life per person ranging from three months in Finland to more than 13 months in Belgium. The final principle highlights the urgent need for EU action to reduce air pollution so that the “significant adverse effects on the health of European citizens” can be avoided. It concludes that the “benefits of such policies outweigh the costs by a large amount”. “We welcome this call from lung health experts for greater regulation on air quality,” says Genon Jensen, Executive Director of HEAL. “Outdoor air pollution is one of the biggest environmental health threats in Europe today. If air quality could be improved to the levels in the EU country with the cleanest air – Finland – it would extend average life expectancy by up to 10 months per person.” The 10 guiding principles are relevant not only for air quality but also for climate policy. One of the principles makes clear that the effects of summer heat waves will be particularly significant for ozone levels. Because global warming will lead to more heat waves in Europe, periods of hot temperatures and high levels of air pollutants will act in synergy to produce more serious health effects than those expected from heat or pollution alone. However, strong action to mitigate climate change, such as a higher target on greenhouse gas emissions to 30% by 2020,(4) would help counter this problem. This is because reductions in greenhouse gases also lead to a reduction of other air pollutants, such as fine particles, sulphur dioxide or nitrogen oxides, which are air pollutants that cause major problems for health in Europe. Climate change action reduces air pollution because the processes by which these substances are emitted are the same as those that produce carbon dioxide (CO2). For example, the burning of fossil fuels and the combustion of a car engine emit both CO2 as well as hazardous air pollutants. “EU leaders can respond immediately to this public health alert from over 11,000 respiratory experts by backing more ambitious climate targets. We also hope it encourages health and finance ministries to see greater climate action as an investment with significant dividends for public health and well-being“ Ms Jensen adds. Contacts: Genon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +32 2 234 3642, Email: genon@env-health.org, www.env-health.org Notes: [1.] Press release, European Respiratory Society, 1 March 2012 [2.] Brunekeef B. et al, Editorial: Ten principles for clean air, European Respiratory Journal, 2012; 39: 1–1 DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00001112 [3.] 10 Principles for Clean Air, http://www.ersnet.org/images/stories/DOC/ERS10CleanAirPrinciples.pdf(first published September 2011 on website of European Respiratory Society) 1. Citizens are entitled to clean air – just like clean water and safe food. 2. Outdoor air pollution is one of the biggest environmental health threats in Europe today leading to significant reductions of life expectancy and productivity. 3. Fine particles and ozone are the most serious pollutants. There is an urgent need to reduce their concentrations significantly. 4. Roadside pollution poses serious health threats that cannot be adequately addressed by regulating fine particle mass or ozone. Other metrics such as ultrafine particles and black carbon need to be considered in future research and so inform further regulation. 5. Non‐tailpipe emissions (from brakes, tyres, road surfaces etc.) pose a health threat for road users and subjects living close to busy roads. 6. Real‐world emissions of nitrogen dioxide from modern diesel engines are much higher than anticipated. This may expose many road users, and subjects living on busy roads, to short‐term peak concentrations during rush hours and periods of stagnating weather which may impact on health although to what extent requires further research. 7. Global warming will lead to more heat waves during which air pollution concentrations are also elevated and during which hot temperatures and air pollutants act in synergy to produce more serious health effects than expected from heat or pollution alone. 8. Combustion of biomass fuel produces toxic pollutants. This is true for controlled fires – such as in fireplaces, woodstoves, agricultural burning – as well as for uncontrolled wildfires. There is a need to assess the real health impacts of air pollution from these sources in many areas in Europe to inform on the need for better control. 9. Compliance with current limit values for major air pollutants in Europe confers no protection for public health. In fact, very serious health effects occur at concentrations well below current limit values, especially those for fine particles. 10. EU policies to reduce air pollution are needed that ultimately lead to air that is clean and no longer associated with significant adverse effects on the health of the European citizens. The benefits of such policies outweigh the costs by a large amount. [4.] HEAL press release, 30 January 2012: Commission’s good news on health benefits should tip balance for higher EU climate target |
| 20/02/2012 | Report paves way for ban on "gender bender" hormone-disrupting chemicals Brussels, 20 February 2012 - The European Commission has released a major report on the science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs). The report examines what is needed to define and identify EDCs. This is necessary so that they can be included in categories of banned or strongly controlled chemicals under different EU laws. PRESS RELEASE Report paves way for ban on "gender bender" hormone-disrupting chemicals Brussels, 20 February 2012 - The European Commission has today released a major report on the science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs). The report examines what is needed to define and identify EDCs. This is necessary so that they can be included in categories of banned or strongly controlled chemicals under different EU laws. Although EDCs are most widely associated with causing genital birth defects in boys and contributing to later infertility, exposure to EDCs in the everyday environment may be contributing to breast and testicular cancer, obesity, diabetes and other deadly and long-term chronic diseases. Reducing exposure to EDCs offers a major opportunity to stop the development of many of these diseases before they start. Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) commented: “This report is a very important contribution to the debate on how the EU should tackle hormone disruptors. It delivers good insights on how to use the opportunity of the update of the EU EDCs strategy to deal with the threat of these chemicals to public health. Up until now, our laws do not have a broadly agreed and systematic way to identify the culprit chemicals, and this retards action on reducing our exposure. EDCs need to be properly regulated in non-contradictory ways between the multiple laws involved - and this new report provides the way forward. We hope the valuable analysis and recommendations from this report will be integrated into a revised EU EDC strategy, and will equally inform the Commission’s proposal for the criteria to identify EDCs.” The report is available as a pdf at State of the Art Assessment of Endocrine Disrupters, Final Report (135 pages) A study on the State of the Art of the Assessment of Endocrine Disruptors Authors: Andreas Kortenkamp, Olwenn Martin, Michael Faust, Richard Evans, Rebecca McKinley, Frances Orton, Erka Rosivatz BACKGROUND: This is a lengthy report on Endocrine Disruptors which the DG Environment of the European Commission contracted from one of the world’s leading scientists, Professor Andreas Kortenkamp and his team. It examines the state of the science on endocrine disruptors, and the ways in which the existing EU regulatory framework to identify and control these chemicals is adequately addressing the essential characteristics of these chemicals and how they can harm human health. The study was commissioned in order to inform the EU’s work on developing the criteria that will be used to identify and regulate hormone disruptors under EU laws, notably the Pesticides, REACH and Biocides regulations, and later potentially other EU laws, such as those on cosmetics, food contact materials, and toys safety. It will also inform the revision of the European Community’s 12 year old Strategy on Endocrine Disruptors. It covers: Definition of EDCs Frameworks for Regulatory Testing & Screening Scientific Results of Regulatory Significance (including Low Dose effects, critical windows of sensitivity, mixtures) European Regulatory Framework Proposals by Member State Authorities and Stakeholders. Testing requirements and decision criteria Research and development needs See background information at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/endocrine/documents/studies_en.htm The final report can be found by scrolling down to: "State of the art assessment of endocrine disruptors" "Annex 1: Summary of the state of the science" "Annex 2: Summary of expert consultations on approaches to the regulatory assessment of endocrine disruptors" "Annex 3: Comparative analysis of endpoints and assays by human health and wildlife endpoint" |
| 30/01/2012 | Commission’s good news on health benefits should tip balance for higher EU climate target Brussels, 30 January 2012 - The billions of Euros in health benefits from stronger climate action that are estimated in a European Commission paper published today is an opportunity not to be missed to increase the EU’s climate ambition. Reaction to European Commission Staff Working Paper on climate change Brussels, 30 January 2012 – The billions of Euros in health benefits from stronger climate action that are estimated in a European Commission paper (1) published today is an opportunity not to be missed to increase the EU’s climate ambition. First, these health savings should be used to help engage health ministers to see higher climate targets as an investment for public health, and secondly, these savings give European governments the economic case they need to commit to a 30% emissions reductions target according to the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), a leading health and environment not-for-profit organisation. The Commission Staff Working Paper entitled “Analysis of options beyond 20% GHG emission reductions: Member state results” (1) says that “the 30% reduction scenario has become considerably less costly” thus rebutting the arguments that have held Europe back from strengthening its emissions reductions target for 2020. It gives strong focus to health economic benefits, which it estimates at €3.4 to €7.9 billion annually due to reduced mortality. “Governments should seize this good news on health benefits to raise the EU’s climate ambition under the Danish Presidency. The health economic benefits for both the EU and member states are significant, and yet we know they are just the tip of the iceberg, and do not reflect the full public health benefits of moving to 30%, as recent studies have shown”, states Genon Jensen, HEAL Executive Director. The even better news is that the Commission’s analysis is probably an underestimation given they do not include morbidity (ill-health), nor do they include the full range of health benefits from climate mitigation measures in the transport and agricultural sector, such as from increased walking and cycling. (3) “The analysis does not include the other benefits that accrue to society when we are not sick, such as fewer working days lost because of illness, fewer medications or fewer hospital admissions. It only covers the savings from avoiding deaths due to fewer respiratory and heart conditions because of improvements in air quality.” A report analysing the health co-benefits commissioned by HEAL (2) demonstrated that achieving the current 20% emissions reduction target in the EU would produce health benefits (including morbidity and mortality savings) equivalent to between €13 and €52 billion per year from 2020 onwards. It went on to show that raising the domestic target to 30% would save an additional €10-30 billion per year. Translating these pan European savings at a member state level, the biggest winners would be Germany with benefits of up to 8 billion Euros per year from 2020 and Poland with up to 4 billion Euros annually. France and Italy would benefit too with annual savings of €3.5 and €3.4 billion respectively. “Stronger climate targets will have a positive effect on many health conditions such as reducing rates of bronchitis, asthma and heart attacks, as well as depression. Associating climate action with real improvements in people’s health is a message that still needs to become much more central to climate discussions.” For example, the Lancet, a leading medical journal, has published a series on health and climate change, which states that if cities introduce initiatives to reduce carbon emissions by increasing walking and cycling, heart, respiratory and mental health would improve, and breast and prostate cancer rates would decline. “The EU member states must act quickly and put the EU on track to a low cost emission reduction pathway by 2050 by increasing its climate ambition for 2020.” Ms Jensen added, “Our findings showed that if we start today the overall benefits for citizens’ health will be more than twice as big as they would be if we delay action until 2015.” We believe this merits the serious attention of health ministers and EU Health Commissioner Dalli, and urge for discussion on this issue at the next Health Council and an EU meeting of chief medical officers. More and more doctors and medical groups throughout Europe are championing the health message and urging both member states and the EU to adopt strong climate targets on health grounds. For example, the first ever Climate and Health Summit, held in parallel to the Durban climate talks, issued the Durban Declaration and Health Sector Call to Action (4) (5) which asks for “…solutions that reduce the local health impacts of fossil fuels; solutions that foster clean energy and social justice; solutions that save lives and money while protecting public health from climate change.” Just prior to Durban, over 500 leading medical and security experts endorsed a statement that explicitly urged “The European Union to unconditionally agree a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions domestically by 30% by 2020.” (6) Contact Genon Jensen, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Tel: +32 2 234 3642. Mobile: +32 495 808732, Email: genon@env-health.org Anne Stauffer, Deputy Director, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Tel: +32 2 234 36 43, Mobile: +32 473 711092, Email: anne@env-health.org Notes for journalists 1. The Commission Staff Working Paper, 30 January 2012 entitled “Analysis of options beyond 20% GHG emission reductions: Member state results” http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/package/docs/staff_working_doc_2012_en.pdf 2. Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH), Acting Now for Better Health, A 30% reduction target for EU climate policy, September 2010. Available for download at http://www.env-health.org/?rubrique97 3. The Lancet, Health and Climate Change, November 2009 http://www.thelancet.com/series/health-and-climate-change 4. Issued at the Climate and Health Summit (organised by Health Care Without Harm and others) See Durban Declaration on climate and health: http://www.climateandhealthcare.org/action/summit/durban-declaration/ 5. Health Sector call to Action: http://www.climateandhealthcare.org/action/summit/call-to-action/ 6. BMJ Statement:http://climatechange.bmj.com/statement |
| 25/01/2012 | Study offers warning of negative immune effects from PFC exposure HEAL has responded to a paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) today (25 January 2012), which found that elevated exposures to perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in children are associated with reduced immune response to routine immunizations (tetanus and diphtheria) in children aged 5 and 7 years old. The lead researcher is Dr. Philippe Grandjean from the Harvard School of Public Health. Response from HEAL to scientific paper Brussels, 25 January 2012 - A paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) today found that elevated exposures to perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in children are associated with reduced immune response to routine immunizations (tetanus and diphtheria) in children aged 5 and 7 years old. (1) The study suggests that exposure to PFCs, before and after birth, may lower a child's ability to make disease-fighting antibodies for tetanus and diphtheria later in life. Lead researcher Dr. Philippe Grandjean from the Harvard School of Public Health followed over 600 children born at the National Hospital in the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic Sea. They chose this fishing community because the frequent intake of seafood is associated with increased exposure to PFCs.(2) Children and adults are exposed to PFCs through use of everyday products like non-stick pans, stain repellent upholstery, cosmetics, household cleaners, clothing, and some food containers. (3) Speaking about the findings of the study, Grandjean said: “The PFCs make the immune system more sluggish.” A sluggish immune system is less able to fight infection. Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) commented: “Aside from the concerns that this study raises about high exposures to PFCs and decreased vaccination efficacy, it may be foreshadowing the negative effects of PFC exposure on the general (human) immune system. This should function as an ‘early warning’ about the potential immunotoxicity of PFCs, chemicals to which we are commonly exposed. This new potential threat to the immune system should be swiftly taken up in the regulatory and risk assessment processes to which PFCs are subject, for example in the EU chemical Regulation REACH, and in the Stockholm Convention.” Notes for journalists 1. Philippe Grandjean et al, Serum Vaccine Antibody Concentrations in Children Exposed to Perfluorinated Compounds, JAMA 25 January 2012 2. PFCs (perfluorinated compounds) are organic compounds containing an alkyl chain, where most or all hydrogen atoms have been replaced with fluorine. Several hundred different compounds are in current use, the most common ones being perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which also occurred in the highest concentrations in the study. 3. PFCs are highly useful for multiple purposes, because they are both water and grease resistant. This makes the PFCs suitable for coating of paper plates, food packaging, rainwear, shoes, upholstery, manufacture of non-stick pans, and many other purposes. The PFCs can be absorbed from contaminated food and drinking water, by inhalation of dust from treated products such as treated textiles, and from PFCs accumulated food chains due to environmental contamination. A recent report showed that six out of ten paper bags and cardboard boxes used for food packaging contained PFCs. The compounds are most frequently used in bags for microwave popcorn. The extent to which the PFCs are transferred to the food is unclear, however. |
| 18/01/2012 | EU biocides law considered a “standstill” by NGOs The new EU biocides regulation adopted by the European Parliament sounds ambitious but represents a standstill for health and environmental protection, according to HEAL and other health and environment groups. EP plenary vote on Biocide Regulation on 19 January 2012 Press Release - Jointly provided by: Pesticide Action Network Germany, Pesticide Action Network Europe, Pesticide Action Network UK, Health & Environment Alliance, and Women in Europe for a Common Future Hamburg/Brussels, 19 January 2012 The new EU biocides regulation adopted by the European Parliament (1) sounds ambitious but represents a standstill for health and environmental protection, according to health and environment groups. The regulation provides for the phase out of biocides that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to reproduction, disrupt the endocrine system or which are very dangerous to the environment (2). However, provisions on exemptions are wider than pesticide legislation agreed in 2009(3) and there are no plans to limit the use of biocides, say Pesticides Action Network (PAN) Germany, PAN Europe, PAN UK, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF). Susanne Smolka, a biocide expert at PAN Germany says: “We are very concerned that the exemptions and the lack of substitution plans leave the door open to the continued use of many hazardous biocides. Decisions on the continued use of hazardous biocides under exemption clauses are often taken behind closed doors. More transparency and full public involvement is essential to ensure that the exemptions will be strictly limited.” The health and environmental groups are also disappointed with the failure of the new law to address the sustainable use of biocides in Europe. “One of the greatest regrets is that a majority of Member States blocked mandatory measures to fill data gaps on market size, usage and biocide impacts and to establish a harmonised legal framework regarding the use phase. We call on the Commission to come forward as soon as possible with a report to start tackling the problem.”(4) The size of the biocides market in the EU remains unknown and there is no requirement for this to change. Whereas the pesticides legislation set plans for more sustainable use of pesticide products and up-to-date statistics on sales and use, no similar demands have been agreed on biocides. Health experts are worried that the regulation offers inadequate health protection. “This regulation offers too little added value for public health especially given the scientific recognition of the likely risks of antibiotic resistance from unbridled growth in the use of biocides,” says Anne Stauffer, Deputy Director of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). “We believe the public needs to be made more aware of the presence of biocides in their everyday life, such as certain indoor perfumed sprays, hand washes and cleaning products, and the alternative options,” she says. “Some biocides contain endocrine disrupting chemicals for which there is growing scientific evidence of harm to health. These will not be phased out yet because the European Commission has still not defined criteria for identifying EDCs.” “The regulation confirms many existing necessary conditions to protect health but with its exemptions and lack of set limits on the quantity of biocide use there are great risks that many safety benefits will be wiped out”, she added. On the positive side, the Regulation will improve consumer rights through the implementation of new labelling provisions for nanobiocides and for products that have been treated with biocides. In addition, the regulation sets out new rules for a proper risk assessment of biocides containing nanomaterials. NGOs view this as a definite step forward compared to other existing legal approaches because it takes into consideration the novel properties and any possible new risks of nanomaterials. Further comments by environment and health organisations: “As of today, a majority of people are not aware of the presence of biocidal substances in everyday products they use: whereas the population is aware of risks linked to pesticides use, they lack basic information on what is a biocide, where it is found and how they are exposed to it. And yet, emerging health issues like antimicrobial resistance may be linked to an increasing use of biocides-containing products”, says Elisabeth Ruffinengo from WECF. “We hope that European consumers will make full use of the new labelling requirements to give a push for less harmful products and non-chemical alternatives. And we welcome that in accordance with the provisions set out in the new Regulation Member States shall provide appropriate information about ways of use and risk reduction for the public.” “PAN Europe investigations have revealed that Member States make excessive use of “derogation and exemption clauses” under the EU pesticides legislation to continue to use hazardous pesticides that put environment and health at risk. With the new biocides law we should learn from these mistakes. This means full transparency in the decision-making process and guaranteed access to information for the public, so that they can have their say,” states Hans Muilerman from Pesticide Action Network Europe. “We also want to see such a broad involvement in the determination of EU EDC criteria, through for example taking into account independent, peer-reviewed science, something which is not guaranteed in the EU biocides law," he added. Notes for journalists 1. A draft overall compromise package on the Regulation on the “Placing on the market and use of biocidal products” (repealing Directive 98/8/EC) was agreed by the Permanent Representatives Committee on 23 November 2011. After the 2nd reading plenary vote by the European Parliament today and the adoption by the Council, the new law will apply as of September 2013. 2. Defined as “persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic” (PBT) and as “very persistent and very bio-accumulative” (vPvB). 3. MEPs approve pesticides legislation (1107/2009/EC and 2009/128/EC) European Parliament, Press release, 13 January 2009: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides... 4. The compromise was that the Commission must provide a report on how the new legislation contributes to the sustainable use of biocidal products three years after the Regulation comes into force. Only at that point could the Commission decide to put forward a legislative proposal on a Framework Directive on the sustainable use of biocidal products. Further information Joint NGO recommendations for EP ENVI Committee's 2nd reading on the biocide regulation (COM (2009) 267), 06 September 2011: http://www.pan-germany.org/download... PAN Germany (2011): Sustainable use of biocides in Europe – urgent need for action: http://www.pan-germany.org/download... Contacts Susanne Smolka, Biocide Coordinator Europe, Pesticide Action Network Germany, Tel: + 49 40-399 19 10-24 E-mail: susanne.smolka@pan-germany.org Anne Stauffer, Deputy Director, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Tel: +32 2 234 3644 Mobile: +32 473 711092 E-mail: anne@env-health.org Hans Muilerman, Pesticide Action Network Europe, Tel: +316 558 072 55 E-mail: hans@pan-europe.info Elisabeth Ruffinengo, Women in Europe for a common Future (WECF), Tel: +33 450 49 97 38 E-mail: elisabeth.ruffinengo@wecf.eu Nick Mole, Policy Officer, Pesticide Action Network UK, Tel: +20 7065 0905 E-mail: nickmole@pan-uk.org |
| 11/01/2012 | How fracking threatens public health, more research needed US call for study on fracking and public health - The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called for a study of the public health effects of fracturing of shale rock for natural gas, commonly known as fracking. The call is strongly supported by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), which is coordinating advocacy efforts on fracking and health at the European level, considers that extracting shale gas represents a major new threat for public health in Europe. Read the press release. Brussels, 11 January 2012- The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called for a study of the public health effects of fracturing of shale rock for natural gas, commonly known as fracking. (1) The call is strongly supported by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), which brings together more than 70 networks and groups working at the European level. HEAL, which is coordinating advocacy efforts on fracking and health at the European level, considers that extracting shale gas represents a major new threat for public health in Europe. (2) The call from the CDC in the US follows publication of a review of health impacts of gas drilling which found water contaminated with fracking chemicals and toxic metals posed the most significant risk to humans and animals. Published by a Cornell University academic and a veterinarian, the study reviewed 24 cases in six US states where health problems had been linked to gas drilling. The paper “strongly implicates exposure to gas drilling … in serious health effects on humans, companion animals, livestock, horses and wildlife''. (3) Although any future study by CDC would apply to the US situation, it would be very valuable for Europe because this form of drilling and extraction has much longer history in North America. Similar broad-ranging studies are also needed for Europe on the potentially high threats to public health from drinking water pollution, agricultural water pollution, air pollution and other contamination. In October 2011, HEAL held a seminar in Brussels entitled Shale Gas in the EU: “Health & Environment implications of Shale Fracturing for Natural Gas”, where participants agreed that fracking in Europe should not proceed until all the public health implications had been thoroughly examined, and a high level of protection to public health and environment could be assured. At the meeting, Lisette van Vliet, HEAL's Toxic Policy Advisor, presented an introduction to the very wide-ranging real and potential health impacts of fracking. (2) The seminar discussed that the risks to health range from the pollution of drinking water (fracking chemicals may be able to leak into aquifers), to air pollution from fracking machinery and transportation trucks, to accidents resulting from the earthquakes caused by shale gas and oil drilling. Ms van Vliet says: “We support the call from the CDC in the US for a study of the public health effects of fracking, particularly the threats to water and to food via water. The European Commission is currently investigating potential environment and health impacts and we hope these studies will take into account findings from the US despite the differences operating and geological conditions." “We also hope the EU studies will properly assess the health and environmental impacts of fracking in comparison with those that would be associated with renewable energy sources. Carbon and methane emissions from fracking would seriously comprise efforts to reduce emissions associated with climate change.” HEAL wants the results of EU studies on fracking to be open for full consultation once they become available. “An informed debate on the merits of fracking is a must. Until then, there should be no further fracking in Europe – neither exploration nor planning for exploitation. We need to understand the full public health and environmental impacts of fracking, before deciding on whether this form of drilling should be conducted in Europe." HEAL is working closely with Sandra Steingraber, an international environmental health scientist who is campaigning for a moratorium on fracking in New York state. In a moving speech, Ms Steingraber has addressed the risks to drinking water from fracking. (4) Last year, 60 US scientists with expertise in water treatment systems signed a letter expressing concern about chemicals and other contaminants used in hydraulic fracturing ending up in the water supply. Their fear is that municipal drinking water filtration systems are not designed to adequately remove such toxins. (5) The US-based Endocrine Disruptor Exchange, TEDX says that fracking fluid may contain include 300 chemicals out of which 40% are endocrine disruptors (disturb the hormone system) and a third are suspected carcinogens. Over 60% can harm the brain and nervous system. (6) The spokesperson for one of HEAL’s member organisations in France, Francois Veillerette of Generations Futures has written a book about fracking in Europe entitled, "Le vrai scandale des Gaz de Schiste" (The Real Scandal of Shale Gas). (7) Further information or to arrange an interview with Lisette van Vliet, Ph.D., Toxics Policy Advisor, HEAL (email: lisette@env-health.org) please contact Diana Smith, Press officer, Health and Environment Alliance, Diana@env-health.org +33 633 04 2943 (mobile) Notes for journalists 1. CDC scientist proposes wide testing on gas drilling safety to humans, animals, environment, Washington Post, 4 January 2012 http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/cdc-scientist-proposes-wide-testing-on-gas-drilling-safety-to-humans-animals-environment/2012/01/04/gIQAanL4aP_story.html 2. For information on fracking and health, see Health and Environmental Alliance website at http://www.env-health.org/spip.php?article1251 Scroll down the page for presentations by Lisette van Vliet, HEAL and from Mihai Tomescu, Socio-Economic Analyst at DG Environment, European Commission. 3. Study links fracking to health, 10 January 2012, http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/study-links-fracking-to-health-risks-20120109-1prvu.html#ixzz1j3dEHtEw Original article, Impacts of gas drilling on human and animal health, http://barnettshalehell.wordpress.com/ 4. Sandra Steingraber addresses hydraulic fracturing and the risks it poses to drinking water quality and public health in New York (utube) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhwQHHRiT3U&feature=related 5. Letter from US scientists to New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo available at http://www.psehealthyenergy.org/data/Sign_on_letter_Final.pdf 6. TEDX website, http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/home.php 7. Marine Jobert and Francois Veillerette, "Le vrai scandale des gaz de schiste", full details on website at http://www.gaz-de-schiste.frReview in English at http://www.env-health.org/spip.php?article1318&var_mode=calcul |
| 09/12/2011 | Reaction to new EU vehicle noise limits proposal Statement on behalf of Transport and Environment (T&E), the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) recommending a cut in noise levels by 2020. Among others, these groups are particularly concerned about the noise limits for heavy goods vehicles which don’t go far enough. Statement on behalf of Transport and Environment (T&E), the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB). 9 December 2011, For immediate release Brussels - After a twenty-year wait, the European Commission has today proposed new standards to cut noise levels from cars, vans, buses and lorries. Reacting to the proposal, Nina Renshaw, deputy director at Transport and Environment, said: “While this proposal is a welcome move in the right direction, it should have gone farther and faster. The vast majority of cars for sale already meet step 1 of the Commission proposal, and almost a quarter even achieve step 2; so these steps are clearly not tough enough. 50,000 heart deaths in Europe are caused by transport noise every year, it is obvious that the problem merits bolder action.” Environmental and health groups are recommending a third cut in noise levels in 2020. The groups are also particularly concerned about the limits for heavy goods vehicles which don’t go far enough. Lorries represent only 3% of vehicles, but are responsible for half of vehicle noise emissions. Ms Renshaw added: “It’s far cheaper to add readily-available noise reducing technology to vehicles than for cash-strapped local authorities to spend millions on noise barriers along roads. The benefits outweigh the costs by 20 to 1, so there is no excuse for inaction.” The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) says huge health benefits can be reaped from strong standards on vehicle noise. “Ambitious regulation on vehicle noise could help avoid huge numbers of first-time strokes and heart deaths in Europe, and help reduce the disturbance that noise has on sleep and children's ability to concentrate,” says Anne Stauffer, Deputy Director, HEAL. "New evidence on the harmful effects of exposure to noise is emerging all the time”, she added. "After air pollution, noise is the biggest environmental health problem in Europe. This proposal is a cheap way of cutting the problem by targeting it at the source. Let's make sure it is done right and put an end to this dangerous nuisance," said EEB's Louise Duprez. The new regulation, adopted today, now needs approval by the European Parliament and the member states. Earlier this year, around 20 of Europe’s leading vehicle noise experts sent a letter to the European Commission calling for more action on vehicle noise which negatively affects almost half of European citizens, around 210 million people (3). ENDS Notes to editors: 1. T&E briefing on the new regulation: http://www.transportenvironment.org... 2. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressRelease... 3. http://www.caets.org/?ID=10461 For further information: Nina Renshaw - Transport and Environment Tel: +32 (0)498 540765 Email: nina.renshaw@transportenvironment.org Anne Staufer - Health and Environment Alliance Tel: +32 (0)473 711092 Email: anne@env-health.org Louise Duprez - European Environmental Bureau Tel: +32 (0)2 289 1307 Email: louise.duprez@eeb.org |
| 05/12/2011 | Press Release: European doctor launches warning of “grave health consequences” Along with over 100 health groups, UK medical professor and member of HEAL delegation at climate talks in Durban announces the Durban Declaration and “Call to Action”. HEAL's delegation at the UNFCCC COP17 has provided news on the progress and actions being made at the negotiations - so stay tuned! - HEAL's Delegation & Partners - HEAL's booth at the conference - HEAL at Climate & Health side event NOTE: A press conference on the first-ever Global Climate and Health Summit will be at Kosi Palm, ICC on Tuesday 6 December 2011 from 11-11:30am, during the UNFCCC COP17 talks in Durban, South Africa. Media advisory and press release here. Brussels, Monday 5 December 2011 – A UK medical professor and member of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) delegation at the climate talks in Durban has announced a Durban Declaration and a “Call to Action” signed by more than 30 major health groups. The Durban Declaration and “Call to Action” were presented at the first-ever Global Climate and Health Summit, which took place in Durban on Sunday 4 December. The meeting was well-attended with the medical and health presence at its highest ever in any annual conference of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). (1) Overall, an estimated 200 groups are taking part in the climate talks at Durban. Dr. Hugh Montgomery, who is a professor of internal medicine in London and co-founder of Climate and Health Council, UK (2) said: "Climate Change poses an immediate and grave threat to human health and survival worldwide. Many are already affected. Emissions are rising steeply. Action is needed now- not 'later'." The Durban Declaration warns of grave health consequences if the world cannot agree on major emissions reductions. Signatories to the “Call to Action” say they are profoundly concerned that as greenhouse gases continue rising unabated the existing health crises will be magnified with the overwhelming burden falling on the most vulnerable, who contributed least to the problem. (3) Earlier this year several hundred health leaders and security experts launched a statement with similar messages. Juliet Duff, representing HEAL member organisation Irish Doctors’ Environmental Association (IDEA), says key demands of the UNFCCC national delegations are “a greater health sector representation on national delegations, a strong second commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, and that by 2015, a fair, ambitious and binding agreement consistent with the Prescription for a Healthy Planet which was endorsed by more than 130 health organisations in Copenhagen in 2009, will be negotiated.” In Brussels, Genon Jensen, Executive Director of HEAL, is urging the European Union to step up climate action to protect and promote public health, and to continue to support a second round for the Kyoto Protocol. It is the only globally binding treaty that exists to move climate action forward urgently. “Using health as a framework brings home why tackling climate change is urgent,” she believes. “It could help the EU reignite people’s belief in and support for the added value of EU coordination, particularly during a period in which they are facing hardships. HEAL’s four-person delegation in Durban is comprised of Dr Hugh Edward Montgomery, Professor at the University College London (UCL) and co-founder of UK Climate and Health Council; Juliet Anne Duff, Chairperson of the Irish Doctors’ Environmental Association (IDEA); Pendo Maro, Senior Climate and Energy Advisor for HEAL and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), and Elizabeth Alexandra Finch, studying at the University College London (UCL). (2) Members of the HEAL delegation have been talking to key policy makers, and Pendo Maro will be speaking at a follow-up meeting on Summit outcomes and plans for 2012, which will take place on Thursday 8 December in Durban. HEAL has a booth in Durban for providing information and a gathering centre for the health community. Postcards, based on the findings of its joint report entitled “Acting Now for better helath – A 30% reduction target for EU climate policy”, are being distributed. (3) Contacts: (In Durban) Dr Hugh Montgomery, Professor, University College London – UCL Institute for Human Health & Performance (Email: h.montgomery@ucl.ac.uk; Mobile: +44 7500 33 57 56 / Tel: +32 2234 3640) (In Durban) Juliet Duff, Chair, Irish Doctors’ Environmental Association – IDEA, can be contacted at (Email: julietduff@eircom.net; Tel: +32 2234 3640) Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance – HEAL (Email: genon@env-health.org ; Mobile: +32 495 808732; Website: www.env-health.org) Diana G. Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance – HEAL (Email: diana@env-health.org; Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943) Notes: (1) Each year, the Committee of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change brings together representatives of the world’s governments, international organizations and civil society. HEAL has previously led delegations to Copenhagen (2009), and Cancun (2020). (2) Details of the delegate participants at www.env-health.org/spip.php?article1322 (3) Report by Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) "Acting now for a better health. A 30% reduction target for EU climate policy." (2010 at www.env-health.org/actingnow) |
| 05/12/2011 | Media Advisory: COP17 Press Conf. on Health Leaders Call for Urgent Action on Climate International health leaders in Durban for the global climate talks have called on negotiators to push for the most ambitious commitments possible, warning that the direction of current negotiations risks the lives of billions of people around the globe. A Press Conference was held on these health leaders' call for urgent action on climate. When and Where: Tuesday December 6, 11-11:30am - Kosi Palm, ICC, Durban, South Africa Who and What: Some of the world’s most prominent health organizations, including global doctors, nurses, medical students and public health federations, the World Health Organization and others partnered to organize the First Global Climate and Health Summit, which took place Sunday, December 4 at the Tropicana Hotel in Durban. The more than 200 health leaders issued a Declaration and Call to Action that: Warns of grave health consequences if the world cannot agree on major emissions reductions. Asserts that a fair, binding and ambitious climate agreement will result in significant health benefits worldwide—saving lives and money. Commits the health sector to lead by example in reducing its own carbon footprint while advocating for healthy solutions to climate change. Calls on negotiators to protect public health with an ambitious, equitable agreement that transitions the world away from fossil fuels and toward a low carbon development path. Press Conference Speakers: Dr. Hugh Montgomery, Climate and Health Council, UK Dr. Rajen Naidoo, Nelson Mandela Medical School, UKZN, Durban Professor Sir Andy Haines, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Dr. Dong Chun Shin, World Medical Association Diarmid Campbell Lendrum, World Health Organization Photo Opportunity: Health leaders take the temperature of a giant globe and find that if there is not an immediate intervention, temperatures will surpass 2 degrees Celsius, endangering the health of billions of human beings. Spokespeople Available in Multiple Languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean View Press Release here. ________________ Key Quotes "Climate Change poses an immediate and grave threat to human health and survival worldwide. Many are already affected. Emissions are rising steeply. Action is needed now- not 'later'." - Dr. Hugh Montgomery, Climate and Health Council, UK and part of HEAL's COP167 delegation (h.montgomery@ucl.ac.uk "Climate change presents as one of the most important threats to the gains in public health made since the advent of democracy in South Africa. The vulnerable and marginalised such as the elderly, ill, pregnant women, children and rural poor are at greatest risk. Programmes of mitigation and adaptation must include health." Dr. Rajen Naidoo, Nelson R. Mandela Medical School, UKZN, Durban (naidoon@ukzn.ac.za; in Durban 08-2437-9333) “Without bold action by governments climate change will magnify existing health crises, deepening and broadening the global burden of disease. The greatest burden will fall on those living in poor countries, who have contributed least to greenhouse gas emissions.” - Peter Orris, MD, MPH, Professor, University of Illinois School of Public Health and Chair Environmental Working Group of World Federation of Public Health Associations "Climate change represents a major threat as well as a significant opportunity for human health. Unmitigated climate change is having serious and increasing effects on the health of millions of people around the world. However effective action to cut emissions will not only reduce climate risk, it can bring substantial and immediate health benefits for individuals and populations." - Fiona Armstrong, Climate and Health Alliance, Australia (fionamarmstrong@gmail.com; in Austrailia +6 143 890 0005) "A Climate win is a Health win. By working together across sectors promoting the co-benefits on climate, health and equity of sustainable development, sustainable production and consumption and waste reduction we can create a climate for Health" - Cristina Tirado, Director of the PHI Center for Public and Climate Change (ctirado@phi.org; in USA +1 202 297 0106) “Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing the world today and with increases in temperatures, changes in precipitation and sea levels, extreme weather events will lead to substantially increased death and disease. The effects of climate change will put increasing pressure on already challenged and fragile health systems and it is imperative that countries, governments, organizations and individuals take all necessary steps to mitigate climate change and to help prepare for and prevent the serious health and environmental consequences of climate change.” - Janet Robinson, FHI360 (jrobinson@fhi360.org; in Thailand +66 81 804 4912) "Just as our thoughtless actions can harm our planet so can we make a positive and planned contribution to its recovery. If we all do our part we can collectively secure the health of future generations." - David C. Benton, Chief Executive Officer, International Council of Nurses "Strong climate policy represents a major investment in people's health. The EU has recognised the benefits for lung and heart health, which has helped to put health in the climate agenda in Europe. But in the midst of austerity associated with the Eurocrisis and with greenhouse gas emissions continuing to rise, isn't it time for the EU to commit to an emission reduction target in Durban that would boost health protection, reduce health care bills and make Europeans proud?" - Genon Jensen, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance (genon@env-health.org; in Belgium +32 2 234 3640) “If the world’s governments agree to delay action for the rest of this decade—which it appears they might—history will judge Durban as a moment of global political malpractice of criminal proportions. It would be the equivalent of diagnosing a patient with lung cancer and then telling them it’s ok to continue smoking for nine more years. The health of billions of people is at stake.” - Joshua Karliner, Health Care Without Harm (josh@hcwh.org; in Durban 08-221-35147) "I'm a 21 year old medical student, and these negotiations have been carrying on my entire life. If we don't reach a legally binding agreement on climate change soon, the protection and promotion of public health will be seriously undermined, world-wide." - Nick Watts, International Federation of Medical Students Associations (wattsn03@gmail.com; in Durban 07-4179-1197) |
| 04/12/2011 | Irish NGO health leader describes first-ever global Climate and Health Summit |
| 30/11/2011 | On the road to Durban and beyond: are you with us? |
| 21/11/2011 | UNFCCC COP17/CMP7 HEAL Delegation & Partners |
| 17/10/2011 | HEAL signs up for urgent action on climate change PRESS RELEASE Brussels, 17 October 2011 - Leading doctors, security experts and non-governmental organizations are meeting today in London at a conference on the health and security implications of Climate Change. The meeting has issued a statement, which HEAL has signed. The statement calls upon governments around the world to prioritise efforts to address the causes and impacts of climate change. Specifically, the international health and military experts and representatives of whole range of organizations working on climate change who have signed the statement urge the European Union to unconditionally agree a target to cut emissions domestically by 30% by 2020, and to prepare further targets towards 2050 which would create incentives for a low-carbon transformation of the economy. HEAL staff and several members are taking part in the meeting. HEAL urges all members to sign the statement. Here is the statement (in full):- Climate change poses an immediate, growing and grave threat to the health and security of people in both developed and developing countries around the globe. Climate change leads to more frequent and extreme weather events and to conditions that favour the spread of infectious diseases. Rising sea levels, floods and droughts cause loss of habitat, water and food shortages, and threats to livelihood. These trigger conflict within and between countries. Humanitarian crises will further burden military resources through the need for rescue missions and aid. Mass migration will also increase, triggered by both environmental stress and conflict, thus leading to serious further security issues. It will often not be possible to adapt meaningfully to these changes, and the economic cost will be enormous. As in medicine, prevention is the best solution. Action to tackle climate change not only reduces the risks to our environment and global stability but also offers significant health co-benefits. Changes in power generation improve air quality. Modest life style changes – such as increasing physical activity through walking and cycling - will cut rates of heart disease and stroke, obesity, diabetes, breast cancer, dementia and depressive illness. Climate change mitigation policies would thus significantly cut rates of premature death and disability for hundreds of millions of people around the world. The health co-benefits of lower carbon use save money: reducing EU greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020 (compared to 1990 levels) would save over €80 billion a year in healthcare costs and through increased productivity of a healthier workforce. We therefore call upon governments around the world to prioritise efforts to address the causes and impacts of climate change. Specifically we urge: • The European Union to unconditionally agree a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions domestically by 30% by 2020, and to prepare further targets towards 2050 which would incentivise the decarbonisation of the economy. • Developed countries to adopt more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets, to increase their support for low carbon development and to invest in further research into the impact of climate change on health and security. • Developing countries to actively identify the key ways in which climate change threatens health and democratic governance, as well as undertaking mitigation and adaptation activities, including through supported and unsupported NAMAs. • All governments to enact legislative and regulatory change to stop the building of new unabated coal-fired power stations and phase out the continuing operation of existing plants prioritising lignite generation as most harmful to health. • All parties at the climate change conference in Durban, South Africa, to strive to adopt an ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction agreement consistent with the target of restricting the global temperature rise to 2°C as agreed in Copenhagen and Cancun, and in line with the pending UNFCCC review towards a 1.5°C limit above preindustrial levels. • A mechanism ensuring that all people can share equitably the benefits of a safe atmosphere without penalising those with the least historical responsibility for climate change must be established. • All governments to incorporate the UN Security Council Presidential statement from 20 July 2011 on the potential consequences of climate change on security into their short and long term security planning. • All governments to strive to adopt climate change mitigation targets and policies that are more ambitious than their international commitments. The Statement will be published in the British Medical Journal. For more information about the meeting and to see who endorsed the statement or to endorse it yourself, please go to: http://climatechange.bmj.com/statement Contacts at the meeting: Anne Stauffer, Deputy Director, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), E-mail: anne@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Mobile phone: + 32 473 711092 Pendo Maro, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), E-mail: pendo@env-health.org Mobile phone: +32 495 281 494 The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) is the leading European not-for-profit organisation addressing how the environment affects health in the European Union. We demonstrate how policy changes can help protect health and enhance people’s quality of life. HEAL has over 70 member organisations, representing health professionals, patients, citizens, women, youth and environmental experts, help to bring independent expertise and evidence from the health community to different decision-making processes. Members include international and Europe-wide organisations, as well as national and local groups. www.env-health.org |
| 13/10/2011 | CAP reform: a pale and unhealthy shade of green The Common Agricultural Policy reform proposal is a step in the right direction but far too light a green to make the needed change to reduce external input dependency and to ensure long term food security. PRESS RELEASE The Common Agricultural Policy reform proposal is a step in the right direction but far too light a green to make the needed change to reduce external input dependency and to ensure long term food security. Brussels, October 12, 2011 – Sustainable agricultural practice in combination with biological, rather than chemical, control should be central to the reform of Europe‟s agricultural policy, according to two leading European not-for-profit organisations. Responding to the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform proposal presented today in Brussels, Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) say that the reform proposal as it stands is half-hearted. For while the proposal recognises the much-needed environmental shift, the measures proposed to make the shift are insufficient (and unable to ensure the needed change) to reduce external input dependency, such as pesticides and fertilisers, and to ensure long term food security. Reductions in external inputs are possible. “A study released in July this year (1) shows that French farmers can reduce their pesticide use by 30% without reducing their income. The two main reasons for not implementing less intensive techniques are farmers‟ aversion to risk and the anticipated labour and skill requirements for implementing these techniques,” says Henriette Christensen, senior policy advisor at PAN Europe. “It is disappointing that the European Commission did not propose crop rotation as one of the mandatory elements in the green component in their proposal. This could have helped ensure the paradigm shift in agriculture, and helped deliver on the EU roadmap on resource efficiency, which is also being discussed at EU level.” Fewer chemical control inputs would also reduce monetary and health costs to society. “A new study released this week in France (2) shows that annual water treatment costs to households due to nitrogen and pesticides contamination total up to 1.5 billion Euros. The annual cost for cleaning up nitrogen and pesticide surpluses in surface and coastal water treatment is estimated between 54 and 91 billion Euros in France. The figures on costs - for only one EU country - underline the urgency for significant CAP reforms that work to reduce this pollution. At present, taxpayers are footing the water bill and everyone is facing unnecessary health costs resulting from longer term exposure to pesticides, especially farmers,” says Anne Stauffer, HEAL Deputy Director. PAN Europe and HEAL are calling on the EU politicians discussing the European Commission‟s proposal to seriously reflect on: A faster inclusion of the sustainable use directive on pesticides in cross compliance: Farmers should respect the rules of both the water framework directive and the sustainable use of pesticides directive as of January 2014, and not wait until these directives have been “properly applied” in all EU Member States. Crop rotation as part of green payment of the first pillar: Crop rotation would reduce the need for chemical inputs, such as fertilisers and pesticides, and promote biodiversity. Each farmer will be obliged to apply a package of agricultural measures, such as diversification of crops, but the present proposal does not include crop rotation. Biological control as the model for sustainable innovation: Each farmer applying for rural development funding should take a „system approach‟ to farming. This starts with the delivery of a (certified) plan to drastically change methods and deliver advances in agricultural practices. These will prioritise harm prevention, resistant crop varieties and use of biological control. The starting point for knowledge transfer must be organic farmers spreading their knowledge to conventional farmers. These requirements will help make European agriculture greener and diversified, and no longer the very light green that it is now. For more information, please contact: Henriette Christensen, Pesticide Action Network Europe Tel: + 32 2 503 08 37, Mobile: +32 473 375671, E-mail: henriette@pan-europe.info, www.pan-europe.info Anne Stauffer, Health & Environment Alliance Tel: +32 2 234 3643 (direct), Mobile: +32 473 71 10 92, E-mail: anne@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Notes to editor (1) Florence Jacquet et al, An economic analysis of the possibility of reducing pesticides in French field crops, Ecological Economics (2011), doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2011.04.003 (2) The study is available at http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/ED52.pdf Background information Column in French newspaper “Les Echos” signed by coalition of NGOs: http://www.eeb.org/index.cfm/news-events/news/reforme-de-la-pac-non-au-greenwashing Factsheets “The Truth behind the CAP: 13 reasons for greening the CAP” published in June 2011 at: http://www.eeb.org/EEB/?LinkServID=B79ED8BF-D221-2696-3743329F2660DCFE |
| 30/09/2011 | Fracking: A peril looming over Europe’s environmental health Extracting shale gas, which can pollute groundwater and be environmentally damaging, represents a major new threat for public health in Europe, according to the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), the Brussels-based not-for-profit advocacy group. PRESS STATEMENT Extracting shale gas, which can pollute groundwater and be environmentally damaging, represents a major new threat for public health in Europe, according to the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), the Brussels-based not-for-profit advocacy group. A seminar organised by HEAL on Friday 7 October 2011 brought attention to the need for urgent EU action on this new extraction process, known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking. The lack of an assessment of the impact of fracking on environmental health is a particular concern. The meeting will help define the health and environmental implications of this new extraction process and identify the EU policy areas that are likely to be affected. (1) "We firmly believe that fracking is the next big environmental health challenge," says Genon Jensen, Executive Director of HEAL. "A top concern is the contamination of groundwater as a result of the hazardous chemicals used (2). Others are the air pollution generated by drilling compressors and trucks hauling huge amounts of water needed for hydrofracking, and the toxic wastewater the fracking leaves behind. With shale gas extraction well underway in Poland (3), prospecting taking place in the UK and several other European countries and fracking the subject of legislation in France (4), it is little wonder that this new process is galloping to the top of the EU agenda (5)." Speakers at the meeting include Mihai Tomescu, Socio-Economic Analyst at DG Environment. The European Commission announced in early September that it intends to draft EU rules on the fracturing of shale gas. (6) Since then, the Commission has announced that no company has registered any of the 10 chemicals typically used to hydraulically fracture rocks for shale gas extraction for that use under REACH. (7) Francois Veillerette, President of Generations Futures, a HEAL member, will tell the meeting about the findings of his new book, "Le vrai scandale des Gaz de Schiste" (The Real Scandal of Shale Gas in Europe). (4) He says that following ten years of widespread fracking in the USA, concerns can be summed up as "the use of dangerous chemical substances, contamination of groundwater, consumption of a large amount of water, and destruction of the landscape." A study cited in the book shows that this mining process produces the same level of emissions of greenhouse gases as the use of coal. Generations Futures and HEAL want to see urgent action taken. ""We now need a clear European ban on the exploitation of shale gas, oil and other source rock hydrocarbons," Mr. Veillerette says. In the US, 60 scientists with expertise in water treatment systems have signed a letter expressing concern should chemicals and other contaminants used in hydraulic fracturing end up in the water supply. They fear that municipal drinking water filtration systems are not designed to adequately remove such toxins. (8) The US-based TEDX Endocrine Disruptor Exchange report says that fracking fluid may contain include 300 chemicals out of which 40% are endocrine disruptors and a third are suspected carcinogens. Over 60% can harm the brain and nervous system. (9) Since hearing about this problem last year, HEAL has worked to increase collaboration by bringing together activists, scientists and interested policy makers. In late 2010, American colleague, Dr Sandra Steingraber, an international environmental health scientist, whom HEAL brought attention to the problem during her address at a meeting in the European Parliament. She will now dedicate her recent Heinz Foundation prize to fighting fracking.(10) Ms Jensen says. "Right now, the impacts of shale gas are only partially dealt with in over 35 pieces of legislation. So a top priority is to get shale gas systematically addressed under EU law so that it protects people's health and our ecosystems." Notes for journalists 1. Shale Gas in the EU: "Health & Environment implications of Shale Fracturing for Natural Gas" on 7th October 2011 (Continuation of HEAL Annual General Meeting) NGO Meeting on Shale Gas in the EU: Environment & Health implications of Shale Fracturing for Natural Gas (09:00 - 12:45) 09:00 - Welcome Genon Jenson, HEAL Executive Director 09:15 - Overview of issues and EU policy context 09.15 - Fracking from an NGO perspective: what's at stake for health and environment? Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, HEAL 09.25 - EU policies context for shale gas & issues considered Mihai Tomescu, Socio-Economic Analyst, DG Environment, European Commission 09:50 - Questions & Answers 10:00 - The Real Scandal of Shale Gas in Europe - French case study 10:05 - "Le Vrai Scandale des Gaz de Schiste" Francois Veillerette, Generations Futures (HEAL member organisation, France) 10:25 Questions and Discussion 10:40 Coffee break For any questions concerning the event, please contact Lisette@env-health.org Registration for the event is now closed. 2. A report by the Tyndall Centre in Manchester University found that "There is a clear risk of contamination of groundwater from shale gas extraction," it concluded. "It is important to recognise that most problems arise due to errors in construction or operation and these cannot be eliminated." 3. Fracking in Poland Youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7-NAGNDsvE&feature=player_profilepage 4. Marine Jobert and Francois Veillerette, "Le vrai scandale des gaz de schiste", full details on website at http://www.gaz-de-schiste.fr 5. Two hearings in the European Parliament are planned during week beginning Monday 3 October 2011. ENVI hearing on the Parliamentary study on the impacts of shale gas on the environment and human health (Tuesday, 4 October, Item 16, ENVI/7/06759 (PE464.425)) and ITRE hearing on the prospects for shale gas in the EU (afternoon, Wednesday 5 October). 6. Agence France Presse, France 24, 9 September 2011, Brussels seeks EU shale gas rules: Oettinger 7. ENDS Europe, 23 September 2011, EC: fracking chemicals not REACH registered, http://www.endseurope.com 8. Letter from US scientists to New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo available at http://www.psehealthyenergy.org/data/Sign_on_letter_Final.pdf 9. TEDX website, http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/home.php 10. Sandra Steingraber, The Heinz Award and What I plan to do with it, http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/newsfrom187/entry/6467. Her new book, Raising Elijah includes a whole chapter on fracking, http://steingraber.com. Presentations |
| 27/09/2011 | "Notre Poison quotidien" highlights EU’s environmental health challenges |
| 19/09/2011 | Fewer carbon emissions means better health and greater productivity PRESS RELEASE Climate change and health week (19-23 September 2011, Poland) Warsaw, Poland, 19 September 2011 - European non-governmental organisations hope to share recent findings on the health and economic benefits of tackling climate change with senior government officials and other top policy makers in Warsaw and Poznan this week. (1) The aim is to convince senior decision-makers that stronger targets on climate change would substantially benefit public health and the economy in Poland. The European Union's current target of a 20% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 is too low to mitigate harmful climate change. (2) "Findings like these may encourage Polish decision makers to look at the reduction of emissions from a broader perspective, and may help them see the positive influence of its “side effect” – the cleaner air – on the health of the citizens, and the state budget. This is especially important now, since Poland currently holds the Presidency of the European Union, and will play an important role prior to and during the forthcoming climate change summit in Durban in December 2011," says Urszula Stefanowicz, spokesperson for Climate Coalition. (3) Dr Pendo Maro representing Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) continues: "Now is the moment for the EU - independently of other countries - to move its carbon emissions reduction target to at least 30% below 1990 levels by 2020. EU countries should lead the world in a move towards a sustainable low carbon society producing substantial health benefits and increased productivity." (4) By moving to a 30% target, EU member states would reap health benefits of up to 30.5 billion Euros by 2020, according to HEAL/HCWH research. Poland would achieve savings of up to 4 billion Euros in 2020 (approximately 13% of the total gains) made up, for example, of over 500 fewer cardiac and respiratory hospital admissions annually from 2020 onwards and almost 400,000 fewer working days lost each year from 2020. (5) These benefits would accrue as an unintended side-effect or "co-benefit" of stronger climate change policy. As greenhouse gas levels fall, cleaner power generation and less polluting transport leads to better air quality; this prompts substantial improvements in respiratory and heart health. (5) Poland would do particularly well from the European Union adopting a 30% target on emission reductions not only as a result of its own internal action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also because, being not far from the centre of the EU, it would pick up the benefit of actions to reduce emissions and therefore clean up the air in surrounding EU countries, such as Germany and Hungary. Combined with the size of its population this makes a substantial benefit for people's health and productivity. Health impact of climate change Evidence that human-induced climate change is taking place - and influencing health - is growing. Of greatest concern in Europe are extreme weather events, including heat waves that creates peaks in air pollution, flooding and resurgences of infectious diseases. The World Health Organization says that extreme high air temperatures contribute directly to deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory disease, particularly among elderly people. In the heat wave of summer 2003 in Europe for example, more than 70 000 excess deaths were recorded. (6) The European Respiratory Society, which brings together 11,000 doctors and experts in lung health, has published research showing that for every 1 degree Celsius increase in summer temperatures above defined European city-specific levels, overall death rates increase by 1-3%, and by 6% amongst people with existing respiratory conditions. (7) ***Notes for journalists*** 1. The NGO delegation comprises Dr Pendo Maro, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Europe; Ms Christina Reinards, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) in Brussels (1) and Ms. Urszula Stefanowicz, from Polish partner organisation, the Climate Coalition. They hope to meet Marek Haber, Undersecretary of State, Polish Ministry of Health in Poznan and representatives at the Ministry of the Economy in Warsaw. Dr Maro will give a presentation at the "Effectively and ecologically. Implementation of energy efficiency projects in healthcare” conference in Poznan. 2. IPPC (International Panel on Climate Change) 4th Assessment Report, 2007, IPCC recommendations: collective greenhouse gas emissions reductions by and within industrialised countries of 25-40% by 2020 from 1990 levels are needed to give only a 50-50 chance of limiting warming to 2 degrees. 3. Climate Coalition www.koalicjaklimatyczna.org 4. Although Poland has not been a supporter of more ambition within EU climate policy, senior advisor to the Polish minister on climate policy, Tomasz Chruszczow said in an interview in London on 13 September 2011: "You must not make the mistake of confusing the aims of the EU [under our presidency] and our domestic arrangements on how to meet our targets." Can Poland lead on coal, shale gas and Europe's climate talks? www.guardian.co.uk/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2011/sep/12/global-climate-talks-poland-eu-coal-shale-gas 5. Report by Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm, "Acting now for a better health. A 30% reduction target for EU climate policy." (2010). For details of health benefits in Poland, see chart on page 36 6. World Health Organization, Climate change and health, Fact sheet N°266, January 2010 www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs266/en/index.html 7. Position statement, Climate change and respiratory disease: European Respiratory Society, JG Ayres et al, European Respiratory Journal; 34: 295-302, http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/34/2/295.full ***Contacts*** Pendo Maro, Senior Climate and Energy Advisor, Health Care Without Harm and Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: + 32 2 234 3642; + 322 503 4011; Mobile phone: +32 495 281 494 Email: pendo@env-health.org; pendo.maro@hcwh.org Urszula Stefanowicz, Project manager, Climate Coalition, Polish Ecological Club Mazovian Branch, Tel: +48 22 827 33 70, e-mail: u.stefanowicz@koalicjaklimatyczna.org |
| 14/09/2011 | Press statement: Bedroom dust used to urge EU to act more urgently on REACH PRESS STATEMENT Bedroom dust used to urge EU to act more urgently on REACH Brussels, 14 September 2011 - An analysis of dust samples is being used to urge faster action on EDCs in REACH. The dust has been vacuumed up from underneath beds around the world in a project carried out by ChemSec and other NGOs. The aim is to prompt the European Commission and every EU member state to speed up the process and nominate EDCs to the REACH Candidate List. They also want companies to take the initiative to phase out EDCs in their products before these chemicals are decided upon in REACH. REPORT Home sweet home - dusty surprises under the bedshows that a hazardous mix of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) lie hidden under beds all around the world, in levels higher than earlier found. It is available here www.chemsec.org/endocrine-disrupters/dust-report The official press release is also available at www.chemsec.org HEAL Toxics Policy Advisor, Lisette van Vliet put her vacuum cleaner to work under a bed in Belgium where a couple and their new baby live. She sent the sample to the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation for analysis. Responding to the findings of the analysis, she said: "Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been increasingly linked to a range of health problems including impaired fertility, cancer and attention deficit disorders. "Ten years ago, the European Union started its strategy to deal with EDCs - yet these hazardous chemicals are still being found in dust samples under the beds of pregnant women and new mothers. Will I have to tell these parents that at our current speed, it could take until their child grows up and is reaching middle age to deal properly with these harmful chemicals?" The sample collected in Belgium had high levels of nonylphenol compared to the other samples collected. Nonylphenol is a substance which is considered to be an endocrine disruptor because of its ability to mimic estrogen and in turn disrupt the natural balance of hormones in affected organisms. Nonylphenol has already been restricted in the EU but it is clearly still contaminating indoor environments. "This illustrates that REACH is not doing enough to ensure that chemicals which have already been restricted in the EU are kept out of our homes," Ms van Vliet added. Contact: Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance, 28 blvd. Charlemagne, 1000- Brussels, Belgium. E-mail: lisette@env-health.org. Mobile: +32 484 614 528. Diana Smith, Media, Health and Environment Alliance, E-mail: diana@env-health.org. Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943. HEAL is the leading Europeannot-for-profit organisation addressing how the environment affects health in the European Union. We demonstrate how policy changes can help protect health and enhance people’s quality of life. HEAL’s more than 65 member organisations, representing health professionals, patients, citizens, women, youth and environmental experts, help to bring independent expertise and evidence from the health community to different decision-making processes. Members include international and Europe-wide organisations, as well as national and local groups. Press release 14 September 2011 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> International Chemical Secretariat Mix of hazardous chemicals under your bed – EU needs to act ChemSec, together with the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) and other NGOs, have analysed dust in bedrooms across the EU, Africa and Asia. The resulting report, Home sweet home - dusty surprises under the bed, was launched today and shows that a hazardous mix of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) lie hidden under beds all around the world, in levels higher than earlier found. EDCs have been increasingly linked to a range of health problems including impaired fertility, cancer and attention deficit disorders. Europeans spend as much as 90 percent of their time indoor, where the exposure to chemicals can be a thousand times higher than that found outdoors. EDCs can be released from many products commonly found in our homes, including furniture, electronics, cosmetics and toys. Most at risk of exposure to the chemicals found in household dust are those closest to the floor – young children. The dust analysed was collected by vacuum cleaners in bedrooms in six EU member states, four countries in Africa and two in Southeast Asia. Some of the investigated chemicals, such as nonylphenol and some phthalates, were found in their highest levels in European homes. – This report shows that highly problematic chemicals, such as chemicals on the SIN List, are commonly found under people’s beds. In order for people to be able to sleep well at night the EU and all European countries must act strongly. Currently people are not properly protected by EU laws from this cocktail of endocrine disrupters, says ChemSec Director Anne-Sofie Andersson. The study presented today looks at the chemicals present in dust, and does not take into account other sources of chemical exposure in indoor environments. Even only considering dust, the findings show that the total level of phthalates where in some countries found to be higher than what public authorities today consider to be safe, if the cocktail effect is considered. The report Home sweet home - dusty surprises under the bed also highlights that in order to fully understand the effects that EDCs have on our health and reproduction, new risk assessment methods for EDCs are crucial, methods which take into account the ability of EDCs to have significant effects even at very low doses. – We strongly encourage the European Commission and every EU member state to speed up the process and nominate EDCs to the REACH Candidate List. We also encourage companies to phase out EDCs from their products, says ChemSec project coordinator Frida Hök. For more information, please contact Frida Hök, EDC project coordinator, ChemSec, frida.hok@chemsec.org, + 46 709 72 12 57 Anne-Sofie Andersson, Director, ChemSec, annesofie.andersson@chemsec.org, +46 31 711 01 57 The report is available online at www.chemsec.org/endocrine-disrupters/dust-report ChemSec, the International Chemical Secretariat, is a non-profit organisation working for a toxic free world by highlighting the health and environmental risks of hazardous substances, making accurate, science-based information readily available, engaging business and speeding up legislative processes. ChemSec was founded in 2002 by environmental organisations, and stands behind the SIN List. www.chemsec.org. The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) is an environmental organization with the power to bring about change. With almost 200 000 members, SSNC spreads knowledge, maps environmental threats, creates solutions, and influences politicians and public authorities, at both national and international levels. Moreover, SSNC stands behind one of the world’s most demanding eco-labels, “Good Environmental Choice”. www.naturskyddsforeningen.se The dust in European countries has been collected by the following NGOs: European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) in Belgium, Clean Air Action Group in Hungary, AMICA in Italy, BUND in Germany, Society for Sustainable living in the Czech Republic and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) in Sweden. Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Italy, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, the Philippines, and Malaysia. The SIN List contains 378 chemicals that ChemSec has identified as fulfilling the criteria for Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) provided by REACH. The 2.0 version of the SIN List, presented in May, added 22 endocrine disrupting chemicals identified as SVHCs in accordance with REACH criteria solely due to their endocrine disrupting properties. The cocktail effect means that all substances in a mixture contribute to the mixture properties such as toxicity. BBP, DBP, DEHP and DINP. |
| 13/09/2011 | EU Health commissioner urged to bring "environment" to UN chronic disease summit PRESS RELEASE Note: On Thursday, 15 September 2011, the European Parliament will vote on a Resolution on the EU position and commitment in advance to the UN high-level meeting on the prevention and control of non-communicable disease New York, USA, 19-20 September 2011. EU Health commissioner urged to bring "environment" to UN chronic disease summit Brussels, 14 September 2011 - European health experts are astounded that prevention through environmental policy may hardly be mentioned at the United Nations Summit on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) later this month. (1) In an Open Letter to the European Commission, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) is urging health commissioner John Dalli to bring environmental factors to the agenda along with the four so-called "lifestyle" factors: tobacco, poor diets, alcohol and lack of physical activity. (2) "Reducing exposure is a key tool for preventing cancer and other chronic, non-communicable disease," says Genon Jensen. "The European Union is an international leader on clean air and chemical safety legislation so Commissioner Dalli is well-placed to bring environmental prevention of chronic disease to the top of the agenda." Chronic, non-communicable diseases are a major challenge for the European Union, making up 77% of the total burden of disease in the World Health Organization European region. (2) The good news is that addressing environmental exposures can improve health, and reduce associated health care costs. "A strong commitment to environmental prevention through policy change at UN level will pay off for EU member states in terms of better health and lower health care budgets," Ms Jensen adds. Many examples of effective policy change to improve health exist. The EU's strong backing for smoke-free public places is already saving lives and improving health in Europe. According to the World Health Organization, studies from countries that enforce bans on smoking in public places are finding reductions in heart attacks. The scientific literature indicates that hospitalisation rates for myocardial infarctions are decreasing by 20–40%. (3) Another example of cost-effective legislation is the EU's pioneering chemical policy. Although it is too early to assess the impact of this legislation, a European Commission assessment of REACH prior to its introduction stated that if this legislation succeeds in reducing chemical-related diseases by only 10%, the health benefits are estimated at 50 billion Euros over 30 years. This corresponds with 2,200 to 4,300 fewer cancer cases in the workplace annually. (4) Improvements in outdoor air quality in Europe over the past few decades have produced important gains in respiratory and heart health in Europe. Further outdoor air quality legislation, and air quality improvements resulting from stronger climate mitigation policy, could achieve more. Exposure to outdoor polluted air is currently responsible for an estimated 455,000 premature deaths each year in Europe. (2) Awareness of the extent to which policy initiatives can help reduce cancer is growing rapidly. An article in the New England Journal of Medicine, March 2011, wrote: "The most valuable approaches to reducing cancer morbidity and mortality lie in avoiding the introduction of carcinogenic agents into the environment and eliminating exposure to carcinogenic agents that are already there." In 2010, a European Parliament Resolution called for the EU Partnership action against cancer to "include a component on environmental factors, these being defined as not only environmental tobacco smoke, radiation, and excessive UV exposure, but also hazardous chemicals in the indoor and outdoor environment to which people are exposed, including endocrine disruptors". (5) At a WHO meeting in Asturias, Spain earlier this year in preparation for the UN summit, experts unanimously called for "prevention of the environmental and occupational exposures that cause cancer" to become "an integral component of cancer control worldwide." (6) HEAL is one of the signatories to an open letter to the UN and WHO calling for this recommendation to be included in the text of the UN resolution in New York. "Given the body of scientific evidence linking air pollution, hazardous chemicals, and radiation to chronic disease, how can policy measures to tackle these threats be left off any important health agenda in the 21st century?" the letter asks. (2) Notes for journalists: 1. United Nations high-level meeting on noncommunicable disease prevention and control, 19-20 September, 2011, New York, USA http://www.who.int/nmh/events/un_ncd_summit2011/en/ In the World Health Organization European region, 77% of the total disease burden is associated with chronic, noncommunicable disease, including heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. 2. HEAL letter and Fact sheet 3. Tobacco-control legislation: already saving lives, Copenhagen, 31 May 2011,www.euro.who.int 4. REACH, Economic facts and figures, 2006, EEB, Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), and WECF. 5. Report on the Commission Communication on Action against Cancer: European Partnership http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2010-0121&language=EN#title3 6. Asturias Declaration, http://www.who.int/phe/news/events/international_conference/Call_for_action_en.pdf Contacts: Genon Jenson, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +32 2 234 3642, Email: genon@env-health.org, www.env-health.org Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Tel: +33 6 33 04 2943, email: diana@env-health.org |
| 22/06/2011 | Health insurance group takes up environmental health INFORMATION RELEASE Brussels, 20 June 2011 Health insurers tackle environmental causes of disease The International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM), which brings together over 38 members representing federations of not-for-profit health insurance societies in 23 countries, has decided to work with the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) in a strategic partnership to improve prevention of chronic diseases caused, or facilitated, by environmental factors. Philippe Swennen, Director of Projects for AIM, said: “This is an important step forward for mutual benefit societies, and we look forward to making a difference by adding the voices and the weight of the public health insurers to the environmental health prevention community in Europe.” At the AIM Annual General Meeting last week, Genon Jensen, Executive Director, HEAL outlined to AIM's members some possible joint activities, including on awareness-raising, research, information exchange and sharing of best practice on environmental health prevention measures. The two organisations are already conducting a survey to ascertain the current activities, interests and needs in environmental health of AIM's members. Ms Jensen said, “We’re delighted to be working more closely with AIM. As a key constituency in health prevention and promotion, AIM's expertise and concerns about important environmental issues will greatly strengthen our message to policy makers. This global network of social health insurance societies can also help HEAL to share more widely important, scientifically-founded prevention tips, for example, on how to improve indoor air quality at home." Last June, AIM released a declaration noting their resolve to make a more visible, clearer commitment to the understanding and prevention of environmental effects on public health. It represented the outcome of AIM's first international conference on health and environment in Brussels. In the years since AIM was founded in 1950, the overall nature of social protection has changed greatly. Contributing factors include the rising costs of healthcare, rising rates of chronic diseases, the ageing of the population, scientific progress, and the globalisation of the economy. In parallel, the environment has become increasingly important in health matters; climate change-related heat waves, air pollution, the long-term effects of chemicals in air, food, water, the working environment, electromagnetic fields, and nanoparticles affect, or may affect, public health. As well as activity at the international level, some national mutual groups and societies are working on environment and health. For example, in France, the Mutuelle Familiale and the National Federation of French Mutual (Fédération Nationale de la Mutualité Française) have signed a partnership agreement with the HEAL member organisation, Réseau Santé Environnement, to collaborate on environmental health projects. The Belgian mutual benefit societies have founded a working group on environmental health and produced a brochure on the subject for their members (in French, Dutch and English coming soon). Geert Messiaen, Secretary General of Liberal Mutual Benefit Societies (Landsbond van Liberale Mutualiteiten (LLM)) in Belgium says, “It is time to act to deal with the increasing damage of diseases caused by the environment. Our collaboration with HEAL will take us beyond single conferences and powerfully integrate our information sharing, educational and prevention actions.” AIM has applied to become a member of HEAL (1) as have all six federations of Belgian mutual benefit societies (2). Notes: (1) HEAL's Annual General Meeting will consider the applications for membership in October 2011. (2) Union Nationale des Mutualités Libres (MLOZ); Nationaal Verbond van Socialistische Mutualiteiten (NVSM); Caisse des soins de santé de la SNCB Holding (CSS); Landsbond van Liberale Mutualiteiten (LLM); Caisse Auxiliaire d'Assurance Maladie - Invalidité (CAAMI) / Hulpkas voor Ziekte- en Invaliditeitsverzekering (HZIV); and, Union Nationale des Mutualités Neutrés (UNMN). Contact: Genon Jenson, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +32 2 234 3642, Email: genon@env-health.org, www.env-health.org Philippe Swennen, Director of Projects, International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies, Tel: +32 234 5700, Email: philippe.swennen@aim-mutual.org, www.aim-mutual.org The International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies is an umbrella association of not-for-profit autonomous bodies which brings together not-for-profit health insurers defending the concept of universal access to healthcare covering health and social risks. AIM has over 38 members representing federations of mutual benefit societies in 23 countries. Website: www.aim-mutual.org |
| 22/06/2011 | Environment Ministers shy away from a 30% reduction target Increasingly, doctors and others are aware that "What is good for climate is good for health”, and for the economy. Recently, Environment Ministers shied away from committing to 30% less emissions. Now we are relying on MEPs to really make this happen. HEAL/HWCH Statement following the EU environment Council meeting “Environment ministers have discussed yesterday a possible framework for an EU emissions reduction target beyond 20% by 2020, but sadly shied away from committing to a move towards a 30% reduction target on greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Now we are relying on MEPs to really make this happen – the plenary vote on 23 June must ensure a binding 30% target to guarantee safe public health in the long term and the proven co-benefits for Europe’s economy,” says Dr Pendo Maro, Senior Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH E). HEAL and HCWH Europe are working with its members and medical professionals in many EU countries in support of an EU move to the 30% target. Increasingly, doctors and others are aware that "What is good for climate is good for health”, and for the economy. Last year, HEAL/HCWH published hard hitting evidence to back up this statement. The findings, in our report called “Acting Now for Better Health: a 30% reduction target for EU climate policy”, have been used by many policy makers. Contacts Dr. Pendo Maro, Senior Policy Advisor, Health Care Without Harm Europe; Health and Environment Alliance Tel: + 32 2234 3647, Mobile: +32 495 281 494, Email: pendo@env-health.org Diana Smith, Communications and Media, Health and Environment Alliance Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943, Email: Diana@env-health.org |
| 25/05/2011 | EU announces plan to make cars and lorries quieter PRESS RELEASE Wednesday, May 25, 2011 - The European Commission has announced plans to tighten noise limits for cars, lorries and buses with a proposal expected within weeks and by September at the latest. Environmental and health organisations have welcomed the Commission’s announcement but called for standards that go much further towards World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations for avoiding dangerous impacts on health from traffic noise pollution. Philippe Jean, acting director of the European Commission’s Enterprise Department, told a conference organised by Transport & Environment (T&E), the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and the Health and Environment Alliance (Heal) (1) that the Commission plans to cut noise emissions from cars by 4 decibels and from lorries by 3 decibels. The new limits would come into force within four years of a new Vehicle Noise Directive being agreed, he said. The Commission’s announcement follows publication of an EU-funded study by consultant TNO which says implementing vehicle noise limits that halve traffic noise would bring about benefits to society outweighing the costs of introducing quieter vehicles by a factor of twenty to one. (2) According to a recent study by the WHO (3), 1.8% of heart attacks in high income European countries can be attributed to traffic noise levels higher than 60dB. Cardiovascular disease is the largest cause of death in the EU and accounts for approximately 10% of national healthcare budgets. A 2008 report by consultants CE for T&E (4) found that noise from rail and road transport is linked to 50,000 fatal heart attacks every year in Europe and 200,000 cases of cardio-vascular disease. According to Jean, the new noise limits would be introduced in two stages: car limits, which are currently set at 74 decibels, would be reduced to 72 decibels within two years and to 70 within four years. Lorry limits would have to be lowered by 1 decibel within two years and by a further 2 within four years, he said. The Commission is also expected to announce a new test method, to better reflect the real world noise emissions of vehicles. Environmental and health groups have urged the European Commission to set more stringent noise reduction standards at least 6 decibels lower than today. The decibel scale is logarithmic; a reduction in car noise emissions of 6 decibels would reduce the noise level of an individual vehicle by three-quarters but it would take many years of fleet renewal for overall traffic noise to be reduced. Many cars sold today already meet the standard recommended by environmental and health groups, including conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, not just hybrids and electric cars. Nina Renshaw, deputy director of Transport & Environment said: “The Commission has finally admitted that current vehicle noise legislation has blatantly failed to tackle the problem; tightening these limits was long overdue. If car manufacturers can already meet the standards with existing technology, there is no excuse for further delay. Furthermore, The Commission must improve the testing process to ensure noise tests for heavy vehicles on the test bench reflect what happens in the real world. Cutting noise emissions on paper only is not an option.” Anne Stauffer, director of Heal, said: "Traffic noise in cities is an important public health issue. As well as the evidence of increased heart attacks as a result of exposure to environmental noise, evidence shows noise pushes up rates of stroke, especially in older people, and affects children’s ability to learn. New data on the harm to health from noise are emerging all the time. We would like to see much greater awareness raising with medical professionals and decision makers and ambitious legislative proposals to reduce exposure." Footnotes 1) 'Quiet please - Better health through strong EU regulation of road and rail traffic noise', published today: http://tinyurl.com/3ud525s 2) http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/automotive/files/projects/report-venoliva_en.pdf 3) http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/136466/Burden_of_disease.pdf 4) http://www.transportenvironment.org/Publications/prep_hand_out/lid:494 |
| 24/05/2011 | ENVI Committee vote cheered by two major health groups ENVI Committee vote cheered by two major health groups Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe have voiced their strong approval following the ENVI Committee vote on 24 May in support for a 30% EU reduction target in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. PRESS STATEMENT Brussels, 24 May 2011 - The combined voices of Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), the two leading health and environment groups working at the European level, have voiced their strong approval following the ENVI Committee vote today in support for a 30% EU reduction target in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 [1]. HEAL and HCWH Europe released a report in 2010 showing the huge public health benefits of moving to a 30% GHG emissions reduction target [2]. These include reductions in premature death and illness, fewer working days lost and lower healthcare costs. "This vote paves the way for strong climate policies in the EU that will protect public health," says Dr. Pendo Maro, Senior Policy Advisor, HEAL/HCWH Europe. "Our report shows that the health benefits of fewer air pollutants associated with reaching a 30% target are up to 30.5 EUR billion per year by 2020 - this represents two-thirds of the European Commission's estimate of the costs involved in moving to the 30% target." "This vote reflects a step away from the previous "cost" perspective and towards a win-win focus on the colossal benefits for public health, innovation and productivity of action to mitigate climate change," she adds. Contacts: Dr. Pendo Maro, Health Care Without Harm Europe; Health and Environment Alliance; Postal Address: Rue de la Pepiniere 1, B-1000 Brussels Tel.: +32 2503 4911 Fax: + 32 2402 3042 Mobile: +32 495 281 494 Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943. E-mail: Diana@env-health.org Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection and sustainability improves health and to empower the health community to contribute their expertise to policy making. Its membership is made up of more than 65 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organizations across Europe. Website: www.env-health.org Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 484 organisations in 53 countries working with the health sector to reduce its impact on human health and the environment while advocating for global environmental health. www.noharm.org 1. The vote was on the Eickhout report and is consistent with previous ENVI and Parliament resolutions. 2. "Acting NOW for better health, A 30% reduction target for EU climate policy", 2010 |
| 03/05/2011 | Hormone disrupting chemicals targeted to prevent chronic disease in the EU Brussels, 3 May 2011 - The European Union should rapidly review 22 endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemicals (EDCs) because of their effects on health. These chemicals are part of a new list put out by the International Chemical Secretariat (ChemSec) supported by 11 independent, non-governmental organisations. The names of the 22 chemicals, which will be released today by ChemSec as part of the SIN List 2.0 launch (2), are linked to cancer, diabetes, behavioural and attention deficit disorders, as well as impaired fertility. (3) Many of these 22 chemicals are commonly found in toys, food packaging, and cosmetics. The Health and Environment Alliance and the other NGOs involved in the project have also released a joint position paper on requirements for the proper regulation of hormone disruptors. (4) "Endocrine disrupting chemicals are known to affect the human hormone system, often by mimicking or blocking natural human hormones. An exposure today is not only a health threat for the individuals themselves but also for their future children and possibly their grand-children as well," says Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, HEAL, who is a member of the SIN List NGO advisory committee and will take part in the launch event. Evidence of the harmful effects of EDCs on health, and especially of pre-natal effects as a result of parental exposure, is growing rapidly. Reducing exposure is increasingly seen as a key tool for preventing cancer and other chronic disease. (5) The EU can and already has acted to reduce the public health risks of endocrine disruptors. In 2005, the European Commission banned the use of certain phthalates in toys and childcare articles, and most recently, the European Commission banned Bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles. BPA was included in the first SIN List. (6) The SIN List 2.0 launched today serves as a challenge to European governments and EU institutions to rapidly review the 22 EDCs within it under EU chemical policy, known as REACH, and under other applicable legislation. The list includes parabens - used in shampoo; perchloroethylene used in dry-cleaning of textiles; and, certain chemicals that are used as UV filters in sun-tan lotion, such as 4-methylbenzylidene camphor. "Concerned scientists and medical professionals are increasingly convinced that reducing exposure to toxics in the everyday environment is the most valuable approach to preventing cancer and other chronic disease. This is why we need the EU and member governments to act more quickly on more hormone disruptors,” Ms van Vliet adds. ENDS Contacts (both of whom are taking part in the SIN List 2.0 launch): Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance, 28 blvd. Charlemagne Genon Jensen, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance.E-mail: genon@env-health.org. Mobile: +32 495 808732. Notes to journalists 1. The ChemSec press release is available at http://www.chemsec.org. Invitation and agenda for the public hearing available at http://www.chemsec.org/list/sin-list-20. The event takes place at the Stanhope Hotel, rue du Commerce 9, Brussels, 3 May 2011. 2. SIN List stands for “Substitute it now”. The SIN List 2.0 update will be presented to the public hearing (see above) at 11.30, and journalists are invited to a press conference at 13.15, where ChemSec acting director Per Rosander and other speakers will be available for questions. 3. For more information about chemicals and health, visit the Health and Environment Alliance's Chemicals Health Monitor website at http://www.chemicalshealthmonitor.org 4. The statement from 12 non-governmental organisations, including HEAL, is available at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/E... 5. HEAL position paper: Preventing cancer through environmental policy change, available at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/2... 6. SIN List 1.1 - List of all substances on the original list at http://www.chemsec.org/list/sin-list-20 (right-hand column) Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection and sustainability improves health and to empower the health community to contribute their expertise to policy making. Since its inception, HEAL’s membership has grown to include a diverse network of more than 67 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organizations across Europe which together have a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. Website: www.env-health.org Chemicals Health Monitor Project (CHM) was launched by HEAL, CHEM Trust, Collaborative on Health and Environment and others in March 2007. It aims to improve public health by ensuring that key scientific evidence on the links between chemicals and ill-health are translated into policy as quickly as possible. Key documents about the campaign and information about the project can be found at: www.chemicalshealthmonitor.org |
| 24/04/2011 | Banned toxics found in carpet underlay sold in EU Some flame retardants are banned in goods made from all new materials but not in goods made from recycled materials. Two years ago at COP4, the EU supported and strongly argued for an exemption that currently permits recycling of plastics and foam containing PBDEs. These flame retardants can cause nervous system damage, particularly in infants and toddlers. A new study shows that products available on the market in the EU do contain these toxics, posing a very real health concern. Samples of carpet underlay contain significant levels of flame retardant chemicals, PentaBDE and OctaBDE, according to the study of samples from countries around the world including Hungary and the US. PentaBDE and OctaBDE resemble PCBs in structure and toxic effects. The press release and report from the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) can be found here (COP5 Media page). At the COP5 meeting in Geneva is Joseph DiGangi, PhD, IPEN Sr. Science and Technical Advisor +1 510-710-0655 who can provide further information. For other contacts, see the IPEN press release. Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance, says: “We tend to think of recycling as a good thing. But this kind of recycling is exposing us to harmful chemicals, which may be adding to rates of cancer and thyroid disorders, and may be interfering with the healthy development of the brains of our children. We call on the European Union to urgently address the recycling of toxics loophole in this international agreement.” ENDS Contact: Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance, 28 blvd. Charlemagne, 1000- Brussels, Belgium. E-mail: lisette@env-health.org. Mobile: +32 495 808732. Diana Smith, Media, Health and Environment Alliance, E-mail: diana@env-health.org. Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943. Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection and sustainability improves health and to empower the health community to contribute their expertise to policy making. Since its inception, HEAL’s membership has grown to include a diverse network of more than 67 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organizations across Europe which together have a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. www.env-health.org Chemicals Health Monitor Project (CHM) was launched by HEAL, CHEM Trust, Collaborative on Health and Environment and others in March 2007. It aims to improve public health by ensuring that key scientific evidence on the links between chemicals and ill-health are translated into policy. www.chemicalshealthmonitor.org |
| 12/04/2011 | Protect children by cutting exposure to harmful chemicals Paris, France, 12 April 2011 - Bringing down rates of childhood cancer, congenital malformations, developmental problems, and asthma and allergy cannot be achieved without reducing exposure to certain chemicals, according to Génon Jensen, Executive Director of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). "Paris Appeal Third International Congress" Children's health and the environment, 12-13 April 2011 Organised by ARTAC with partners, International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). Ms Jensen is taking part in the Paris Appeal Third International Congress on Children's health and the environment, 12-13 April 2011. (1) Since the first Paris Appeal conference, thousands of scientists and citizens have signed the consensus statement, demonstrating their concern about the effects of a deteriorating environment on public health. "We believe today’s focus on children’s health and environment will bring home the message to both policy-makers and the public about the urgency to act now," Ms Jensen says. "Paris Appeal congresses bring together the biggest group of international experts on how the environment affects health in Europe," she says. "The conclusions from these meetings are based on the very latest science. Such statements provide a solid foundation for advocates to push for better laws and pilot projects that show what needs to be done. Strong representation from the medical community at the congresses shows recognition of the need to see policy change." More than 250 scientists and medical professionals are expected to take part in the congress. Speakers from around the world will address the links between exposure to environmental pollutants in children and in utero with worrying trends in cancer, developmental problems and congenital abnormalities, declining fertility in young men, and high rates of asthma and allergy. Prof Ana Soto, Tufts University School of Medicine, USA will present her findings on the fetal origin of cancer. Rates of cancer in childhood, congenital malformation of the penis, and infertility in young men are all growing in Europe. Cancer in children is increasing at a rate of more than 1% per year in Europe. "There is a misconception that cancer is either an inherited disease or only related to life-style factors, such as tobacco and alcohol," says Genon Jensen, Executive Director of HEAL. "But these factors cannot account for rising rates of cancer in children. Many cases of cancer in children are due to environmental pollution and are therefore preventable." HEAL wants to see certain synthetic chemicals removed from the market and replaced with less harmful substitutes. "We want to take the latest science to decision-makers so that they do not miss the current policy opportunities associated with the EU chemical law, such as REACH and pesticide legislation that is currently being implemented." (2) Reducing exposure to environmental pollutants before birth and in childhood is particularly important because children's bodies are more sensitive to damage because they are growing. Many infants are exposed to harmful chemicals before they are born. This is a result of industrial chemicals in umbilical-cord blood, which may increase the future risk of some chronic diseases. HEAL's mission includes bringing latest science to EU and national politicians and raising awareness of the links between environmental factors and health among the medical and health community and the public. Present campaigns and projects all take the theme of "Protecting the most vulnerable" and aim to bring the perspectives of the medical and health community to the development and implementation of EU chemicals and pesticides policy. This approach gives special focus to pre- and post-natal vulnerability of children to harmful chemicals and the need to address the cocktail effect. For example, the "Sick of pesticides" campaign raises awareness of the health impacts of pesticides and aims to help achieve a ban on cosmetic pesticide use in public spaces, especially those where children play such as parks, playgrounds, schools and around health facilities. ENDS Contact: Génon Jensen, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), 28 blvd. Charlemagne, 1000- Brussels, Belgium. E-mail: genon@env-health.org. Mobile: +32 495 808732. Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL, E-mail: diana@env-health.org. Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943. Notes for journalists 1. Congress programme available here http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/P... and ARTAC press pack available here http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/d... 2. HEAL concerns and policy demands: Children's health and environment http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/2... |
| 30/03/2011 | Diet change can reduce BPA levels in humans Press announcement, Brussels, 30 March 2011 - A study from the United States released today by Breast Cancer Fund and Silent Spring Institute shows that avoiding canned and packaged food can reduce chemical levels in the human body by 50% or more. This finding implies that food contact materials are a major source of people’s exposure to harmful chemicals, such as hormone disruptors known as BPA and DEHP. "The Health and Environment Alliance, alongside other public interest organisations, are calling for swifter action by the European Union to eliminate people’s exposure to these chemicals to protect public health," says Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor. "This study confirms the urgent need for a major overhaul of EU food contact materials law because packaging in the US is often the same as that used in the EU. Specifically, the review should address endocrine disruptors and the ‘cocktail effects' of exposure to several chemicals at the same time." The study is published today in Environmental Health Perspectives. Five families were enlisted for a week-long investigation. First, the families ate their normal diets. Then, they were provided with three days’ worth of freshly prepared organic meals that avoided contact with BPA-containing food packaging, such as canned food and polycarbonate plastic. Finally, the families returned to their normal diets. The BPA levels of the participants were measured at each stage. More information: Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor lisette@env-health.org , Telephone: +32 2 234 3645 The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) raises awareness of how environmental protection improves people’s health, and works to strengthen European policies. We do this by creating better representation of expertise and evidence from the health community in decision making processes. HEAL is a diverse network of over 67 citizens’, patients’, health professionals’, women’s and environmental groups. Our members include international and Europe-wide organisations, as well as national and local groups. www.env-health.org Chemicals Health Monitor Project (CHM) was launched by HEAL, CHEM Trust, Collaborative on Health and Environment and others in March 2007. It aims to improve public health by ensuring that key scientific evidence on the links between chemicals and ill-health are translated into policy as quickly as possible. Key documents about the campaign and information about the project can be found at: www.chemicalshealthmonitor.org |
| 30/03/2011 | Traffic noise health impacts second only to air pollution, new WHO report says Brussels, 30 March 2011, For immediate release – In the EU and Norway, traffic noise is the second biggest environmental problem affecting health after air pollution, says a report published today by the World Health Organization (WHO) (1). This new health evidence highlights the urgency of adopting more stringent EU vehicle noise standards, according to health, environment and sustainable transport campaigners. The European Commission is expected to release a proposal to update the Vehicle Noise Directive 70/157/EEC in June. (2) 30 March 2011, For immediate release Brussels – In the EU and Norway, traffic noise is the second biggest environmental problem affecting health after air pollution, says a report published today by the World Health Organization (WHO) (1). This new health evidence highlights the urgency of adopting more stringent EU vehicle noise standards, according to health, environment and sustainable transport campaigners. The European Commission is expected to release a proposal to update the Vehicle Noise Directive 70/157/EEC in June. (2) “The Commission has an opportunity in the coming weeks to cut road traffic noise by half, and protect millions of Europeans from this health risk”, says Nina Renshaw, Deputy Director at Transport & Environment (T&E), a Brussels-based sustainable transport campaign group. “The proposal for an update of the Vehicle Noise directive should set strict new noise standards for cars, vans, lorries and buses. Policy-makers must act on this WHO report and cut road noise to benefit us all by protecting health, improving quality of life, and easing the strain on government healthcare budgets”. The WHO report says that each year Europeans lose at least one million healthy life-years due to disability or disease caused by traffic noise. And that estimate is said to be conservative. The new calculation includes data that measure exposure to traffic noise and its impact on health related to cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment in children, sleep disturbance, tinnitus, and annoyance. According to the study, 1.8% of heart attacks in high income European countries are attributed to traffic noise levels higher than 60dB. Cardiovascular disease is the largest cause of death in the EU, accounting for 40% of deaths and approximately 10% of healthcare budgets (3). A 2008 report by consultants CE for T&E (4) found that noise from rail and road transport is linked to 50,000 fatal heart attacks every year in Europe and 200,000 cases of cardio-vascular disease. "The new figures are worrying but the true impact of noise pollution on health is likely to be much higher”, says Anne Stauffer, Deputy Director at Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). "Noise pollution is a critical public health problem. We hope that now the EU has the evidence, policy makers will make changes in transport and other legislation that will better protect citizens' health." Ms. Stauffer added. HEAL is particularly concerned about the effect of traffic noise on children's learning abilities. In a recent children's health summit in Parma, Italy, environment and health ministers committed to reducing the exposure of children to noise (5). The European Environmental Bureau hopes the WHO study will also help strengthen the existing EU directive on environmental noise, which includes noise mapping. This legislation is currently under review by the European Commission. “The review is long overdue”, says Louise Duprez, Policy Officer at EEB, “and with this report reinforcing already-known health implications of noise there is no excuse not to come up with a more ambitious Environmental Noise Directive.” (6) European citizens are well aware of the health impacts of traffic noise. According to a recent Eurobarometer (7), almost half of all Europeans believe that noise affects their health "to a large extent" and another one-third said that it affected their health "to some extent”. For more information, please contact: Nina Renshaw, Deputy Director, Transport & Environment (T&E): +32 498 540 765, nina.renshaw@transportenvironment.org Anne Stauffer, Deputy Director, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL): +32 473 711092, Email: anne@env-health.org Louise Duprez, Policy Officer, European Environmental Bureau (EEB): + 32 2 289 1307, Email: louise.duprez@eeb.org Notes to editors: 1. World Health Organization press release is available at http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-... and the report at http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-... 2. For further information on the Vehicle Noise Directive see: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sect.... For further For further information on the EU vehicle noise policy see: http://www.transportenvironment.org... 3. http://ec.europa.eu/health-eu/healt... 4. http://www.transportenvironment.org... 5. Parma Declaration, March 2010, http://www.euro.who.int/__data/asse... 6. Environmental Noise Directive, http://ec.europa.eu/environment/noi... 7. Special Eurobarometer on Electromagnetic Fields, http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/... Transport and Environment (T&E) is the principal environmental organisation campaigning on sustainable transport at the EU level in Brussels. Established in 1990, our primary focus is on European transport and environmental policy but our work in Brussels is supported by 50 member organisations working across the EU to promote an environmentally sound approach to transport. Website: www.transportenvironment.org Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection and sustainability improves health and to empower the health community to contribute their expertise to policy making. Since its inception, HEAL’s membership has grown to include a diverse network of more than 67 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organizations across Europe which together have a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. Website: www.env-health.org European Environmental Bureau (EEB) is Europe's largest federation of environmental citizens' organisations. We stand for environmental justice, sustainable development and participatory democracy. Our aim is to ensure the EU secures a healthy environment and rich biodiversity for all. Website: www.eeb.org |
| 21/03/2011 | WHO prioritises environmental and occupational cancer risks ASTURIAS PLEDGE PRESS RELEASE, Brussels, 21 March 2011 - "Decreasing, and eventually eliminating the exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens is the most effective way to prevent a number of cancers," according to the World Health Organization in a press release following a meeting in Asturias, Spain, 17-18 March 2011. (1) WHO has put environmental and occupational factors in first place in the primary prevention of cancer as the outcome of this meeting (2) and the launch of the Asturias Pledge. (3) "Many environmental and occupational factors, including certain chemicals, radiation and airborne particles, can cause cancer," said Dr Maria Neira, Director for Public Health and Environment at WHO. "These cancers could be prevented and reduced by changes in national and international policy to limit people’s involuntary exposure to these substances." Immediately prior to the meeting, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) issued at briefing on the role of environmental pollution in cancer causation. It also highlights the policy opportunities for reducing exposure. (4) Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance, who took part in the meeting, said: "The Pledge represents an important milestone in developing international consensus on the primary prevention of cancer - that is, stopping cancer before it starts by eliminating harmful exposures. This recognition by medical and scientific experts and the WHO makes our call for specific EU and national targets - to reduce people’s exposure to cancer-related chemicals by half by 2020 - even more urgent.“ HEAL is currently running a campaign to raise awareness of the links between cancer and the environment. It also aims to ensure that these links are fully recognised within the European Union’s chemicals laws and policies, such as REACH, pesticide and biocide legislation. (5) One of the campaign activities will be to help ensure that the Pledge receives a high profile at the UN General Assembly meeting on chronic disease planned for September 2011 (6). The Pledge calls on civil society networks to raise awareness about practices and processes that increase the risks of cancer. WHO would like to see groups, such as HEAL and its members, "raise awareness, educate and advocate for funding to implement effective primary prevention of environmental and occupational related cancers". (1) The meeting brought together more than 50 experts and journalists. Representatives from HEAL member and partner organisations included André Cicolella, Réseau Santé Environnement and Advisor to INERIS (French institute of environmental risks); Dominique Belpomme, ARTAC/ISDE France; Clare Dimmer, Breast Cancer UK; Moira Adams, Women's Environmental Network, Scotland; and Helen Lynn, Alliance for Cancer Prevention, UK; and Morag Parnell, Women's Environmental Network, Scotland. Other participants included Annie Sasco, INSERM (French institute of health research) and Phil Landrigan, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, USA. Notes 1. WHO press release, The Asturias Pledge - A new call to action on environmental and occupational cancer prevention, 18 March 2011, http://www.who.int/phe/news/events/... 2. WHO International Conference website http://www.who.int/phe/news/events/... 3. Asturias Pledge is not yet finalised. See also pre-conference Asturias Pledge at http://www.who.int/phe/news/events/... 4. HEAL Briefing, Primary prevention of cancer: Reducing cancer through environmental policy change, March 2011, http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/2... 5. HEAL Cancer and Environment Week, November 2010, see http://www.env-health.org/a/3605 6. UN Summit on non-communicable diseases, September 2011, press conference announcement at http://www.un.org/News/briefings/do... Contact: Dr Lisette Van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel. +32 2 234 3645, Mobile: +32 484 614 528 Email: lisette@env-health.org Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, E-mail: Diana@env-health.org Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84 The Health and Environment Alliance aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It achieves this by creating opportunities for better representation of citizens’ and health experts’ perspectives in the environment and health-related European policy-making. Our membership includes a diverse network of more than 65 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organisations across Europe and has a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. Chemicals Health Monitor (www.chemicalshealthmonitor.org ) is an initiative of the Health and Environment Alliance (www.env-health.org ). |
| 20/03/2011 | Week without pesticides becomes "Pesticides Alternatives Week" INFORMATION RELEASE, Pesticides Alternatives Week, 20-30 March 2011 - More than 600 events are already planned for the 6th week without pesticides, now called "Pesticides Alternatives Week", 20-30 March 2011. They include walk-about events, the launch of a network of pesticide sufferers in France, and an expansion of activities into Africa. Associations, citizens and companies are invited to organise events to help demonstrate that there are alternatives to pesticides. Suggested activities include information workshops, film shows, debates, and site visits aimed at making people aware of the problems associated with pesticides. Walk-about demonstrations to say "Yes to Pesticides Alternatives" are planned all over France and in several other countries on Saturday, 26 March. HEAL is taking part in the launch of the new network called Phyto Victimes, which brings together pesticide sufferers in Ruffec, near Poitiers, France on Saturday 19 March. Project initiator and host, Paul Francois is a conventional farmer who was intoxicated by inhalation of a herbicide. The event includes a screening of “Notre poison quotidien”, which will take place in the presence of the director, Marie-Monique Robin and a press conference about the network launch in which Genon Jensen, Executive Director, HEAL and François Veillerette, spokesperson for Générations Futures will take part. To highlight the public health dimension and to coincide with the launch of the Week, HEAL has developed a new toolkit for pesticide reduction for communities as part of its Sick of Pesticides campaign. The booklet draws on our international campaign experience on pesticides and health to create a six step guide full of examples and campaign material. "EU legislation calls for a reduction in pesticide use but governments are not implementing the policy quickly enough. Local initiatives demonstrate the chemical-free options and show that pesticide-free public spaces are possible and healthier," says Anne Stauffer, HEAL Deputy Director. New partners in this year's Pesticides Alternatives Week include PAN Africa, Nature Parif, le Réseau des Etudiants Français pour le Développement Durable (REFEDD), and la Fondation Nature Vivante. During the Week, a prize will be awarded in the European Parliament for best practice in integrated farming, the competition is organised by PAN Europe and the European Beekeeping Coordination. "We invite all of you who do not accept that intensive pesticide use is an inevitable destiny to join us in organising events during this Week," says François Veillerette, spokesperson for Générations Futures. "The more numerous and united we are, the more we can demonstrate that viable alternatives are both possible and profitable. We must help put an end to the current agricultural model and replace it with "agro-ecology". That way, we won't have to talk anymore about "victimes des pesticides" as we have to today." For more information contact: Anne Stauffer, Policy Director, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), email: anne@env-health.org Tel: +32 2 234 3643, Mobile: +32 473 711092 Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943. E-mail: diana@env-health.org Malissa Phitthayaphone, Generations Futures, +33 1 45 79 07 59, Email: semainesanspesticide@free.fr |
| 14/03/2011 | Our daily poison: Film investigates the causes of our cancer epidemic INFORMATION RELEASE, 14th March 2011 - A new film by Marie-Monique Robin, French journalist and film maker will be shown on Arte TV (French and German language television) on Tuesday 15 March 2011 at 20.45. It follows her investigation into the health effects of chemicals used in conventional, intensive farming. Following the success of her previous film, "The world according to Monsanto" about GMOs, this new enquiry looks at how modes of food production, packaging and consumption are resulting in cancer and other diseases. She gives special attention to pesticides, aspartame and bisphenol A (BPA). The report takes her to Ruffec, near Poitiers, France where the first meeting of farmers and bystanders affected by pesticide exposure, "victimes des pesticides", took place - an initiative that is supported by Generations Future (formerly MDRGF) and HEAL. She also visited the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority to demonstrate the inadequate process in which chemicals that contaminate our food chain are tested, evaluated and regulated. Finally, she explores how certain foods may useful be used to support human immune mechanisms. Watch the trailer and read more about the film at http://www.arte.tv/fr/Comprendre-le... The film is also available as a DVD. For German speakers, see the video interview with Marie-Monique Robin at http://www.arte.tv/de/Die-Welt-vers... For English speakers, the trailer of World according to Monsanto is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8hF... or an interview with Marie-Monique Robin on the Slow Food International website (2009) at http://sloweb.slowfood.com/sloweb/e... |
| 04/03/2011 | Research quantifies increased life and wealth from cleaner air INFORMATION RELEASE, Brussels, 4 March 2011 - EU-supported research findings by the Aphekom project (1) show that significant health and monetary benefits could result from further reducing current levels of air pollution in European cities. Project coordinator, Dr. Sylvia Medina of the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS), said: “Our project shows that compliance with WHO’s annual air-quality guideline on PM2.5 fine particles (10 micrograms/cubic metre) in 25 large European cities (2) could both add up to 22 months of life expectancy for persons 30 years of age and older, and produce 31.5 billion euros in monetary health benefits every year." The findings were released at a stakeholders meeting in Saint-Maurice just outside Paris on Wednesday, 2 March 2011. (3) HEAL hopes full use will be made of these and other EU funded studies to launch ambitious legislative proposals. "The results of the Aphekom project show that action for cleaner air pays off in health benefits," says Anne Stauffer, Deputy Director, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), who took part in the stakeholders meeting. The findings come at an important time. The European Commission is currently preparing for a review of EU air quality policy. Air pollution of fine particles is associated with more than 455,000 premature deaths every year in the EU’s 27 member states, according to a recent study by the European Topic Centre on Air and Climate Change (ETC/ACC) on behalf of the European Environment Agency (EEA). Early evidence of what improving air pollution can do for health came from Dublin, Ireland, where respiratory health improved substantially following the ban on coal burning in 1990. Examples of what the recent introduction of congestion charges in London and Stockholm have done for health were discussed at the meeting. Living near busy roads The new research which looks at 25 cities in 12 European countries also shows that living near busy roads substantially increases the total burden of disease attributable to air pollution. “We also determined that living near busy roads could be responsible for 15 percent of asthma in children and possibly for similar or higher percentages of other common chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in adults 65 and over,” Sylvia Medina said. Anne Stauffer hopes the Aphekom findings will also be taken into account in other EU public health policy areas, such as healthy ageing and reducing inequalities. "Environmental determinants of health such as air pollution should be a concern for the EU's healthy ageing initiative, which aims to increase healthy lifespan by two years by 2020. Cleaner air can also help to reduce health inequalities as poorer families are more likely to live in polluted areas." Cost-benefit analysis A recent report by the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) demonstrates that policies aimed at cleaner air more than pay for themselves. "The Benefits and Costs of the Clean Air Act from 1990 to 2020" shows that the benefits of avoiding early death, preventing heart attacks and asthma attacks, and reducing the number of sick days for employees far exceed costs of implementing clean air protections. (4) For more information, contact: Ms Anne Stauffer, Policy Manager, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), email: anne@env-health.org , tel: +32 2 234 3643, mobile: +32 473 711092. Notes 1. Aphekom (Improving Knowledge and Communication for Decision Making on Air Pollution and Health in Europe) aims to help decision makers set more effective European, national and local policies; health professionals to better advise vulnerable individuals; and all Europeans to better protect their health. 2. The 25 cities in descending order of predicted average gain in life expectancy for persons of 30 years of age and over for a decrease in average annual level of PM2.5 to 10ug/m3 (WHO's Air Quality Guideline) are Bucharest, Budapest, Barcelona, Athens, Rome, Sevilla, Ljubljana, Valencia, Granada, Vienna, Lille, Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Bilbao, Rouen, Le Havre, Toulouse, London, Malaga, Dublin and Stockolm. 3. Aphekom press release and other information about the findings and meeting at http://www.aphekom.org 4. US EPA press release, 1 March 2011, EPA report underscores Clean Air Act's successful public health protections: http://www.epa.gov/ The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection and sustainability improves health and to empower the health community to contribute their expertise to policy making. Since its inception, HEAL’s membership has grown to include a diverse network of more than 65 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organizations across Europe which together have a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. Website: www.env-health.org |
| 25/01/2011 | Hundreds of companies and local businesses back a green energy future for Europe 200 stakeholders have already signed a declaration calling for 100% renewable energy by 2050 Press release, Brussels, 25 January 2011 – Two hundred local businesses and organisations, national and European politicians, and companies from a variety of sectors, including engineering, energy supplies and healthcare, have lent their support to a 100% renewable energy vision for Europe in 2050. As the EU sets out its own vision for the future of energy in Europe (2050 vision) and as EU leaders prepare to meet in Brussels on 4 February for the first-ever high-level summit on energy, the signatories of the 100% renewables declaration are calling on Europe to “lead by example”. The signatories have committed to promote and economy based on energy efficiency and renewable energy to boost green jobs and economic development, energy independence and to tackle climate change. The first 200 signatories include technology-developers Danfoss, electronics company Sanyo, engineering group SKF, energy companies Mainstream Renewable Power and La Compagnie du Vent (a subsidiary of GDF Suez), the energy efficiency council ECEE, The German Aerospace Center (DLR) and private equity management company Taiga Mistral. Other signatories include local power utilities, national politicians and civil society organisations from across Europe Christian Comes, Business Development Manager, Sanyo Component Europe GmbH (Solar Division), said: “Clean technology is at the centre of our company. Through our more than 35 year history in developing solar technology, we’ve always believed in this for the bettering of the world. We are at a critical point now in countering the effects of global warming, so we must all act together and embrace this new wave of technology for the future of our world and our children.” Dr Pendo Maro, senior climate and energy adviser at the Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care Without Harm Europe, said: “Cleaner sources of energy mean cleaner air with special benefits for those with asthma or other respiratory or cardiac conditions. Each year, 230,000 people in the European Union die prematurely as a result of exposure to air pollution. A move towards renewable sources of energy could help to bring those numbers down.” Sirpa Pietikäinen, Finnish Member of the European Parliament (EPP), said: “Green energy is now a movement and it’s growing. Businesses, organisations and people across Europe already feel the benefits of green energy and more want to join in.” Other stakeholders are expected to sign the declaration in the coming weeks and months. Ends The 100% renewable energy declaration is available on www.100percentrenewables.eu Contacts: Josche Muth – deputy secretary-general, EREC , the European Renewable Energy Council: +32 (0)487 393852, muth@erec.org Jan Geiss – secretary-general, Eufores , the European Forum for Renewable Energy Sources: +32 (0)2 5461948, Jan.Geiss@eufores.org Frauke Thies – EU energy policy adviser, Greenpeace: +32 (0)477 790415, frauke.thies@greenpeace.org PRESS: Mark Breddy: +32 (0)496 156229, mark.breddy@greenpeace.org |
| 20/12/2010 | Toxic Christmas gift: Council decides to keep hazardous biocides on market Press release, Brussels, 20 December 2010 - Today, the Environment Council of the European Union adopted its political agreement on a new authorisation system for household pesticides and other biocides. Environment and health NGOs, PAN Europe, PAN Germany, HEAL, WECF, HCWH Europe, IEW and PAN UK, sharply criticize the EU environment ministers’ approach because their decision will allow continued wide circulation of highly toxic consumer products on the market. This approach is a step backwards from the European Parliament’ call for the promotion of alternatives and from EU chemical laws like REACH and the pesticide legislation. The environment ministers adopted their position on the EU biocides regulation which regulates more than 50.000 biocidal products on the EU market such as household rodent poison, smell-free socks or antibacterial cleaners.i Many of these products contain substances which are cancer-causing, toxic to the immune system, hormone disruptors or cause other serious impacts for human health and the environment. “The Council does not ensure an effective ban on highly hazardous biocides like Carbendazimii or Triclosan.iii. It does not prioritize available sound alternatives instead,” says Carina Weber, executive director of Pesticides Action Network Germany. The Council even eludes the call of the European Parliament for strategies that help to efficiently replace and swiftly phase out such products, by banning their EU-wide authorisation for the protection of human health and the non-targeted wildlife. The new European Union authorisation could cancel stricter national protection standards in 75% of all biocides application areas.iv Although the Council suggests some promising provisions like addressing biocides mixture effects, nano-biocides and the protection of children or pregnant women, such measures are jeopardised by contradictory requirements in the new draft law. “We are disappointed that EU Environment Ministers fall short of ensuring the highest level of protection for those that are most vulnerable, such as children or pregnant women. It is regrettable that Ministers decided to excuse biocides with developmental neurotoxic and immunotoxic effects from substitution. Their inclusion would have helped facilitate the development of safer products,” says Anne Stauffer, Policy Manager from Health and Environment Alliance. It is not even ensured that relevant products are only used by professional users. “More than 15.000 poisonings have been already recorded in Europe, a majority of which is related to professional or household use of insecticides, rodenticides, disinfectants, repellents and wood preservatives.v And this figure seems to be the tip of an iceberg as there is no tracking or no efficient recording in many EU Member States, let alone no existing ways, like an adequate labelling of all articles containing biocides, to minimize the risks for children or pregnant women”, states Elisabeth Ruffinengo, Advocacy Officer of Women in Europe for a Common Future. "The use of biocides is an increasing global problem that might enhance the dissemination and development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. This problem must to be taken seriously." reports Dr Åsa Melhus, Departrment of Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University Hospital Uppsala, Sweden and member of Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) and HEAL. The wide and unnecessary use of antibacterial cleaners results in emerging health and environmental risks, such as the antimicrobial resistance to effects of biocides. Bacterial resistances to biocides due to improper use have been already reported.vivii The Environment Council opposes EU-wide measures for ensuring the proper use of these and other problematic products, such as a sufficient qualification of salesmen. Environmental and health NGOs are also concerned that today's decisions will not help to reduce the dependency on biocidal products. In contrast, this will be a step back from current chemical laws like REACH and the Pesticide Regulation, which encourage the substitution of chemicals of very high concern.viii There is no consistent effort of promoting preventive measures that can help to minimize the dependency on biocidal products, and their related impact on health and the environment. “This is disappointing but perhaps not surprising given the power that the chemical industry has over government decision making. Rather than listen to the voice of the people industry wins once again,” states Nick Mole, Policy Officer of Pesticide Action Network UK. NGOs therefore renew their call for a Community Framework Directive that ensures Action Plans for the sustainable and proper use of biocidal products and for the promotion of safer alternatives. “Such measures need to be adopted for the coming second reading negotiations on the biocide regulation in 2011”, says Gergely Simon, board member of Pesticides Action Network Europe. For further information please contact: Christian Schweer (Pesticide Action Network Germany/ Europe) Tel. + 49 40-399 19 10-0 Email: christian.schweer@pan-germany.org Anne Stauffer (Health and Environment Alliance) Tel +32 2 234 3643 Email: anne@env-health.org Eva Haxton (Health Care Without Harm Europe) Tel.: + 46 18 611 90 97 E-mail: Eva.Haxton@medsci.uu.se Valérie Xhonneux (Fédération Inter-Environnement Wallonie) Tel.: + 32 81/390 763 E-mail: v.xhonneux@iewonline.be Nick Mole (Pesticide Action Network UK) Tel. + 44 20 7065 0905 Email: nickmole@pan-uk.org Gergely Simon (Pesticide Action Network Europe) Tel. +36 14110509 Email: gergely@pan-europe.info Elisabeth Ruffinengo (Women in Europe for a Common Future) Tel/fax: + 33 (0)4 50 49 97 38 Email: elisabeth.ruffinengo@wecf.eu Background information: Council of the European Union (2010): Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing on the market and use of biocidal products- Political agreement. Doc. No. 17474/10. Hyperlink: http://register.consilium.europa.eu... Environment Council (2010): Background. Environment Council. Brussels 20 December 2010. Hyperlink: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedo... PAN information on biocide policy and biocides: http://www.pan-germany.org/gbr/proj... i PAN Germany (2010): Biocides – risks and alternatives. Hamburg. Hyperlink: http://www.pan-germany.org/download... ii Carbendacim is applied as film, textile and masonry preservative. It is mutagnic and reproductive toxic of EU category IB and endocrine disruptive of EU category EDC 2. iii Triclosan is used for tooth paste, antibacterial cleaners, textiles and other everyday life products. The „common biocide“ can cause mutagenic alterations, allergies or antimicrobial resistancies and is possibly carcinogenic according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as it is a source of dioxines. Triclosan and Carbendacim is included in the PAN International List of Highly Hazardous Pesticides. PAN Germany (2010): PAN International List of Highly Hazardous Pesticides. Hamburg. Hyperlink: http://www.pan-germany.org/download... iv According to Article 35 (4) of the EU Council draft (14.12.2010) the EU-Commission decides whether the market placement of an Union authorized biocidal product can be adjusted or refused on a territory of an EU member state on the grounds of protecting human health and the environment. This clause is applied for 17 of 22 product types such as for insecticides, disinfectants or textile preservatives. v European Commission, Directorate General Environment (no year): Composite report in accordance with Article 24 of Directive 98/8/EC concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market. Covering the period from December 2003 to November 2006. Brussels. Page 64. vi European Commission, Directorate General for Health & Consumer (2009): SCENIHR: Assessment of the Antibiotic Resistance Effects of Biocides. Page 29. Hyperlink: http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientif... vii European Commission, Directorate General for Health & Consumer (2010): SCENIHR: Research strategy to address the knowledge gaps on the antimicrobial resistance effects of biocides, opinion March 2010. Hyperlink: http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientif... viii Article 4. 7 of the REGULATION (EC) No 1107/2009 requires to draw up a phasing out plans concerning the control of the serious danger by other means, including non-chemical methods (Regulation OFTHE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC). According to Article 62 (4) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) the applicant shall provide a substitution plan for carcinogenic substances of EU category 1 and 2 and other highly hazardous substances including a timetable for proposed actions. |
| 15/12/2010 | More guidance for countries on EU pesticide legislation needed Press release, 15 December 2010, Brussels - EU Health and Consumer Affair’s Commissioner John Dalli has been asked to encourage faster, stronger implementation of pesticides policy in an open letter from the Health and Environment Alliance and Pesticides Action Network Europe (1). As a result of recent EU legislation, Member States are asked to reduce pesticide use to protect health and the environment. But groups are concerned that deadlines related to National Action Plans on the sustainable use of pesticides scheduled for 14 December 2011 and 2012 will not be met. (2) HEAL and PAN Europe are calling on EU Health Commissioner John Dalli to take a more pro-active role in protecting citizens from pesticide exposure. ”Health impacts from pesticides are a major public health issue: both the cocktail effect of pesticides to which we are exposed and possible long-term effects. But we can reduce exposure now," says Anne Stauffer, Policy Manager, Health and Environment Alliance. Recent EU law requires countries to set up action plans and to establish pesticide-free areas. "By making pesticide reduction a priority in 2011, EU Commissioner Dalli can put prevention first. Reduced use of pesticides will reduce exposure and in turn contribute to tackling some of Europe’s major public health challenges such as increasing cancer rates,” she says. (3) During the past few months, PAN Europe and HEAL have monitored EU Member States activities on National Action Plans. They are increasingly concerned with the slow and uneven implementation of the EU Directive on Sustainable use. (4) "We need the European Commission to provide stronger guidance and inspiration for EU Member states and to collect and disseminate information on best practice and alternatives to pesticide dependency to ensure real progress is made in the implementation of the National Action Plans in countries," says Henriette Christensen, PAN Europe. (5) Ill-health and health care costs in developed countries continues to be dominated by chronic disease. Cancer incidence is expected to rise by 14% in the European Union between 2009 and 2020. There is a growing body of science that shows the link between cancer and chemical and pesticides pollution, particularly for pregnant women and farmers. (6) Public opinion surveys reveal a continued high concern of European citizens about health impacts from pesticides in all aspects of their lives. A recent Eurobarometer shows that pesticide residues in food are a number one worry for 72% of EU consumers, a higher percentage than in 2005.(7) Europeans are also concerned about hazards from pesticide use in their homes. As a Eurobarometer from 2009 on chemicals in consumer products highlights, the top worry for Europeans is the potential health impact from pesticides and herbicides for home use (in gardens and greenhouses). 14 December each year over coming years is the deadline for compliance on different aspects of the new EU Directive on the Sustainable use of pesticides. HEAL and PAN Europe sent the letter yesterday to remind Commissioner Dalli that European citizens are counting on his leadership for better health protection through ambitious national implementation. ends For more information, please contact: Anne Stauffer, Policy Manager, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +32 2 234 3643, Mobile: +32 473 711092 Henriette Christensen, Policy Adviser, Pesticide Action Network Europe, Tel+ 32 2 503 08 372 Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943. E-mail: diana@gsmith.com.fr Notes for journalists Websites: www.pesticidescancer.eu, www.pan-europe.info (1) See: www.env-health.org (2) For the legal text with the deadlines see: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ... (3) For further information, see our Sick of pesticides campaign at www.pesticidescancer.eu or http://www.env-health.org/r/68 (4) PAN Europe has recently published a guide on best practice NAP (http://www.pan-europe.info/Resource...); the Health and Environment Alliance HEAL is currently collecting information on which cities in Europe have already gone pesticide-free (see: www.pesticidescancer.eu). (5) See for example the report, “A review of the role pesticides play in some cancers: children, farmers and pesticide users at risk?” published by CHEMTrust. http://www.chemtrust.org.uk/documen... (6) See Special Eurobarometer 354: Food-related risks, November 2010: http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/... (7) See Eurobarometer 314: Europeans’ attitudes toward chemicals in consumer products: risk perception of potential health hazards http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/... Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection and sustainability improves health and to empower the health community to contribute their expertise to policy making. Since its inception, HEAL’s membership has grown to include a diverse network of more than 60 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organizations across Europe which together have a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. Website: www.env-health.org Pesticide Action Network PAN Europe is a network of NGO campaign organisations working to minimise negative effects and replace the use of hazardous chemicals with ecologically sound alternatives. Our network brings together consumer, public health, and environmental organisations, trades unions, women's groups and farmer associations from across 19 European countries. We work to eliminate dependency on chemical pesticides and to support safe sustainable pest control methods. www.pan-europe.info |
| 10/12/2010 | European Commission falls behind on EU Mercury Strategy PRESS RELEASE, Brussels, 10th December 2010 - Environmental and Health NGOs [1] are deeply disappointed by the European Commission’s decision not to propose new restrictions on mercury until a global treaty is signed, in the recently adopted revised EU Mercury Strategy(i). “The revised EU Mercury strategy is practically an empty shell,” said Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, EEB Zero Mercury Project Coordinator. ”Instead of showing global leadership with European examples and setting the pace, the Commission has decided to take the back seat. Mercury pollution will just continue to create a risk to human health, ecosystems and wildlife.” Until now the EU has been playing a leading global role on eradicating mercury, with the 2005 EU Mercury Strategy as its flagship policy. This Strategy had been instrumental in building international support through the United Nations where world governments agreed to develop a legally binding treaty on mercury by 2013. “European ‘wait and see’ approach may slow down developments towards a strong mercury treaty because many countries look to the EU for guidance on reducing mercury pollution” commented Anja Leetz, HCWH Europe Executive Director. Instead of showing the way forward, the revised strategy leaves all mercury control to existing EU laws which have been shown to be insufficient, particularly with mercury emissions to air. The EU has lagged in the phase out of mercury use in the chlorine production sector, with 30 such plants still operating despite alternatives existing since the 1980s. [2] The groups also highlight the fact that, considering the Strategy’s aim is to 'reduce mercury levels in the environment and human exposure’, there should have at least been action on reducing emissions from coal combustion plants – the biggest sources of mercury emissions to air in Europe and globally. “Installations continue emitting more than 20 tonnesii of mercury every year, therefore binding emission limits should be included in the new Industrial Emissions Directive (IED)”, said Christian Schaible, EEB Senior Policy officer for Industrial Policy. The groups strongly doubt that the IED will crack down on these dangerous emissions since concrete pollution prevention measures depend on many different factors, particularly a strong Commission initiative, and will take at least seven years to deliver. Member states and NGOs have called for immediate action on establishing a phase-out date for the use of mercury in the chlor-alkali industry, in dental amalgam, and in button cell batteries, and expanding the export ban to mercury-containing products which are prohibited on the EU market. The health and environment groups were relatively pleased to see that the Commission will undertake some action on dental amalgams – namely a full lifecycle assessment. However, they feel direct phase-out actions could have been introduced, since safer alternatives are already available. The World Health Organisation has already supported a global phase downiii of mercury use in dental amalgams, and Sweden and Norway already have bans for this use. ”We urge the Council and European Parliament to send a strong message to the Commission and are calling for continued implementation of pending actions from the 2005 Strategy and to follow up actions identified in a recent Commission studyiv” said Lisette van Vliet, HEAL, Toxic Policy Advisor. For further information please contact: Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, EEB, Project Coordinator ‘Zero Mercury Campaign’ EEB, T: +32 2 2891301, Elena.lymberidi@eeb.org Anja Leetz, HCWH Europe Executive Director, anja.leetz@hcwh.org; Tel: +49 175 732 0657 Lisette van Vliet, HEAL Toxic Policy Adviser, lisette@env-health.org, T: +32 2 234 3645 Simon Nazer, EEB press officer, T: +32 2 2891309, simon.nazer@eeb.org Notes to the editor Mercury is a global pollutant that travels long distances. Its most toxic form – methylmercury - accumulates in large predatory fish and is taken up in our bodies through eating fish, with the worst impacts on babies in utero and small children. For more information, see Zero Mercury Campaign, www.zeromercury.org and “Stay Healthy, Stop Mercury” http://www.env-health.org/r/145 [1] The European Environmental Bureau (EEB), www.eeb.org, is a federation of over 150 environmental citizens’ organisations based in most EU Member States, most candidate and potential candidate countries as well as in a few neighbouring countries. EEB is the environmental voice of European citizens, standing for environmental justice, sustainable development and participatory democracy. We want the EU to ensure all people a healthy environment and rich biodiversity. Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH-Europe), www.noharm.org, is the European branch of an international coalition of hospitals, medical professionals and environmental organisations working to transform the health care sector, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment. The coalition has offices in Arlington, Brussels, Buenos Aires and Manila with over 484 members in 53 countries. Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), www.env-healt.org, is an international non-governmental organisation advocating environmental protection as a means to improving health and well-being. Member groups and organisations represent health, environment, women, health professionals and others. The group has a diverse membership of 41 member groups (6 international organisations, 11 European networks and 24 national/local organizations) including non-governmental organisations, professional bodies representative of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers, academic institutions and other not-for-profit organisations. 1 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/che... 1 EEB snapshot report: The European Chlor-alkali industry: Is national implementation of the IPPC Directive contributing to mercury-free industry?, December 2008] 1 Best Available Techniques 1 See editors notes 1From 2007 E-PRTR – European – Pollutant Release and Transfer Register, http://prtr.ec.europa.eu/ 1 During the first Intergovernmental Negotiating committee, Stockholm, June 2010. [2] The EU has lagged in the phase out of mercury-cell technology in the chlorine production sector, something on which the revised mercury strategy should have shown the way forward. There are still over 30 such plants operating in the EU, even though the industry voluntary agreement claims that the technology will be ‘mercury-free’ by 2020, and mercury free technology is widely available since the 80s. By contrast, there are only 4 are left in the US and India is phasing them out by 2012. A 2008 EEB reportv showed that the relevant EU law, the Industrial Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive is not helping to phase out mercury from mercury-cell chlor-alkali plants (MCCAP) since the BATvi reference document (BREF) is not straightforwardly implemented. The new Industrial Emissions Directive (IED, http://register.consilium.europa.eu...) is not expected to bring anything new towards further regulating the sector- if there is not clear phase-out obligation, and it is uncertain whether this will be included in the revised BREF. The Large Combustion Plant BREF review has not even started yet, and there is not even a clear mandate to include mercury related measures. Even if potential BAT-AELs are adopted, these would only apply in the operating permits after 7 years at the earliest. BAT: Best Available Techniques means the most effective and advanced stage in development of activities in order to prevent /reduce emission and the impact on the environment as a whole. It does not only include technology but also design maintenance and decommissioning. ‘Available’ means that techniques need to be developed on a scale which allows implementation in the industry sector under economically and technically viable conditions (considering costs and advantages) “Best” means most effective in achieving a high general level of protection of the environment as a whole. For full definition see Article 3.9 (IED directive). BREFS: are reference documents which set out BAT agreed upon an information exchange between industry, Member States and the EEB. Currently there are 33 BREF and these are in average revised every 8 years. So far only one BREF has been revised, i.e. the Cement and Lime BREF. For more information please consult http://eippcb.jrc.ec.europa.eu/refe... BAT implementation - comitology: An evaluation on implementation of the IPPC Directive found that half of the permits assessed were not demonstrably based on BAT set out in the BREF. In some cases significant differences between the permit conditions and the performance corresponding to BAT with a factor 2 up to 500 for certain pollutants were applied[1]. This was because the status of the BREF where reference documents only, without legally binding value to the competent authorities. According to the IED (Article 13.7) the role of BAT and Bat associated emission levels (BATAEL) set out in a BREF would indeed be reinforced, but ONLY if these BAT conclusions would be formally adopted through a Comitology Decision. Only if this decision is taken on the BREF concerned, the permitting authority would need to set requirements in line with the BATAEL, and possible deviation would need to be justified. Once a comitology decision is taken, this would trigger a permit re-evaluation and the operator would need to comply with (eventually) updated requirements within 4 years. Pending any comitology decision, the “business as usual” situation remains. Relevant documents EEB-HEAL letter to EU Env. Ministers for a robust revised EU mercury strategy, 11 October 2010 EEB comments on the BIO draft final report on the Review of the EU Mercury Strategy 16 July i http://ec.europa.eu/environment/che... ii From 2007 E-PRTR – European – Pollutant Release and Transfer Register, http://prtr.ec.europa.eu/ iii During the first Intergovernmental Negotiating committee, Stockholm, June 2010. iv A study on the "Review of the Community Strategy Concerning Mercury" prepared for DG ENV by Bio Intelligence Service S.A.S (October 2010) v EEB snapshot report: The European Chlor-alkali industry: Is national implementation of the IPPC Directive contributing to mercury-free industry?, December 2008] vi Best Available Techniques |
| 06/12/2010 | Doctors say: Don’t forget the health dividend HEALTH DAY AT COP 16 Press release, Cancun, Mexico, 6 December 2010 - The "Cancun Climate and Health Statement" launched today, Health Day at COP 16 (1), calls on negotiators to consider the "real costs" of climate change and the benefits of strong action by taking the human health dimension into account. Endorsed by the World Medical Association (2), the International Council of Nurses and other global health organisations representing millions of health professionals worldwide (3), the Cancun Climate and Health Statement calls on the negotiators to "take into account the significant human health dimensions of the climate crisis along with the health benefits of climate change mitigation and adaptation policies." Dr Michael Wilks from the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME) (4) in announcing the Statement during a meeting of the World Health Organization (5) says: “Overwhelming evidence exists that reducing greenhouse gases benefits not just health but countries’ economies. These “co-benefits” provide all those attending Cancun with a powerful and unifying new narrative - reducing greenhouse gases is good for your health, and for your budget.” One regional example of these co-benefits is recent research published by the Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care Without Harm Europe. It shows that up to an additional 30.5 billion Euros of public health benefits could be achieved each year by 2020 if the European Union adopted a policy of 30% domestic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions (instead of the current 20% target). (6) But negotiators in Cancun are barely mentioning this health dividend to the climate talks. "Negotiations seem focussed on financial rather than human costs of climate change," says Professor Hugh Montgomery, University College London. "We want them to take into account the fact that, quite aside from any benefits from averting climate change, strong data show that low-carbon living brings with it enormous benefits to health (less cancer, heart and respiratory disease, dementia, diabetes, depressive illness) and with that comes huge savings in healthcare costs. These health gains could substantially offset the costs of mitigation and urgently need to be factored in." (7) "Monetary estimates of public health savings do not just apply to Europe: a recent independent scientific report shows that such health and financial gains apply worldwide, and especially to countries such as India and China."(8) "We want the even greater benefits for health in countries and regions other than Europe to be taken into account by governments and acted upon. It is high time for governments to realise that reducing greenhouse gas emissions will improve human health and save them money. Today - Health Day at COP 16 - we plan to take this message to delegates," says Pendo Maro, Senior Climate Change and Energy Policy Advisor, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). Contacts Dr Pendo Maro, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), pendo@env-health.org or pendo.maro@hcwh.org Mobile phone: + 32 495 281 494 (in Cancun) Dr Michael Wilks, Standing Committee of European Doctors, MWilks@bma.org.uk Mobile phone: + 44 7870 674490 (in Cancun) Prof Hugh Montgomery, University College London, h.montgomery@ucl.ac.uk Mobile phone: +44 7981 654 009 Notes 1. Health Day at COP 16 has been organised to bring the health community together to highlight the benefits for public health of strong climate change to delegates. Doctors and health experts believe that this is a crucial argument for why we need to work towards a global agreement. 2. The World Medical Association is a credited observer at the UNFCCC talks. The December issue of its Journal will feature climate change. See www.wma.net 3. The Cancun Climate and Health Statement is signed by ten organisations: Climate and Health Council, International Federation of Medical Students' Associations, Health and Environment Alliance, Health Care Without Harm, International Council of Nurses, International Society of Doctors for the Environment, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Standing Committee of European Doctors, World Federation of Public Health Associations, and World Medical Association. It has also been endorsed by Richard Horton, Editor, The Lancet, and Fiona Godlee, Editor, British Medical Journal. It is available at www.env-health.org and http://www.noharm.org/europe/pressroom/ in English, French and Spanish. 4. Dr Michael Wilks, Climate Advisor and Immediate Past President of the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME) is part of the Health and Environment Alliance/Health Care Without Harm Europe delegation in Cancun. CPME represents 27 medical associations with approximately 1.5 million members in Europe. Other members are Pendo Maro (see above), Prof Hugh Montgomery, University College London, UK and Walter Vernon (HCWH US Board), San Francisco, USA. More about them at www.env-health.org/healthclimate and at http://www.noharm.org/europe/issues.... The delegation is working closely with other groups in Cancun including International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) and Nurses Across the Borders (Nigeria). 5. The Cancun Climate and Health Statement will be announced by Dr Wilks at a World Health Organization and World Food Programme "side event" called "Improving resilience to protect human health and welfare from the adverse affects of climate change" to be held on Monday, 6 December from 13.20 to 14.40 (Mexico time, minus 6 GMT ). 6. "Acting Now for better health, A 30% reduction target for EU climate policy", HEAL and HCWH Europe, Brussels, September 2010 7. Prof Montgomery was one of the lead authors involved in The Lancet Series, Health and Climate Change, November 2009. One study showed that lower carbon policies in London and New Delhi associated more "active transport" (walking and cycling), more public transport and reduced use of private cars could produce measurable benefits for heart disease, cerebro-vascular disease, dementia, breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, diabetes, and depression. It was called "Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: urban land transport." 8. Inter Academy Medical Panel, 2010, Statement on the health co-benefits of policies to tackle Climate Change (from Haines A, et al. (2009). Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions: overview and implications for policy makers. The Lancet. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61759-1.) Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection and sustainability improves health and to empower the health community to contribute their expertise to policy making. Since its inception, HEAL’s membership has grown to include a diverse network of more than 60 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organizations across Europe which together have a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. Website: www.env-health.org Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global network of more than 484 organisations in 53 countries working to transform the health care sector so it is no longer a source of harm to people and the environment. www.noharm.org |
| 06/12/2010 | Message to EU delegation: Don’t forget the health dividend HEALTH DAY, Cancun, Mexico, Monday 6 September 2010 Press release, Brussels, 6 December 2010 - A "Cancun Climate and Health Statement" to be announced today, during Health Day in Cancun, highlights the benefits to health of strong climate change policy. (1) It has been sent to European Union delegates and members of the European Parliament delegation taking part in the climate change talks in Mexico. Developed and signed by ten leading global medical and health groups, it calls on negotiators to consider the real costs of strong action on climate change by taking into account the benefits for health. (2) "We urge the EU delegates to use the recent findings on the huge public health benefits of strong action on climate change to convince others that at least a 30% target is needed, " says Pendo Maro, Senior Climate Change and Energy Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe). "It is high time for governments to realise that reducing greenhouse gas emissions will improve human health and save them money." Dr Maro is part of a delegation organised by the Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care Without Harm Europe. It is working with other European and international groups, such as the World Medical Association, the Standing Committee for European Doctors and the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) to bring the health benefits message to the delegations and negotiators. (3) MEP Jo Leinen, a German socialist is leading the EU parliamentary delegation to Mexico. He is pressing European negotiators to sign up to a firm target of a 30% reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 2020, instead of the 20% that has so far been agreed. He told the British Medical Journal this week: “A 20% reduction will not be enough. Unless we have more ambition, we will miss the two degree target.” (4) The EU’s core objective is to keep global temperature rises below 2°C above pre-industrial levels to avoid the anticipated impacts of climate change. Mr Leinen says health should be on the agenda in Cancun. "As part of the industrialised world, the EU has a historic responsibility for climate change and its effects, including the severe threats to human health, which must be considered in climate mitigation and adaptation strategies," he says. (5) Strong policy to mitigate climate change can in itself benefit public health because as greenhouse gas emissions fall so do harmful air pollutants. Recent research published by the Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care Without Harm Europe shows that up to 30.5 billion Euros of public health benefits could be achieved each year by 2020 if the European Union moved from the current 20% target on greenhouse gas emissions to adopting a policy of 30% domestic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. (6) Such savings would go a considerable way to covering the estimated costs of implementing a 30% target in Europe. The European Commission says moving from a 20% to a 30% domestic target would cost 46 billion Euros per year in 2020. (7) More importantly, the health benefits associated with cleaner air are only part of the potential gains. Last year, the Lancet medical journal published a series of articles showing huge health benefits from other aspects of climate change policy. For example, a study in London and New Delhi showed that lower carbon policies associated more "active transport" (walking and cycling), more public transport and reduced use of private cars would produce measurable benefits for heart disease, cerebro-vascular disease, dementia, breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, diabetes, and depression. (8) The impact of climate change on public health and health services has been witnessed at first hand by many doctors in Europe. The heat wave during the summer of 2003 resulted in high rates of hospital admissions and tens of thousands of additional deaths. The European Respiratory Society has shown that a one degree Celsius increase in temperature above specific city levels produces a 1-3% increase in deaths in the general population and a 6% increase in deaths among people with existing respiratory conditions. (9) Dr Pendo Maro, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) at pendo@env-health.org or pendo.maro@hcwh.org + 32 495 281 494 (in Cancun) Diana Smith, Health and Environment Alliance, Diana@env-health.org Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943 (in Paris) Notes for journalists 1. Cancun Climate and Health Statement available at www.env-health.org and www.hcwh.org It calls on the negotiators to "take into account the significant human health dimensions of the climate crisis along with the health benefits of climate change mitigation and adaptation policies." 2. The Cancun Climate and Health Statement is signed by ten organisations: Climate and Health Council, International Federation of Medical Students' Associations, Health and Environment Alliance, Health Care Without Harm, International Council of Nurses, International Society of Doctors for the Environment, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Standing Committee of European Doctors, World Federation of Public Health Associations, and World Medical Association (WMA) It has also been endorsed by Richard Horton, Editor, The Lancet, and Fiona Godlee, Editor, British Medical Journal. 3. The delegation comprises Pendo Maro (see above), Dr Michael Wilks, Climate Advisor and Immediate Past President of the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME), Professor Hugh Montgomery, University College London, UK, and Walter Vernon (HCWH US Board), San Francisco, USA, more about them at www.env-health.org and http://www.noharm.org/europe/issues... Other groups with whom we are working in Cancun include: International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) and Nurses Across the Borders (Nigeria). 4. European parliament sets sights high for Cancún climate change talks, Rory Watson, BMJ 341:doi:10.1136/bmj.c6732 (Published 24 November 2010) 5. Personal communication to HEAL. 6. "Acting Now for better health, A 30% reduction target for EU climate policy", HEAL and HCWHE, Brussels, September 2010 7. European Commission Communication, May 2010, COM (2010) 265 final. Analysis of options to move beyond 20% greenhouse gas emission reductions and assessing the risk of carbon leakage. 8. The Lancet Series, Health and Climate Change, November 2009, "Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: urban land transport. 9. ERS Position Statement, Climate change and respiratory disease: European Respiratory Society position statement, J G Ayres et al, European Respiratory Journal 2009; 34: 295-302 http://erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/repr... Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection and sustainability improves health and to empower the health community to contribute their expertise to policy making. Since its inception, HEAL’s membership has grown to include a diverse network of more than 60 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organizations across Europe which together have a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. Website: www.env-health.org Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global network of more than 484 organisations in 53 countries working to transform the health care sector so it is no longer a source of harm to people and the environment. http://www.noharm.org/ |
| 06/12/2010 | Climate report: How Austria could improve health and save money Ground-breaking report reveals massive health benefits from higher climate change targets Press release, Cancun, Mexico, 6 December 2010 - Public health in Austria would benefit up to 606 million Euros per year by 2020 if the European Union decides to strengthen their climate change targets, according to figures released today by Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care Without Harm Europe.(1) Figures for Austria are released today to coincide with "Health Day" in Cancun and as a stimulus to Austrian negotiators at the climate change talks. (2) They are provided as an extension to a ground-breaking report published in Brussels in September 2010. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), provides the first-ever estimates of the health savings for different Member States should the EU move from the current 20 per cent target to a 30 percent target on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (3) For the EU as a whole, the anticipated benefits could be as high as €30.5 billion. These savings would be on top of the up to €52 billion health gains anticipated as a result of emission cuts to reach the EU's current 20 per cent target. The study offers conclusive evidence that cleaner energy and cleaner air, associated with an immediate move to 30% domestic cuts in greenhouse gases by 2020, would go a long way to paying for itself in better health through Europe. The new figures for Austria show that cleaner air resulting from the achievement of a higher European target would result in public health benefits of between €210 million and €606 million per year from 2020. (4) This would include: An increase in life expectancy of 2,800 years spread across the population. 260,000 fewer days of restricted activity 25,000 fewer days when people need to use respiratory medication 2,800 fewer consultations for upper respiratory symptoms and asthma 60,000 fewer working days lost annually due to cardiac and respiratory problems. Austria would do well compared to many other EU countries as a result of a stronger EU target on emissions reductions. It comes in 14th in the EU27 ranking. Health benefits for EU countries - Benefits per year by 2020 (upper bounds): Germany €8.1 billion Poland €4.0 billion France €3.5 billion Italy €3.4 billion Romania €1.4 billion (NEW) Czech Republic €1.3 billion (NEW) Netherlands €1.1 billion Greece €1.0 billion (NEW) Hungary €1.0 billion (NEW) Belgium €0.9 billion Spain €0.9 billion UK €0.9 billion Slovakia €0.7 billion (NEW) Austria €0.6 billion (NEW) Bulgaria €0.3 billion (NEW) Portugal €0.3 billion (NEW) Other EU countries €1.1 billion (NEW CALCULATION) (Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia, Sweden) Total (all EU countries) €30.5 billion Read the full figures for Austria here->http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/A...] The report, Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy, goes beyond recent European Commission figures on health benefits, which did not provide national figures and calculated health benefits on the basis of increased mortality due to exposure to air pollution only. The analysis covers the costs of both death and ill-health, such as restricted activity due to heart and lung conditions, hospital costs, consultations, and medication. More information from Dr Pendo Maro, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) at pendo@env-health.org or pendo.maro@hcwh.org + 32 495 281 494 (in Cancun) Diana Smith, Health and Environment Alliance, Diana@env-health.org Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943 (in Paris) NOTES TO EDITORS: 1. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 440 organizations in 52 countries working with the health sector to reduce its impact on human health and the environment while advocating for global environmental health. www.noharm.org 2. More details of "Health Day", 6 December 2010 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 16) in Cancun, Mexico will be available at www.env-health.org from 5 December 2010. 3. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) was published on 14 September 2010. It included figures for the EU as a whole plus Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK. The full report and a background briefing are available at www.env-health.org/r/93 and http://www.noharm.org/europe/issues... Original press release is available at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/1... 4 . The figures for Austria, which are released for the first time today, are pasted below. |
| 06/12/2010 | Climate report: How Bulgaria could improve health and save money Ground-breaking report reveals massive health benefits from higher climate change targets Press release, Cancun, Mexico, 6 December 2010 - Public health in Bulgaria would benefit up to 291 million Euros per year by 2020 if the European Union decides to strengthen their climate change targets, according to figures released today by Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care Without Harm Europe.(1) Figures for Bulgaria are released today to coincide with "Health Day" in Cancun and as a stimulus to Bulgarian negotiators at the climate change talks. (2) They are provided as an extension to a ground-breaking report published in Brussels in September 2010. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), provides the first-ever estimates of the health savings for different Member States should the EU move from the current 20 per cent target to a 30 percent target on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (3) For the EU as a whole, the anticipated benefits could be as high as €30.5 billion. These savings would be on top of the up to €52 billion health gains anticipated as a result of emission cuts to reach the EU's current 20 per cent target. The study offers conclusive evidence that cleaner energy and cleaner air, associated with an immediate move to 30% domestic cuts in greenhouse gases by 2020, would go a long way to paying for itself in better health through Europe. The new figures for Bulgaria show that cleaner air resulting from the achievement of a higher European target would result in public health benefits of between €101 million and €291 million per year from 2020. (4) This would include: An increase in life expectancy of 1,300 years spread across the population. 125,000 fewer days of restricted activity 12,000 fewer days when people need to use respiratory medication 1,400 fewer consultations for upper respiratory symptoms and asthma 29,000 fewer working days lost annually due to cardiac and respiratory problems. Bulgaria would do well compared to many other EU countries as a result of a stronger EU target on emissions reductions. It ranks 15th in among the EU27 on health benefits (see chart below). Health benefits for EU countries - Benefits per year by 2020 (upper bounds): Germany €8.1 billion Poland €4.0 billion France €3.5 billion Italy €3.4 billion Romania €1.4 billion (NEW) Czech Republic €1.3 billion (NEW) Netherlands €1.1 billion Greece €1.0 billion (NEW) Hungary €1.0 billion (NEW) Belgium €0.9 billion Spain €0.9 billion UK €0.9 billion Slovakia €0.7 billion (NEW) Austria €0.6 billion (NEW) Bulgaria €0.3 billion (NEW) Portugal €0.3 billion (NEW) Other EU countries €1.1 billion (NEW CALCULATION) (Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia, Sweden) -* Total (all EU countries) €30.5 billion Read the full figures for Bulgaria here The report, Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy, goes beyond recent European Commission figures on health benefits, which did not provide national figures and calculated health benefits on the basis of increased mortality due to exposure to air pollution only. The analysis covers the costs of both death and ill-health, such as restricted activity due to heart and lung conditions, hospital costs, consultations, and medication. More information from Dr Pendo Maro, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) at pendo@env-health.org or pendo.maro@hcwh.org + 32 495 281 494 (in Cancun) Diana Smith, Health and Environment Alliance, Diana@env-health.org Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943 (in Paris) NOTES TO EDITORS: 1. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 440 organizations in 52 countries working with the health sector to reduce its impact on human health and the environment while advocating for global environmental health. www.noharm.org 2. More details of "Health Day", 6 December 2010 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 16) in Cancun, Mexico will be available at www.env-health.org from 5 December 2010. 3. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) was published on 14 September 2010. It included figures for the EU as a whole plus Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK. The full report and a background briefing are available at www.env-health.org/r/93 and http://www.noharm.org/europe/issues... Original press release is available at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/1... 4 . The figures for Bulgaria, which are released for the first time today, are pasted below. |
| 06/12/2010 | Climate report: How Czech Republic could improve health and save money Ground-breaking report reveals massive health benefits from higher climate change targets Press release, Cancun, Mexico, 6 December 2010 - Public health in Czech Republic would benefit up to 1,347 million Euros per year by 2020 if the European Union decides to strengthen their climate change targets, according to figures released today by Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care Without Harm Europe.(1) Figures for the Czech Republic are released today to coincide with "Health Day" in Cancun and as a stimulus to Czech negotiators at the climate change talks. (2) They are provided as an extension to a ground-breaking report published in Brussels in September 2010. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), provides the first-ever estimates of the health savings for different Member States should the EU move from the current 20 per cent target to a 30 percent target on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (3) For the EU as a whole, the anticipated benefits could be as high as €30.5 billion. These savings would be on top of the up to €52 billion health gains anticipated as a result of emission cuts to reach the EU's current 20 per cent target. The study offers conclusive evidence that cleaner energy and cleaner air, associated with an immediate move to 30% domestic cuts in greenhouse gases by 2020, would go a long way to paying for itself in better health through Europe. The new figures for the Czech Republic show that cleaner air resulting from the achievement of a higher European target would result in public health benefits of between €467 million and €1,347 million per year from 2020. (4) This would include: An increase in life expectancy of 6,200 years spread across the population. 578,000 fewer days of restricted activity 55,000 fewer days when people need to use respiratory medication 6,300 fewer consultations for upper respiratory symptoms and asthma 132,000 fewer working days lost annually due to cardiac and respiratory problems. The Czech Republic would do well compared to many other EU countries as a result of a stronger EU target on emissions reductions. It ranks 6th among the EU27 on health benefits (see chart below). Health benefits for EU countries - Benefits per year by 2020 (upper bounds): Germany €8.1 billion Poland €4.0 billion France €3.5 billion Italy €3.4 billion Romania €1.4 billion (NEW) Czech Republic €1.3 billion (NEW) Netherlands €1.1 billion Greece €1.0 billion (NEW) Hungary €1.0 billion (NEW) Belgium €0.9 billion Spain €0.9 billion UK €0.9 billion Slovakia €0.7 billion (NEW) Austria €0.6 billion (NEW) Bulgaria €0.3 billion (NEW) Portugal €0.3 billion (NEW) Other EU countries €1.1 billion (NEW CALCULATION) (Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia, Sweden) -* Total (all EU countries) €30.5 billion Read the full figures for Czech Republic here The report, Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy, goes beyond recent European Commission figures on health benefits, which did not provide national figures and calculated health benefits on the basis of increased mortality due to exposure to air pollution only. The analysis covers the costs of both death and ill-health, such as restricted activity due to heart and lung conditions, hospital costs, consultations, and medication. More information from Dr Pendo Maro, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) at pendo@env-health.org or pendo.maro@hcwh.org + 32 495 281 494 (in Cancun) Diana Smith, Health and Environment Alliance, Diana@env-health.org Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943 (in Paris) NOTES TO EDITORS: 1. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 440 organizations in 52 countries working with the health sector to reduce its impact on human health and the environment while advocating for global environmental health. www.noharm.org 2. More details of "Health Day", 6 December 2010 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 16) in Cancun, Mexico will be available at www.env-health.org from 5 December 2010. 3. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) was published on 14 September 2010. It included figures for the EU as a whole plus Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK. The full report and a background briefing are available at www.env-health.org/r/93 and http://www.noharm.org/europe/issues... Original press release is available at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/1... 4 . The figures for the Czech Republic, which are released for the first time today, are pasted below. |
| 06/12/2010 | Climate report: How Hungary could improve health and save money Ground-breaking report reveals massive health benefits from higher climate change targets Press release, Budapest, 5 December 2010 - Public health in Hungary would benefit up to a billion Euros per year by 2020 if the European Union decides to strengthen their climate change targets, according to figures released today by Clean Air Action Group, Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care Without Harm Europe.(1) Figures for Hungary are released today on the eve of "Health Day" at the climate change talks in Cancun, Mexico (6 December 2010) as a stimulus to Hungarian negotiators. (2) They are provided as an extension to a ground-breaking report published in Brussels in September 2010. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), provides the first-ever estimates of the health savings for different Member States should the EU move from the current 20 per cent target to a 30 percent target on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (3) For the EU as a whole, the anticipated benefits could be as high as €30.5 billion. These savings would be on top of the up to €52 billion health gains anticipated as a result of emission cuts to reach the EU's current 20 per cent target. The study provides conclusive evidence that cleaner energy and cleaner air, associated with an immediate move to 30% domestic cuts in greenhouse gases by 2020, would go a long way to paying for itself in better health through Europe. The new figures for Hungary show that cleaner air resulting from the achievement of a higher European target would result in public health benefits of between €375 million and €1,081 million per year from 2020.(4) This would include: An increase in life expectancy of 5,000 years spread across the population. 464,000 fewer days of restricted activity 44,000 fewer days when people need to use respiratory medication 5,000 fewer consultations for upper respiratory symptoms and asthma 106,000 fewer working days lost annually due to cardiac and respiratory problems. Hungary would do well compared to many other EU countries as a result of a stronger EU target on emissions reductions. It ranks 9th in terms of health benefits among EU 27 Member States. Health benefits for EU countries - Benefits per year by 2020 (upper bounds): Germany €8.1 billion Poland €4.0 billion France €3.5 billion Italy €3.4 billion Romania €1.4 billion (NEW) Czech Republic €1.3 billion (NEW) Netherlands €1.1 billion Greece €1.0 billion (NEW) Hungary €1.0 billion (NEW) Belgium €0.9 billion Spain €0.9 billion UK €0.9 billion Slovakia €0.7 billion (NEW) Austria €0.6 billion (NEW) Bulgaria €0.3 billion (NEW) Portugal €0.3 billion (NEW) Other EU countries €1.1 billion (NEW CALCULATION) (Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia, Sweden) -* Total (all EU countries) €30.5 billion Read the full figures for Hungary here The report, Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy, goes beyond recent European Commission figures on health benefits, which did not provide national figures and calculated health benefits on the basis of increased mortality due to exposure to air pollution only. The analysis covers the costs of both death and ill-health, such as restricted activity due to heart and lung conditions, hospital costs, consultations, and medication. Pendo Maro, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) at pendo@env-health.org + 32 495 281 494 (in Cancun) Gabor Bendik, Clean Air Action Group, Hungary bendik.gabor@levego.hu NOTES TO EDITORS: 1. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 440 organizations in 52 countries working with the health sector to reduce its impact on human health and the environment while advocating for global environmental health. www.noharm.org 2. More details of "Health Day", 6 December 2010 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 16) in Cancun, Mexico will be available at www.env-health.org from 5 December 2010. 3. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) was published on 14 September 2010. It included figures for the EU as a whole plus Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK. The full report and a background briefing are available at www.env-health.org/r/93 and http://www.noharm.org/europe/issues... Original press release is available at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/1... 4 . The figures for Hungary, which are released for the first time today, are pasted below. |
| 06/12/2010 | Climate report: How Greece could improve health and save money Ground-breaking report reveals massive health benefits from higher climate change targets Press release, Cancun, Mexico, 6 December 2010 - Public health in Greece would benefit up to 956 million Euros per year by 2020 if the European Union decides to strengthen their climate change targets, according to figures released today by Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care Without Harm Europe.(1) Figures for Greece are released today to coincide with "Health Day" in Cancun and as a stimulus to Greek negotiators at the climate change talks. (2) They are provided as an extension to a ground-breaking report published in Brussels in September 2010. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), provides the first-ever estimates of the health savings for different Member States should the EU move from the current 20 per cent target to a 30 percent target on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (3) For the EU as a whole, the anticipated benefits could be as high as €30.5 billion. These savings would be on top of the up to €52 billion health gains anticipated as a result of emission cuts to reach the EU's current 20 per cent target. The study offers conclusive evidence that cleaner energy and cleaner air, associated with an immediate move to 30% domestic cuts in greenhouse gases by 2020, would go a long way to paying for itself in better health through Europe. The new figures for Greece show that cleaner air resulting from the achievement of a higher European target would result in public health benefits of between €331 million and €956 million per year from 2020. (4) This would include: An increase in life expectancy of 4,400 years spread across the population. 410,000 fewer days of restricted activity 39,000 fewer days when people need to use respiratory medication 4,500 fewer consultations for upper respiratory symptoms and asthma 94,000 fewer working days lost annually due to cardiac and respiratory problems. Greece would do well compared to many other EU countries as a result of a stronger EU target on emissions reductions. It ranks 8th among the EU27 Member States on health benefits (see chart below). Health benefits for EU countries - Benefits per year by 2020 (upper bounds): Germany €8.1 billion Poland €4.0 billion France €3.5 billion Italy €3.4 billion Romania €1.4 billion (NEW) Czech Republic €1.3 billion (NEW) Netherlands €1.1 billion Greece €1.0 billion (NEW) Hungary €1.0 billion (NEW) Belgium €0.9 billion Spain €0.9 billion UK €0.9 billion Slovakia €0.7 billion (NEW) Austria €0.6 billion (NEW) Bulgaria €0.3 billion (NEW) Portugal €0.3 billion (NEW) Other EU countries €1.1 billion (NEW CALCULATION) (Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia, Sweden) Total (all EU countries) €30.5 billion Read the full figures for Greece here The report, Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy, goes beyond recent European Commission figures on health benefits, which did not provide national figures and calculated health benefits on the basis of increased mortality due to exposure to air pollution only. The analysis covers the costs of both death and ill-health, such as restricted activity due to heart and lung conditions, hospital costs, consultations, and medication. More information from Dr Pendo Maro, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) at pendo@env-health.org or pendo.maro@hcwh.org + 32 495 281 494 (in Cancun) Diana Smith, Health and Environment Alliance, Diana@env-health.org Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943 (in Paris) NOTES TO EDITORS: 1. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 440 organizations in 52 countries working with the health sector to reduce its impact on human health and the environment while advocating for global environmental health. www.noharm.org 2. More details of "Health Day", 6 December 2010 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 16) in Cancun, Mexico will be available at www.env-health.org from 5 December 2010. 3. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) was published on 14 September 2010. It included figures for the EU as a whole plus Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK. The full report and a background briefing are available at www.env-health.org/r/93 and http://www.noharm.org/europe/issues... Original press release is available at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/1... 4 . The figures for Greece, which are released for the first time today, are pasted below. |
| 06/12/2010 | Climate report: How Romania could improve health and save money Ground-breaking report reveals massive health benefits from higher climate change targets Press release, Cancun, Mexico, 6 December 2010 - Public health in Romania would benefit up to 1,358 million Euros per year by 2020 if the European Union decides to strengthen their climate change targets, according to figures released today by Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care Without Harm Europe.(1) Figures for Romania are released today to coincide with "Health Day" in Cancun and as a stimulus to Romanian negotiators at the climate change talks. (2) They are provided as an extension to a ground-breaking report published in Brussels in September 2010. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), provides the first-ever estimates of the health savings for different Member States should the EU move from the current 20 per cent target to a 30 percent target on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (3) For the EU as a whole, the anticipated benefits could be as high as €30.5 billion. These savings would be on top of the up to €52 billion health gains anticipated as a result of emission cuts to reach the EU's current 20 per cent target. The study offers conclusive evidence that cleaner energy and cleaner air, associated with an immediate move to 30% domestic cuts in greenhouse gases by 2020, would go a long way to paying for itself in better health through Europe. The new figures for Romania show that cleaner air resulting from the achievement of a higher European target would result in public health benefits of between €471 million and €1,358 million per year from 2020. (4) This would include: An increase in life expectancy of 6,200 years spread across the population. 538,000 fewer days of restricted activity 55,000 fewer days when people need to use respiratory medication 6,300 fewer consultations for upper respiratory symptoms and asthma 134,000 fewer working days lost annually due to cardiac and respiratory problems. Romania would do well compared to many other EU countries as a result of a stronger EU target on emissions reductions. It ranks 5th among the EU27 Member States on health benefits (see chart below). Health benefits for EU countries - Benefits per year by 2020 (upper bounds): Germany €8.1 billion Poland €4.0 billion France €3.5 billion Italy €3.4 billion Romania €1.4 billion (NEW) Czech Republic €1.3 billion (NEW) Netherlands €1.1 billion Greece €1.0 billion (NEW) Hungary €1.0 billion (NEW) Belgium €0.9 billion Spain €0.9 billion UK €0.9 billion Slovakia €0.7 billion (NEW) Austria €0.6 billion (NEW) Bulgaria €0.3 billion (NEW) Portugal €0.3 billion (NEW) Other EU countries €1.1 billion (NEW CALCULATION) (Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia, Sweden) -* Total (all EU countries) €30.5 billion Read the full figures for Romania here The report, Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy, goes beyond recent European Commission figures on health benefits, which did not provide national figures and calculated health benefits on the basis of increased mortality due to exposure to air pollution only. The analysis covers the costs of both death and ill-health, such as restricted activity due to heart and lung conditions, hospital costs, consultations, and medication. More information from Dr Pendo Maro, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) at pendo@env-health.org or pendo.maro@hcwh.org + 32 495 281 494 (in Cancun) Diana Smith, Health and Environment Alliance, Diana@env-health.org Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943 (in Paris) NOTES TO EDITORS: 1. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 440 organizations in 52 countries working with the health sector to reduce its impact on human health and the environment while advocating for global environmental health. www.noharm.org 2. More details of "Health Day", 6 December 2010 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 16) in Cancun, Mexico will be available at www.env-health.org from 5 December 2010. 3. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) was published on 14 September 2010. It included figures for the EU as a whole plus Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK. The full report and a background briefing are available at www.env-health.org/r/93 and http://www.noharm.org/europe/issues... Original press release is available at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/1... 4 . The figures for Romania, which are released for the first time today, are pasted below. |
| 06/12/2010 | Climate report: How Portugal could improve health and save money Ground-breaking report reveals massive health benefits from higher climate change targets Press release, Cancun, Mexico, 6 December 2010 - Public health in Portugal would benefit up to 313 million Euros per year by 2020 if the European Union decides to strengthen their climate change targets, according to figures released today by Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care Without Harm Europe.(1) Figures for Portugal are released today to coincide with "Health Day" in Cancun and as a stimulus to Portuguese negotiators at the climate change talks. (2) They are provided as an extension to a ground-breaking report published in Brussels in September 2010. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), provides the first-ever estimates of the health savings for different Member States should the EU move from the current 20 per cent target to a 30 percent target on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (3) For the EU as a whole, the anticipated benefits could be as high as €30.5 billion. These savings would be on top of the up to €52 billion health gains anticipated as a result of emission cuts to reach the EU's current 20 per cent target. The study offers conclusive evidence that cleaner energy and cleaner air, associated with an immediate move to 30% domestic cuts in greenhouse gases by 2020, would go a long way to paying for itself in better health through Europe. The new figures for Portugal show that cleaner air resulting from the achievement of a higher European target would result in public health benefits of between €108 million and €313 million per year from 2020. (4) This would include: An increase in life expectancy of 1,400 years spread across the population. 134,000 fewer days of restricted activity 13,000 fewer days when people need to use respiratory medication 1,500 fewer consultations for upper respiratory symptoms and asthma 31,000 fewer working days lost annually due to cardiac and respiratory problems. Portugal would do well compared to many other EU countries as a result of a stronger EU target on emissions reductions. It ranks 16th among the EU27 Member States on health benefits (see chart below). Health benefits for EU countries - Benefits per year by 2020 (upper bounds): Germany €8.1 billion Poland €4.0 billion France €3.5 billion Italy €3.4 billion Romania €1.4 billion (NEW) Czech Republic €1.3 billion (NEW) Netherlands €1.1 billion Greece €1.0 billion (NEW) Hungary €1.0 billion (NEW) Belgium €0.9 billion Spain €0.9 billion UK €0.9 billion Slovakia €0.7 billion (NEW) Austria €0.6 billion (NEW) Bulgaria €0.3 billion (NEW) Portugal €0.3 billion (NEW) Other EU countries €1.1 billion (NEW CALCULATION) (Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia, Sweden) -* Total (all EU countries) €30.5 billion Read the full figures for Portugal here The report, Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy, goes beyond recent European Commission figures on health benefits, which did not provide national figures and calculated health benefits on the basis of increased mortality due to exposure to air pollution only. The analysis covers the costs of both death and ill-health, such as restricted activity due to heart and lung conditions, hospital costs, consultations, and medication. More information from Dr Pendo Maro, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) at pendo@env-health.org or pendo.maro@hcwh.org + 32 495 281 494 (in Cancun) Diana Smith, Health and Environment Alliance, Diana@env-health.org Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943 (in Paris) NOTES TO EDITORS: 1. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 440 organizations in 52 countries working with the health sector to reduce its impact on human health and the environment while advocating for global environmental health. www.noharm.org 2. More details of "Health Day", 6 December 2010 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 16) in Cancun, Mexico will be available at www.env-health.org from 5 December 2010. 3. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) was published on 14 September 2010. It included figures for the EU as a whole plus Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK. The full report and a background briefing are available at www.env-health.org/r/93 and http://www.noharm.org/europe/issues... Original press release is available at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/1... 4 . The figures for Portugal, which are released for the first time today, are pasted below. |
| 06/12/2010 | Climate report: How Slovakia could improve health and save money Ground-breaking report reveals massive health benefits from higher climate change targets Press release, Cancun, Mexico, 6 December 2010 - Public health in Slovakia would benefit up to 726 million Euros per year by 2020 if the European Union decides to strengthen their climate change targets, according to figures released today by Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care Without Harm Europe.(1) Figures for Slovakia are released today to coincide with "Health Day" in Cancun and as a stimulus to Slovakian negotiators at the climate change talks. (2) They are provided as an extension to a ground-breaking report published in Brussels in September 2010. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), provides the first-ever estimates of the health savings for different Member States should the EU move from the current 20 per cent target to a 30 percent target on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (3) For the EU as a whole, the anticipated benefits could be as high as €30.5 billion. These savings would be on top of the up to €52 billion health gains anticipated as a result of emission cuts to reach the EU's current 20 per cent target. The study offers conclusive evidence that cleaner energy and cleaner air, associated with an immediate move to 30% domestic cuts in greenhouse gases by 2020, would go a long way to paying for itself in better health through Europe. The new figures for Slovakia show that cleaner air resulting from the achievement of a higher European target would result in public health benefits of between €252 million and €726 million per year from 2020. (4) This would include: An increase in life expectancy of 3,300 years spread across the population. 312,000 fewer days of restricted activity 30,000 fewer days when people need to use respiratory medication 3,400 fewer consultations for upper respiratory symptoms and asthma 71,000 fewer working days lost annually due to cardiac and respiratory problems. Slovakia would do well compared to many other EU countries as a result of a stronger EU target on emissions reductions. It ranks 13th among the EU27 Member States on health benefits (see chart below). Health benefits for EU countries - Benefits per year by 2020 (upper bounds): Germany €8.1 billion Poland €4.0 billion France €3.5 billion Italy €3.4 billion Romania €1.4 billion (NEW) Czech Republic €1.3 billion (NEW) Netherlands €1.1 billion Greece €1.0 billion (NEW) Hungary €1.0 billion (NEW) Belgium €0.9 billion Spain €0.9 billion UK €0.9 billion Slovakia €0.7 billion (NEW) Austria €0.6 billion (NEW) Bulgaria €0.3 billion (NEW) Portugal €0.3 billion (NEW) Other EU countries €1.1 billion (NEW CALCULATION) (Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia, Sweden) Total (all EU countries) €30.5 billion Read the full figures from Slovakia here The report, Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy, goes beyond recent European Commission figures on health benefits, which did not provide national figures and calculated health benefits on the basis of increased mortality due to exposure to air pollution only. The analysis covers the costs of both death and ill-health, such as restricted activity due to heart and lung conditions, hospital costs, consultations, and medication. More information from Dr Pendo Maro, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) at pendo@env-health.org or pendo.maro@hcwh.org + 32 495 281 494 (in Cancun) Diana Smith, Health and Environment Alliance, Diana@env-health.org Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943 (in Paris) NOTES TO EDITORS: 1. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 440 organizations in 52 countries working with the health sector to reduce its impact on human health and the environment while advocating for global environmental health. www.noharm.org 2. More details of "Health Day", 6 December 2010 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 16) in Cancun, Mexico will be available at www.env-health.org from 5 December 2010. 3. The report - Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy - commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) was published on 14 September 2010. It included figures for the EU as a whole plus Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK. The full report and a background briefing are available at www.env-health.org/r/93 and http://www.noharm.org/europe/issues... Original press release is available at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/1... 4 . The figures for Slovakia, which are released for the first time today, are pasted below. |
| 26/11/2010 | MEPs to be urged to address "missing link" in fight against cancer PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT, Brussels, 26 November 2010 – Cancer survivors and health groups want European leaders to improve environmental policy that could hold down rising incidence rates. At a debate in the European Parliament organised by the Health and Environment Alliance next Monday (1), Sandra Steingraber - a scientist, cancer survivor and author of Living Downstream (2) - will talk about the ways in which environmental policy can tackle the links between exposure to environmental pollutants and cancer, and exchange lessons learned on regulatory responses. One half of all the world's cancers occur among people living in industrialized countries which hold less than one fifth of the world’s population, she says. Lifestyle factors - that is behaviour that we choose, such as drinking and smoking, are important. But environmental contaminants, such as industrially-produced chemicals and pesticide residues, that we ingest unintentionally from our food and water, are also playing a role. These contaminants include hormone disruptors, such as BPA. Sandra Steingraber says that although scientists are well aware of the role environmental factors are playing in cancer, the public and politicians are not yet sufficiently aware. "The disconnect between what we in the scientific community know and what patients are told is huge," she will tell MEPs, health, environment and patient groups, and scientists in a debate illustrated with excerpts from her new film. She sees her role as helping to close that gap. (3) One of the ways to prevent cancers is by eliminating the cancer-related chemicals that are currently in widespread industrial and agricultural use. People are exposed to chemicals contained in everyday products because they invade our food, water and air. European policy makers are in a unique position to show how ambitious EU environment policies, when properly implemented, not only protect our everyday environment but can actually contribute to reducing cancer rates, and other health conditions. "Preventing cases of cancer is an issue that people care deeply about, and a way that national and EU regulators can show citizens that the EU matters. Without any doubt, EU environmental policies can contribute to cancer prevention, and could do more, " says Genon Jensen, Executive Director of Health and Environment Alliance. "Important pesticide and chemical legislation is already in place but sluggish implementation is compromising their effectiveness in cancer prevention." Dr Andrew Watterson from the University of Stirling UK will tell the meeting that the incidence of cancer is growing in the European Union. He will present predictions on cancer incidence rates to 2020. (4) For this event, the Health and Environment Alliance and the European Cancer Patients Coalition and Forum Against Cancer Europe have joined forces to raise awareness and highlight prevention opportunities in EU environmental policies. Cancer groups have compiled ‘Environment and Cancer testimonies’, which provide a snapshot of various patients’ groups’ concerns and priorities for action on environmental prevention by member states and the EU. The testimonies show that cancer patients are increasingly concerned about chemicals in our environment, and want the environment cleaned up to help them avoid a recurrence. For example, a Belgium patient notes that many farmers in his neighbourhood are still using forbidden pesticides. (5) These concerns reflect public opinion surveys findings in the EU. A recent Eurobarometer shows that pesticide residues in food are a number one worry for 72% of EU consumers, a higher percentage than in 2005.(6) At the end of her presentation, Sandra Steingraber will call on participants to join a worldwide health and environment movement made up of "carcinogen abolitionists". Genon Jensen will add that the movement in Europe aims to phase out not only the chemicals that are "carcinogens" but also the endocrine disrupting chemicals that act as a contributory factor in triggering cancer, and other health disorders. -ends- For more information, please contact: Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance, 28 Boulevard Charlemagne, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: +32 2 234 3641 (direct) Fax : +32 2 234 3649 E-mail: genon@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Mobile phone: + 32 495 808732. Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943. E-mail: Diana@gsmith.com.fr Notes for journalists 1. Details at www.env-health.org. Invitation on request. 2. Living Downstream, 1998, Sandra Steingraber, page 60 3. Film trailer available at http://www.livingdownstream.com/abo... 4. New EU figure developed by Dr Andrew Watterson and HEAL will be available at www.env-health.org from 18.30 on Monday 29 November. 5. "Environment and Cancer testimonials" will be available at www.env-health.org from 18.30 on Monday 29 November. 6. Food-related risks, Special Eurobarometer 354, November 2010 http://www.food-label-compliance.co... Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection and sustainability improves health and to empower the health community to contribute their expertise to policy making. Since its inception, HEAL’s membership has grown to include a diverse network of more than 50 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organizations across Europe which together have a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. Website: www.env-health.org Chemicals Health Monitor Project (CHM) was launched by HEAL, CHEM Trust, Collaborative on Health and Environment and others in March 2007. It aims to improve public health by ensuring that key scientific evidence on the links between chemicals and ill-health are translated into policy as quickly as possible. Key documents about the campaign and information about the project can be found at: www.chemicalshealthmonitor.org |
| 26/11/2010 | Health and Environment NGOs comment on Bisphenol A ban NGOs respond to recent reports that the European Commission will ban the use of organic compound bisphenol A (BPA) in plastic baby bottles from 2011. 26 November 2010 - We welcome this first baby step that the European Commission has taken to ban bisphenol A in baby bottles - but this is not enough. Bisphenol A is widespread in the environment and in us, and babies are already exposed to it in the womb. So we believe the European Commission should aim to take adult steps and ban this hormone disruptor from all food contact materials such as can linings, and ultimately from all other products relevant for human and environmental exposure, e.g. the use in cash receipts. By a coalition of European NGO environment and health campaigners working on toxic chemicals: European Environmental Bureau (EEB) Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) GLOBAL 2000 (Friends of the Earth Austria) BUND (Friends of the Earth Germany) WWF European Policy Unit ClientEarth The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) ChemSec France nature environnement (FNE) [Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) Inter-Environnement Wallonie (IEW) Contact: Simon Nazer, EEB Press Officer, +32 (0) 496438469, press@eeb.org |
| 22/11/2010 | Commission confirms intentions on BPA Press release, Brussels, 22 November 2010 – The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) welcomes a news report that the European Commission has launched discussions on a ban on Bisphenol A in baby bottles. In an exclusive report in Food Quality News, European Commission is quoted as saying that it wants to introduce a region-wide ban on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles. (1) "If this is true, it is a step in the right direction," says Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor at HEAL. "But this only relates to baby bottles. The ban should be for ALL food packaging for infants under 3 years old - and it should quickly be extended to all food packaging because, if babies during pregnancy are to be protected, consumption by women of child-bearing age should be avoided." HEAL was disappointed earlier this month by the outcome of the World Health Organization expert meeting in Ottawa, Canada, 1-5 November 2010 on Bisphenol A. The WHO opinion was that it would be premature to take any action on Bisphenol A on public health grounds. (2) HEAL board member, André Cicollela, Réseau Environnement Santé (RES) said: "The conclusion is very surprising because it gives the impression that the scientific evidence is not available. This is far from the reality: almost 500 peer-reviewed studies have been published." (3) Many of the studies show increased risks for a plethora of health effects from breast and prostate cancer, diabetes and obesity, behavioural and reproductive problems, at doses well below the current ‘tolerable daily intakes’ advised by the US EPA and the European Food Safety Authority. The WHO reasoning is based on a dismissal of the importance of peoples’ daily and continual exposure to this chemical. Moreover, more than 80 studies show that the levels of internal contamination in people is equivalent to levels that produce the mentioned health effects in animal studies. (3) In September, the European food panel failed to protect EU citizen’s health from plastic component, BPA. (4) Prior to that HEAL was a signatory to a joint letter sent to EFSA from scientists and organisations across the globe expressed concerns and concluded that. based on the available scientific studies, reducing levels of human exposure to BPA was necessary. Contacts: Lisette van Vliet– Toxics Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL): +32 (0)2 234 3643, mobile: 32 (0)484 614 528, lisette@env-health.org Diana Smith, Press and Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Mobile: +33 6 33 2943, Diana@env-health.org Notes to the editor: 1. European Commission wants ban on bisphenol A in baby bottles FoodQualityNews.com 2. World Health Organization documentation: Joint FAO/WHO meeting, 1-5 November 2010, www.who.int/entity/foodsafet... ; Food is a major source of exposure to bisphenol A, 9 November 2010 3. Press release (in French) on WHO opinion and European Commission position at http://www.reseau-environnement-san... 4. Press release and letter available at http://www.chemicalshealthmonitor.o... Chemical Health Monitor is an initiative of the Health and Environment Alliance (www.env-health.org). The project’s website is in development at www.chemicalshealthmonitor.org The Health and Environment Alliance aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It achieves this by creating opportunities for better representation of citizens’ and health experts’ perspectives in the environment and health-related European policy-making. Our membership includes a diverse network of more than 65 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organisations across Europe and has a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. www.env-health.org |
| 21/10/2010 | Four-language push to link pesticide use and cancer prevention Press release, Brussels, 21 October 2010 - The Health and Environment Alliance is launching a multi-country, multi-language website today to strengthen the impact of its Sick of Pesticides campaign. (1) The groups responsible for carrying out activities in the partner countries will have their first European network meeting in Brussels at the HEAL office on Tuesday, 30 November 2010. The campaign, launched in 2008, aims to raise public awareness that reducing pesticide use could help reduce cancer rates in Europe, encourage pesticide-free public spaces, and support countries in the setting up of national action plans for pesticide use reduction by 2012 in accordance with EU regulations. The multi-language website versions reflect the country groups most active in the campaign at national level (3), namely: BELGIUM: Inter Environnement Wallonie is responsible for new activities in Belgium and the French Belgian website sections. A national workshop will take place in December 2010. Cities in Belgium which have already banned pesticide use in streets, parks and cemeteries include Grobbendonk, Hasselt, Ghent, Eupen and Rochefort. FRANCE: MDRGF (Mouvement pour le droit et le respect des Generations Futures) are campaign partners in France. They have today published a press release drawing the public's attention to pesticides and the environmental causes of cancer. France's version of the campaign website will be linked to MDRGF's "Environnement-et-pesticides" website when it is launched on 15 November 2010. (4) HUNGARY: Clean Air Action Group in Hungary provided input for the Hungarian version of the website. They will kick off the series of national workshops with a meeting in Budapest in November 2010. NETHERLANDS: Leefmilieu is country partner in the Netherlands, provided information for the website in Dutch and is planning a national workshop on 12 November. Leefmilieu also sent a letter to all Dutch municipalities to raise awareness on pesticides and health and to ask which municipalities already work pesticide-free. HEAL also closely collaborates with Pesticide Action Network PAN UK and PAN Europe. PAN Europe recently produced guide on the sustainable use of pesticides to support EU member states in the production of their National Action Plans (NAP). The workshop in Brussels on 30 November 2010 will review achievements, including in pesticide-free public areas, and gather updates on national action plans. It will also provide opportunities for network participants to meet with sympathetic MEPs to help move the agenda forward. Ends For more information, please contact: Anne Stauffer, Policy Manager, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), 28 Boulevard Charlemagne, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: +32 2 234 3643 (direct), Mobile: +32 473 711092. E-mail: anne@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943. E-mail: diana@gsmith.com.fr Notes for journalists 1. The multi-lingual, multi-country "Pesticides and Cancer" website is available at www.pesticidescancer.eu. There is also a Sick of Pesticides Group of more than 500 followers on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sick-... 2. Participating organisations are: Inter-Environnement Wallonie Contact: Valerie Xhonneux, Email : v.xhonneux@iewonline.be Mouvement pour le droit et le respect des générations futures (MDRGF) Contact: Francois Villerette and Nadine Lauverjat, Email : mdrgf2@wanadoo.fr Clean Air Action Group Contact: Gergely Simon and Janos Pal, Email: simong@levego.hu, janos@levego.hu Leefmilieu Contact: Marga Jacobs and Claudia van Steen, Email: burgernetwerk@leefmilieu.nl 3. Today's press release (in French only) is available from Nadine Lauvergat at mdrgf2@wanadoo.fr, tel: +33 6 87 56 27 54. The website on environment and cancer will be launched on 15 November at www.environnement-et-cancer. 4. PAN Europe's guide on the production of National Action Plans (NAP) - as required under the EU Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive - is available at http://www.env-health.org/a/3570?va... Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection and sustainability improves health and to empower the health community to contribute their expertise to policy making. Since its inception, HEAL’s membership has grown to include a diverse network of more than 60 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organizations across Europe which together have a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. Website: www.env-health.org |
| 30/09/2010 | European food panel fails to protect EU citizen’s health from plastic component, BPA |
| 22/09/2010 | EP fails to protect consumers and the environment from biocides PRESS RELEASE, Brussels/Hamburg, 22-09-2010 - Today, the European Parliament (EP) has set the course for a new European system concerning the authorisation and marketing of biocides for household and other uses. PAN Germany, PAN Europe, HEAL, HCWH Europe, WECF and EEB criticise the EP vote on the biocide regulation. The new provisions are imbalanced and fall behind other areas of current EU chemicals law, like REACH or the pesticide regulation. The EP allows an oversized EU-experiment on consumers and the environment because related risks of biocides will be not sufficiently considered or tackled, while nearly all products with biocides can now be widely distributed in Europe. In their first reading position on the biocide regulation MEPs favour an EU-wide authorisation of almost all pest control agents or preservatives. More than 50.000 products are sold annually in Europe even though the risks for consumers and the environment have not sufficiently been evaluated yet. Instead of filling the gaps of the existing authorisation system, the EP added new challenges and created additional loopholes. Although there are some positive amendments main NGO concerns on the Environment Committee report were not considered. “Politicians do not ensure that manufacturers provide sufficient data for a biocide authorisation which enable identifying all risks and harmful effects on pregnant women, children or water ecosystems. It is possible that problematic biocides will be tested as harmless”, criticises Carina Weber, Executive Director of PAN Germany. The ban on highly hazardous substances will now be weakened. “There are several vague derogations which offer loopholes for continues marketing of the most harmful biocides even if alternatives exist. This is not acceptable”, highlights Gergely Simon, biocide expert and board member of PAN Europe. “A Member State would not have the flexibility in future to refuse an EU-authorisation of a certain problematic product in its territory in order to protect citizen’s health from their harmful effects like antimicrobial resistances”, says Anja Leetz from Health Care without Harm. While MEPs underline that biocides should not have any harmful effects on human health, especially for vulnerable groups like children, they don’t follow this principle through in the overall resolution. For example, provisions for labelling biocide-treated carpets and clothes fall significantly behind the original Commission proposal. “We regret that MEPs voted against adequately informing consumers about possible health impacts of biocide-treated products. Hazard statements or warning labels can be left out, and precautionary statements do not include vulnerable groups”, states Anne Stauffer from Health and Environment Alliance. “The EP agreed on an accelerated and easier marketing of insecticides, wood preservatives or disinfectants. Many experts and scientists such as the international scientific association Collegium Ramazzini (1) demand a reduction of those harmful products”, outlines Elisabeth Ruffinengo from Nernstweg 32, 22765 Hamburg, Tel. 040-399 19 10-0, Fax -390 75 20, info@pan-germany.org, www.pan-germany.org Women for a Common Future. Industry has created a lucrative market for antimicrobial household cleaners, insecticides or odourless socks. However, NGOs welcome the outcome of the vote on nano-biocides for which specific safety assessment methods are required, as well as consumer information through mandatory labelling. Because of their novel properties, nano-biocides may pose new risks. “For instance, nano silver can be more toxic than ordinary silver, which may have adverse impacts on the environment even at very low concentrations. The requirement of specific testing methods is essential for the protection of human health and the environment”, says Louise Duprez from the European Environmental Bureau. The NGOs urge the environmental ministers to address the shortcomings. For further information: Christian Schweer (PAN Germany) Tel. +49-40-3991910-27 Christian.Schweer@pan-germany.org Anne Stauffer (HEAL) Tel: +32 2 234 3643 anne@env-health.org Elisabeth Ruffinengo (WECF) Tel/fax: + 33 4 50 49 97 38 elisabeth.ruffinengo@wecf.eu Gergely Simon (PAN Europe) Tel. + 36 20 334 4336 gergely@pan-europe.info Anja Leetz (HWCH) Tel. +49 - 6224 994 871 anja.leetz@hcwh.org Louise Duprez (EEB) Tel: +32 2 289 1307 Louise.duprez@eeb.org Background information: Joint NGO recommendations on the EP vote (Brussels 2010): http://www.pangermany.org/deu/ stel... (1) Collegium Ramazzini (2010, 17 September): Control of Biocides in the European Union. The Collegium Ramazzini Calls for Action to Protect Human Health. Hyperlink: http://www.collegiumramazzini.org/d... |
| 14/09/2010 | 30% emissions reduction target could save public health billions PRESS RELEASE, Brussels, 14 September 2010 - Member State governments could radically improve public health and save on health care budgets if European Union climate policy were substantially strengthened. These ground-breaking findings are published by health and environment nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) today. The report, Acting now for better health: A 30% target for EU climate policy, commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), provides the first-ever estimates of the health savings for different Member States should the European Union move from the current 20% target to a 30% target on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For maximum savings to be made it is important for the EU to adopt an ‘internal’ rather than a ‘with flexibility’ target. An internal target means that the emissions are actually cut domestically in EU Member States rather than being achieved through buying emissions offsets from abroad. Eight Member States would do particularly well from a higher target. Estimates for the year 2020 show that Germany could save up to €8.1 billion per year, Poland, France and Italy would be the next highest beneficiaries, and Belgium, Spain and the UK would benefit by up to $900 million annually. (2) For the EU as a whole, the anticipated benefits could be as high as €30.5 billion - equivalent to just under 0.2% of EU GDP.(3) These savings would be on top of the up to €52 billion health gains anticipated as a result of emission cuts to reach the EU's current 20% target. (4) The findings go beyond recent European Commission figures on health benefits, which did not provide national figures and calculated health benefits on the basis of increased mortality due to exposure to air pollution only. The new analysis covers the costs of both death and ill-health, such as restricted activity due to heart and lung conditions, hospital costs, consultations, and medication. The improvements in public health occur because as greenhouse gas emissions fall so do other air pollutants. These "side effects", or co-benefits, of climate change policy are an addition to the gains for health of avoiding the effects of climate change, such as heat waves, flooding orincreases in infectious diseases. Thus, the report estimates may represent only the tip of the iceberg of the real health benefits of mitigating climate change. Nevertheless, the calculated savings would make a substantial dent in the costs of implementing the 30% target. At up to €30.5 billion per year in 2020, they represent almost two-thirds of the Commission's estimate on implementation costs of €46 billion per year in 2020 (or 0.3% of EU GDP). Génon Jensen, Executive Director of Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) said: "This study provides conclusive evidence that cleaner energy and cleaner air, associated with an immediate move to 30% domestic cuts in greenhouse gases by 2020, would go a long way to paying for itself in better health through Europe." On 14 October, the EU Environment Council will discuss its position on climate change policy. Ms Jensen hopes the report will prompt EU discussions on a 30% domestic target that put the health of Europe's citizens first. Ms Jensen added: "The findings of this report present the EU with a much needed 'shot in the arm' for the global climate talks next month. We would like to see these new health impact figures clinch the deal so that Europe moves immediately and unilaterally to a 30% internal target prior to the Cancun meeting in December." Hospitals in Europe, several of which are already "greening" their services (5), are feeling the impact of heat waves and floods. In 2003, the August heat wave killed an estimated 40,000 people but many more were admitted to hospital. In the UK, hospital admissions among the elderly increased by 16% during the year. "Health cost savings from strong climate action will be welcome news to governments," says Anja Leetz, Executive Director, Health Care Without Harm Europe. "The figures show that acting now would mean 140,000 fewer consultations for asthma and upper respiratory conditions per year by 2020 and thousands of fewer hospital admissions for cardiac and respiratory problems." ENDS Notes to Editors 1. The full report and a background briefing are available at www.env-health.org/r/93 and http://www.noharm.org/europe/issues... 2. Full breakdowns of EU and country benefits are included in tables in the report. 3. The estimate of health co-benefit at between €10.6 and €30.5 billion per year is associated with an EU internal, or domestic, 30% target. The European Commission more often refers to a 30% target "with flexibility", which allows some emission reductions to occur in third countries. The report shows a health benefit associated with this second option in the range of €5-14.6 billion. All estimates in the new report show annual figures for the year 2020 as chosen by the European Commission in its studies. 4. The estimate was originally developed in HEAL's earlier report with CAN Europe, WWF (2008). The co-benefits to health of a strong EU climate change policy. http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/C... to_health_report_-september_2008.pdf 5. Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Europe, which has recently produced a joint report with the World Health Organization entitled "Healthy Hospitals, Healthy Planet, Healthy People, Addressing climate change in health care settings". (See www.noharm.org) Contacts: Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), E-mail: genon@envhealth.org Website: www.env-health.org Mobile phone: + 32 495 808732. Anja Leetz, Executive Director, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), Email: anja.leetz@hcwh.org Website: http://www.noharm.org/ Mobile phone: +49 175 732 0657. Diana G. Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Email: Diana@envhealth.org Mobile phone: +00 33 6 33 04 2943. She can arrange telephone interviews with medical experts and others. Quotes from medical, health care and patient experts are also included in the Background Briefing available at www.env-health.org and http://www.noharm.org/europe/issues... The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 440 organizations in 52 countries working with the health sector to reduce its impact on human health and the environment while advocating for global environmental health. www.noharm.org |
| 06/09/2010 | Evidence of huge boost to public health from stronger climate policy Announcement press release, Brussels, 6 September 2010 - A report to be launched next Tuesday, 14 September 2010 analyses the health benefits for Europeans of stronger EU action on climate change, and reframes the current discussions from climate costs to climate benefits, particularly for people’s health and healthcare systems. (1) Published by Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH E), it quantifies some of the very substantial health and economic benefits of moving to a 30% target on reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The report provides figures on overall public health benefits in the European Union from a tightening on climate change policy and the first-ever figures on health benefits for individual EU Member States of the 30% target. The report also demonstrates that the sooner the European Union moves to the higher target, the better for health, health care budgets and productivity. "This report makes the case and provides new evidence for EU and Member State politicians and policy makers to support the move to a 30% domestic target on greenhouse gas emissions," says Dr Pendo Maro, Senior Climate and Energy Advisor, Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). Note The report will be available at www.env-health.org/r/93 and http://www.noharm.org/europe/issues... from 01.01 (00.01 GMT) on Tuesday 14 September 2010. A press release will be issued earlier under embargo. Please contact Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, env-health.org if you wish to receive a copy. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 440 organizations in 52 countries working with the health sector to reduce its impact on human health and the environment while advocating for global environmental health. www.noharm.org. |
| 14/07/2010 | European and International Health Organisations unite to call for European action to combat Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) 14/07/2010 - COPD affects 44 million people in Europe and is the 4th leading cause of death worldwide. The WHO predicts it will become the 3rd by 2030. The European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Associations (EFA) launched a Call to Action on 30th of June at the European Parliament. It calls on the EU institutions and Member States to develop a strategic, comprehensive and integrated European approach to respiratory diseases with a focus on COPD, rather than disperse initiatives which is currently the case. COPD causes restriction of airflow and difficulty to breathe, and can become very disabling in its ‘very severe’ stage. “For those affected by chronic respiratory problems, this simple act of breathing can become a challenge, a source of suffering and anguish. I couldn’t be more sympathetic to the objectives of your Call to Action.” wrote Jerzy Buzek, the President of the European Parliament in his foreword for the event. “I support the Call to Action and I will continue combating for patients with COPD” said Catherine Stihler, MEP who hosted the event, after signing the Call. Allan Stone, a patient with COPD described his own experience with this disease. “I was first told by my doctor that it was just a cold, but it turned out to be moderate COPD” he said. Access to early diagnosis is difficult across Europe according to patients’ associations surveyed by EFA. Early diagnosis can be confirmed with a simple spirometry test, and it enables timely treatment and lifestyle changes to stop progression of the disease. But COPD is not known by the general public, and often mistaken for a minor “smoker’s cough”. “COPD has been neglected, had there been earlier political intervention, prevalence and mortality wouldn’t be so high. All stakeholders, the EU institutions and Member States must act now to curb COPD and improve the care for this disease.” declared Marianella Salapatas, EFA President. EFA and the signatories of the 7 point Call-to-action urge the EU to make COPD a political priority, to raise awareness of this disease among the public and healthcare professionals, to encourage its early diagnosis, to improve the care and prevention of COPD, improve air quality, and to support research. “EFA has been one of the first members of the GARD and I very much welcome and support this Call to Action” said Professor Jean Bousquet, Chairman of the Global Alliance Against Respiratory Disease. The following organizations signed the Call and said: European Respiratory Society (ERS): “Although partly preventable, there is no cure for COPD. More research is urgently needed for surveillance, better management and to develop a cure for COPD. We need to improve patient care and their quality of life.” Professor Nikolaos Siafakas, President of the European Respiratory Society. European Lung Foundation (ELF): "COPD and the risk factors associated with it are still gravely under recognised among the general public. We urgently need novel strategies to ensure the public know about and care for their lungs, and understand that COPD can be tested for and detected early to enable the best outcome." Professor Kai-Hakon Carlsen, Chair of the European Lung Foundation. Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL): “Poor indoor and outdoor air quality (such as damp, mould and dust in buildings or pollution) is particularly harmful for people with COPD. The call to action underlines that the EU needs to step up its efforts to ensure healthy air both outdoors and indoors. This includes putting forward suggestions for an integrated, harmonised European approach to tackle indoor air quality.” Anne Stauffer, Policy Manager of the Health and Environment Alliance. International COPD Coalition (ICC): “ICC supports the Call to Action, which is a crucial part of the global effort to make COPD a political priority and to provide COPD patients with the rights they deserve.” Larry Grouse, MD, PhD, Executive Director, International COPD Coalition (ICC). The European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP) and International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG) have also signed the Call to Action. |
| 02/07/2010 | European Commission delays air pollution legislation, yet again PRESS RELEASE, Brussels, 2nd July 2010 – The European Commission yesterday revealed that critical air legislation will be postponed until 2013, putting the health of millions of Europeans at risk. In an interview with Le Monde, Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said air policies will not be reviewed until 2013 as they are too costly to implement. Environmental and health NGOs argue that this is not the case. It has been shown that the benefits to health, the environment and the economy of a revised National Emissions Ceiling Directive (NEC) will significantly outweigh the costs involved [1]. NEC is the cornerstone of EU-wide legislation to protect air quality which was originally intended to be revised in 2005. Louise Duprez, EEB Air Policy Officer, said: “It is shocking, to say the least, that the European Commission fails to see the importance of protecting our most valuable resource. Through this inaction, it is failing to protect the environment and the health of Europe’s citizens.” In Europe alone, air pollutants are estimated to cause close to half a million premature deaths each year [2] as well as severe damage to the environment through eutrophication, acidification and ground-level ozone. Air quality limit values are exceeded in most parts of Europe. Without a revision of emissions legislation now, member states will continue breaching EU air quality standards. In order to avoid this, new legislation on overall emissions is needed in addition to the existing standards. Anne Stauffer, Policy Manager at the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), said: “Commissioner Potočnik’s announcement is particularly bad news for the health of children and those suffering from respiratory diseases. Air pollution is known to increase respiratory problems and diseases, such as asthma [3]. In order to reduce the burden of disease and death caused by air pollution, action isneeded now.” The NGOs add that current EU efforts addressing climate change will benefit from new air legislation as greenhouse gases and air pollutants generally come from the same sources. Contact: Simon Nazer, EEB Press Officer, +32 496 43 8469, press@eeb.org Anne Stauffer, HEAL Policy Manager, +32 2 234 3643, anne@env-health.org Notes: Le Monde article [1] See for instance the cost-benefit analysis published by AEA in 2008 "NEC CBA report #3", available here on the European Commission website [2] According to a recent study by the European Topic Centre on Air and Climate Change (ETC/ACC) on behalf of the European Environment Agency (EEA), pollution of fine particles is associated with more than 455,000 premature deaths every year in the EU’s 27 member states. [3] http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-... |
| 01/07/2010 | NGOs urge Commission to come forward with a second EU Environment and Health Action Plan PRESS RELEASE, 1 July 2010 - The European Union's role in protecting health through environmental policy could be enhanced by a visionary second European Union Environment and Health Action Plan, according to Genon Jensen, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). "With growing evidence that many chronic illnesses, such as respiratory disease and cancer, are related to air and chemical pollution, the European Union can continue to deliver real value by tackling the environmental factors that contribute to ill-health and an unhealthy planet," she said. This would require a second European Environment and Health Action Plan (EHAP) as soon as possible. Ms Jensen’s recommendation was made at the "Environment and Health and EU policy" session of the European Commission’s Open Health Forum meeting in Brussels. (1) (2) The session was coorganised by HEAL and the European Federation of Allergy and Airway Diseases Patients Association (EFA). The first Environment and Health Action Plan (EHAP 2004-2010) helped ensure that more targeted research on environmental impacts addressed priority diseases. A second plan would make good use of this research for revising environmental policies. The EU's sixth research framework programme guided by the first EHAP provided approximately 200 million Euro for environment and health projects (2002-2006). (3) Investment continues in the current seventh programme with important results expected to guide policy change over the next years. For example, the ESCAPE project on air pollution will provide answers in 2012 on how poor air quality affects respiratory disease, heart disease and cancer. (4) The findings could be used to improve air quality controls. Improvements in air quality are particularly significant in producing benefits for health. According to European Commission estimates, air pollution is responsible for 310,000 premature deaths in Europe each year. "Children with asthma and older people with respiratory problems are more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution," said Ms Susanna Palkonen, European Federation of Allergy and Airway Diseases Patients Associations (EFA). "As a result of climate change, the number of heatwaves, which are associated with peaks in pollution, are expected to rise." A second EHAP would allow the EU to support Member States to fulfil their commitments in the 2010 World Health Organization (WHO) Parma Declaration which sets deadlines and targets for improving children’s environmental health, such as increasing access to safe drinking water, improving air quality, reducing exposure to tobacco smoke and hazardous chemicals, and reducing accidents. (5) The second EHAP could also capitalise on the European health community’s growing interest in EU environmental policy making as part of their wider prevention strategies. For example, the International Association of Health Insurer’s Societies (AIM) and its members across Europe have recently pledged to better understand environmental effects and increase participation in evaluating environment and health policies. (6) The NGO backing for a second EHAP supports the European Commission’s assessment in its Progress Report in March 2010 which said that the first EHAP has provided "added value"; a foundation for reducing the environmental burden of disease; and, a means to highlight the positive benefits to health from a more sustainable and cleaner environment. (6) The NGO position also reflects the concerns of the European public. A recent European public opinion poll shows the extent to which people consider environmental causes are contributing to ill-health. The European Commission's Special Eurobarometer Survey No. 347, which appeared earlier this month, indicates that 65% of respondents consider that chemicals affect their health "to a large extent". (8) Contact: Genon Jensen, Director, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel. +32 2 234 3646. Email: genon@envhealth.org Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, E-mail: Diana@env-health.org Tel:+33 6 33 04 2943 (mobile). Notes to journalists 1. EU Open Health Forum, Together for Health - A strategy for the EU 2020, 29-30 June 2010, http://ec.europa.eu/health/interest... 2. Recommendations are available on the HEAL website www.env-health.org Publications 3. European Commission Research, Environment and Health, http://ec.europa.eu/research/enviro... 4. European study of cohorts for air pollution effects (ESCAPE) http://www.escapeproject.eu/ 5. 2010 World Health Organization (WHO), Parma Declaration on Environment and Health, Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health of the WHO European Region: Parma Declaration on Environment and Health, March 2010: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/asse... 6. The Association Internationale de la Mutalitie has recently prepared a Declaration on Health and environment: Time to act: http://www.aimmutual. org/uploads/fmanager/news/2010/aim_pr_declaration_environment_and_health.pdf 7. EU Commission Progress report on the implementation of the EU Action Plan on Environment and Health, March 2010: http://register.consilium.europa.eu... 8. The Special Eurobarometer 347 on electromagnetic fields released on 24 June 2010 includes opinions from the question: To what extent do you think each of the following affects your health? http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/... Top Five: Chemicals 65% think it is affecting their health "to a large extent"; Quality of food - 61%; Quality of drinking water - 53%; Quality of outdoor air 52%; Dumping of waste - 49%. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It achieves this by creating opportunities for better representation of citizens’ and health experts’ perspectives in the environment and health-related European policymaking. Our membership includes a diverse network of more than 60 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organisations across Europe and has a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. The European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients Associations (EFA) is a European network of allergy, asthma and COPD patient organizatisssons. EFA was created to combine the forces of national patient associations on asthma and allergy for results at European level and to improve the health and quality of life of people in Europe with those diseases. Serving the interests of allergy and airways patients at the national level is the primary responsibility of individual members and EFA represents member organisations at European level and by facilitates collaboration, sharing of knowledge and experiences. |
| 23/06/2010 | European health group supports call for reducing exposure to BPA PRESS STATEMENT, Brussels, 23 June 2010 - embargoed until 00.01, 23 June (GMT). The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) has added its name to a letter to European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) calling for a reduction in human exposure to the synthetic chemical, Bisphenol A (BPA). (1) The signatories, which include professors and scientists from US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and UK and more than 40 international and national health groups, welcome the fact that the current review is taking into account a large number of studies in its opinion on BPA due to be published in early July 2010. The opinion from EFSA has been delayed to take into account "hundreds of studies" and the "most recent scientific literature", according to the EFSA website. (2) The Open Letter from scientists and NGOs says that "Only a tiny minority of studies have articulated that BPA exposure is safe… but it is these few flawed studies that EFSA previously relied on to declare BPA safe." Genon Jensen, Director of the Health and Environment Alliance, says a significantly revised opinion from EFSA would be very important for health protection. “With BPA suspected of playing a role in diseases such as breast cancer and diabetes, reducing levels of human exposure is necessary. This is especially true for the developing fetus in the womb, which is vulnerable because BPA can cross the placenta." Cancer groups in the UK and France, such as Breast Cancer UK and the French League Against Cancer, are also calling for bans on BPA. Regulators in the US and Canada, and some EU member states, such as Denmark and France, have already taken action to reduce exposure to BPA. Some other countries are critical of the current EU position. Earlier this month, the German authorities said that although there was a lack of data on some aspects of Bisphenol A, what exists should be sufficient to take decisions on the application of the precautionary principle. (3) HEAL believes that the EU should take the lead in setting precautionary standards for food contact materials to avoid the contradictions and the duplication of efforts associated with each Member State acting separately. If the opinion from EFSA in early July recognises that BPA is harmful, and consequently recommends a reduction in Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI), this will lead to a reduction in or elimination of the amount of BPA that can be used in food contact materials, such as baby bottles, drinking water bottles and the lining of tins containing food and drink. Ultimately, this will help reduce human exposure to this chemical. …/… Contact: Dr Lisette Van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel. +32 2 234 3645. Email: lisette@env-health.org +32 2 484 614 528 Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, E-mail: Diana@env-health.or Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84 1. Open Letter and associated press release available from Diana@env-health.org (embargoed until 23 June at 12.00.) 2. EFSA statement on their website: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/ceftop... To give the European Commission an up-to-date overview of the safety of BPA, EFSA will now deliver a scientific opinion in early July rather than end of May. This is due to the need for the Panel to consider hundreds of studies in its review and analysis of the most recent scientific literature. The opinion will also include the review of the Stump study on the possible neurodevelopmental effects of BPA and the review of the scientific arguments provided by Denmark in support of the Danish government’s recent decision to ban the substance in food contact materials for infants. 3. German Federal Environmental Agency report and press statement on BPA available at http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/uba-i... Chemical Health Monitor is an initiative of the Health and Environment Alliance (www.envhealth.org). The project’s website is in development at www.chemicalshealthmonitor.org The Health and Environment Alliance aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It achieves this by creating opportunities for better representation of citizens’ and health experts’ perspectives in the environment and health-related European policy-making. Our membership includes a diverse network of more than 60 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organisations across Europe and has a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. |
| 23/06/2010 | European Parliament Committee strengthens draft biocides law, but concerns remain Press release, Brussels, 23 June 2010 - Health and environment groups welcome improvements to the European Commission's proposal for a revised EU biocides law, delivered in yesterday’s vote of the European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI). (1) “We are pleased to see that the Committee Members have emphasised the special vulnerability of children and pregnant women to the harmful effects of biocides. They recognised the need to ensure that biocides have no harmful effects on these vulnerable groups - something that was absent from the original Commission proposal," says Anne Stauffer, from the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). Evidence of harmful exposure to biocides, especially for the unborn child and small children, is steadily consolidating. One recent scientific review showed a positive association between childhood leukaemia and exposure to insecticides. (2) Another step forward for the protection of public health is the requirement that the "combination effects" of exposure to biocides must be included in their risk assessment. "The move highlights growing concerns over the inadequacy of the single substance approach taken in current EU chemicals risk assessment,” Ms Stauffer adds. NGOs also welcome the outcome of the vote on nanomaterials, in particular the requirements on specific safety assessment methods, and consumer information through mandatory labelling. “MEPs have shown once again that nanomaterials cannot be given a free ride until specific safety methods are developed," says Louise Duprez from the European Environmental Bureau (EEB). Because of their novel properties, nano-biocides may pose new risks. For instance, nano silver can be more toxic than ordinary silver, which may have adverse impacts on the environment even at very low concentrations. The requirement of specific testing methods is essential for the protection of human health and the environment. Christian Schweer, Pesticide Action Network Germany, welcomes the introduction of mandatory measures for the sustainable use of biocides. “Contrary to EU requirements for pesticides, there are no EU harmonised standards for the proper and sustainable use of biocides, although numerous incidents and malpractices have been already observed throughout Europe. ENVI MEPs have called on the Commission to come forward with a proposal for a Directive on the Sustainable Use. This is urgently needed and should include provisions for Integrated Pest Management plans, standards for qualification and certification of professional users and address biocide use in sensitive areas, such as in schools, kindergartens and at watersides.” Tackling the overuse of biocides will also help address growing fears that more frequent use of biocidal products may contribute to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The EU expert committee SCENHIR has recently warned about biocides overuse and its possible consequences for rising antibiotic resistance. (3) Continuing concerns NGOs were concerned before the vote that the ENVI committee would not go far enough to ensure that all hazardous products be removed from the market. (4) Despite the positive improvements of yesterday’s vote, the health and environment NGOs will now take a careful look and make an overall assessment. Concerns remain that too many hazardous biocides could be left on the market as a result of loopholes in the exclusion criteria. Questions also remain about the EU centralised authorisation system, as well as about data requirements for health toxicity and ecotoxicity. In addition, the time needed for an accurate product assessment and expert exchange seem in danger of being seriously impaired. Health and environment NGOs urge MEPs to address these questions and loopholes in the upcoming plenary vote in September 2010. Contact: Anne Stauffer, Policy Manager, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel. +32 2 234 3643. Email: anne@env-health.org +32 2 484 614 528 Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, E-mail: Diana@env-health.or Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84 Christian Schweer, Pesticide Action Network Germany, Tel. +49 40 399 191027, E-Mail: christian.schweer@pan-germany.org Louise Duprez, Nanotechnology Policy Officer, European Environmental Bureau, Tel. +32 2 289 1307, Email: louise.duprez@eeb.org Notes to journalists 1. Revision of the current EU Biocides Directive 98/8/EC, which is available at:http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriSer/... The EU Commission’s proposal for the revision is available at: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ... The ENVI report will form the basis for the European Parliament's plenary decision scheduled for September 2010. The draft report and the amendments from the Environment Committee can be found at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetd... 2. Residential pesticides exposure and child leukemia: A systematic review, Environmental Health Perspectives, http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/... 3. European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks SCENHIR as recently warned about biocides overuse and its possible consequence for rising antibiotic resistance: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/... 4. PAN press release, 21 June 2010, http://www.pan-europe.info/News/ind... The Health and Environment Alliance aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It achieves this by creating opportunities for better representation of citizens’ and health experts’ perspectives in the environment and health-related European policy-making. Our membership includes a diverse network of more than 60 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organisations across Europe and has a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. Pesticide Action Network (PAN) is a network of over 600 participating non-governemental organizations, institutions and individuals in over 90 countries working to replace the use of hazardous pesticides with ecologically sound and socially just alternatives. PAN Germany was established in 1984 as part of the global network and has been continually involved in initiatives to reduce pesticide use and to promote sustainable alternatives on national, European and global levels. The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) is a federation of over 140 environmental citizens’ organisations based in most EU Member States, most candidate and potential candidate countries as well as in a few neighbouring countries. These organisations range from local and national, to European and international. EEB’s aim is to protect and improve the environment by influencing EU policy, promoting sustainable development objectives and ensuring that Europe’s citizens can play a part in achieving these goals. EEB stands for environmental justice and participatory democracy. |
| 06/05/2010 | Cancer: MEPs urge prevention related to environmental causes PRESS STATEMENT, Brussels, 6 May 2010 - Environment and health groups have welcomed a vote by the European Parliament today that will mean more research into cancer prevention as a result of exposure to chemicals in our everyday environment. In a resolution drafted by Slovene MEP Alojz Peterle (EPP) and adopted today by show of hands, MEPs welcome the Commission proposal to set up a European Partnership for Action Against Cancer for the period 2009-2013 to support the Member States' efforts to tackle cancer. All Member States are urged to set up integrated cancer plans, to help achieve the Partnership’s longterm aim of reducing cancer by 15% by 2020. MEPs believe particular efforts should be directed towards the new Member States. MEPs called for further action to promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce environmental and workplace risk factors as well as demanding increased EU investment in information and screening campaigns. "We are delighted with the strong focus on cancer prevention, and particularly the recognition that environmental factors, including toxic chemicals, are playing a role in rising rates of some cancers," says Dr Lisette Van Vliet, HEAL, Toxics Policy Advisor at the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). She adds: "Today the entire European Parliament has underlined the need to pay attention to the growing body of science that shows chemical pollution in our environment and work settings contributes to Europe's high rates of cancer." Prevention is the most cost-effective response, says the resolution, as one third of cancers are preventable. More resources should go into prevention, healthy lifestyles should be encouraged, and "information campaigns on cancer screening" should be "directed at the general public and all healthcare providers". With more than 3 million new cases and 1.7 million deaths each year, cancer is the second biggest cause of death in Europe. The European Parliament wants EU governments and institutions to step up the fight against this disease. The European Partnership for Action Against Cancer calls for more research into prevention, including the effects of harmful chemicals and environmental pollutants, nutrition, lifestyle and genetic factors. The links between cancer and risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol and pharmaceutical and synthetic hormones should be investigated, says Parliament. The MEPs also argue that cancer medicines, including treatments for rare and less common cancers, should be uniformly available to all patients who need them, and inequalities of access to cancer treatment and care must be reduced, including the new ‘targeted’ cancer drugs recently put on the market. Contact: Dr Lisette Van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel. +32 2 234 3645. Email: lisette@env-health.org +32 2 484 614 528 Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, E-mail: Diana@env-health.or Tel:+33 1 55 25 25 84 Chemical Health Monitor is an initiative of the Health and Environment Alliance (www.env-health.org). The project’s website is in development at www.chemicalshealthmonitor.org The Health and Environment Alliance aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It achieves this by creating opportunities for better representation of citizens’ and health experts’ perspectives in the environment and health-related European policy-making. Our membership includes a diverse network of more than 50 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organisations across Europe and has a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. |
| 11/03/2010 | Competition rewards environmental projects that save children’s lives UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 10.00 CET THURSDAY 11 MARCH 2010 Press release - Parma, Italy 11 March 2010 – Eight winning projects have received Children's Environment and Health Plan for Europe (CEHAPE) Awards at the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the WHO European Region on Environment and Health today. (1) Each project represents "good practice" in improving the environment for children's health(2), according to the leading international non-governmental organisations responsible for managing the competition. They are Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), EcoForum, and International Society of Doctors for the Environment Austria. "Children's health in Europe is under threat," says Genon Jensen, Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance. "Rates of some serious health conditions, such as cancer, are increasing year by year and the traditional killers - respiratory and diarrhoeal disease - are likely to be exacerbated by climate change.(3) Endocrine disrupting chemicals - known as EDCs - are identified as a key environment and health challenge(4) and as an area where priority needs to be given to identifying safer alternatives(5)." "Each winner in the CEHAPE Awards has shown how children's health can be protected through low-cost, low technology interventions that involve local people. We would like to see these projects copied as widely as possible in communities in the European Union and across the WHO Europe region." Sascha Gabizon, Executive Director, Women in Europe for a Common Future says: “Many of the countries in the European region invest little money in measures to improve children’s health, which is difficult to understand, given that children are our future. Damage to health during childhood can have life-long negative effects." "The CEHAPE awards show how local initiatives can be key to improving children’s health, in particular in schools and kindergartens. In 2010, each child should have access to safe water and sanitation - Why is it that 13,000 children are still dying of water borne diseases in our region?"(6) asks Ms Gabizon. Other major problems for children's health are indoor air quality, exposure to harmful chemicals and a lack of opportunity for physical activity.(7) "Each child should be able to attend a school where he or she is not exposed to asbestos dust or other indoor air contaminants. Unfortunately, half the countries represented here in Parma continue to build their schools using asbestos. Each child should also be protected from harmful chemicals, in their toys, clothes and living environments and be able to benefit from safe physical activity and from green, natural areas. There is still a long way to go, but the CEHAPE awards show that support for local initiatives really pays off," Sascha Gabizon says. The overall winner in each category of the CEHAPE Awards will receive a cheque for 1,000 Euros. The eight award categories are based on the four priority goals of CEHAPE (Water and sanitation; Accident prevention and physical activity; Air quality; and Hazardous chemicals and radiation); two key challenges for children's health and the environment: mobility and climate change, and two inspirational settings: youth participation and schools. (2) …/… THE WINNERS Category 1: Water and Sanitation Winner: Arūnas Balsevičius, Station of Nature Research and Environmental Education, Lithuania. Voluntary monitoring of drinking water wells by local citizens keeps the water supply safe for children in Marijampolė County. In Lithuania, more than one in four of the country's population relies on drinking water from wells. Category 2: Accident Prevention and Physical Activity Winner: Katrina Phillips, Child Accident Prevention Trust, United Kingdom The organisers of Child Safety Week 2009 say 6.5 million people were reached through mailouts and participation in local events. A total of 70,000 booklets containing simple ideas on how to improve child safety were distributed and downloaded from the website. Category 3: Air Quality Winner: Sara Reekmans, The Flemish Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, the Flemish Agency for Care and Health, and the Flemish Local Health Networks, Belgium This educational project helps provide fresh and healthy air for classrooms in primary schools. It has been so successful that the organisers are working on a request to extend the scheme to secondary schools. Category 4: Hazardous Chemicals and Radiation Winner: Petr Sharov, Far Eastern Environmental Health Fund, Russia By changing the contaminated soil in playgrounds, this project has substantially reduced children's risks of lead exposure. The number of children with lead in their blood above internationally-recommended safety levels has been halved. Category 5: Mobility Winner: Franz Leeb, PORG Volders grammar school, Austria School children are promoting public transport and cycling to school as a way to reduce noise and air pollution around their school. Coverage of the project in newspapers and on the radio has allowed discussion of the high cost of travel on public transport. Category 6: Climate Protection Winner: Elena Manvelyan, Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment, Armenia A kindergarten in Armenia now has solar powered, low-cost, hot water supply, thanks to this successful project. Some of the children's parents are so impressed that they are having their own solar plants installed at home. Category 7: Youth Participation Winner: Irina Fedorenko, Green Light Youth Organization, Russia The organisers have provided young people with an inspiring computer-based interactive environmental education and action programme about the environment and health. An estimated 2,000 young people have taken part in environmental measures associated with the project. Category 8: Schools Winner: Umidjon Ulugov, Youth of the 21st Century, Tajikistan This project creates "Green schools" with the help of student environmental management programmes. Classrooms involved in the project are warmer, tidier and boiled drinking water is available. Student health has improved with fewer absences due to upset stomachs and flu. Funds have been created by selling plastic and waste paper to recycling companies. The CEHAPE competition and award ceremony was sponsored by the following Ministries and Agencies: Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management - Division on Transport, Mobility, Human Settlement and Noise, Austria Joint-Interministerial Conference on Environment and Health in charge of NEHAP,Belgium Ministry of the Environment, Denmark Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety,Germany Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, the Netherlands Ministry of the Environment, Norway Ministry of Health and Care Services, Norway Ministry of the Environment, Sweden Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) thank the European Commission for its financial support. Contacts: Genon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance, E-mail: genon@envhealth.org Mobile: +32 4 72 445 968 Website: www.env-health.org Sascha Gabizon, Executive Director, Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), Mobile: +49 172 863 7586. Email: sascha.gabizon@wecf.eu Website: www.wecf.eu Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943 E-mail: Diana@gsmith.com.fr Website: www.env-health.org Notes for journalists 1. Press conference: 10.00-10.30, the Media Centre, Auditorium Niccolo Paganini, Parma Municipality Congress Centre, Viale Barilla 29/a, 43100 Parma. Website: www.euro.who.int/parma2010 CEHAPE is under discussion at the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region in Parma, 10-12 March 2010. 2. A fuller description of each project is available in the brochure, "CEHAPE Awards, Second competition on good practice in children's health and the environment", which also features the work of HEAL and WECF on children's health. It is available at www.env-health.org or www.wecf.eu on 11 March 2010 after the announcement of the winners. 3. Parma Declaration on Environment and Health , para 3.b – key environment and health challenges of our time. Conference documents not publicly available. 4. Parma Declaration on Environment and Health, para 3.e – one of the key environment and health challenges identified by ministers are “concerns raised by emerging issues such as persistent, endocrine-disrupting and bio-accumulating harmful chemicals and [nano]” (as above) 5. Commitment to Act, Chapter A, RPGIV, para iv (page 3) calls for more research on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and safer alternatives. 6. In the WHO European Region, this risk factor causes over 13,000 deaths from diarrhoea among children aged 0-14 years (5.3% of all deaths in this age group) each year, WHO press release www.euro.who.int/mediacentre... 7. Commitment to Act, Protecting children's health, Chapter A calls on countries to work toward targets to improve access to safe water and sanitation, address obesity and injuries through safe environments and providing healthy indoor environments in child specific settings. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to promote a healthy environment for healthy people. It represents a diverse network of more than 60 groups representing citizens, patients, women's groups, health professionals, and environmental advocates across Europe. Working at the European level, HEAL focuses on chemicals, pesticides, climate change, air quality, mercury, children's vulnerabilities and many other aspects of EU policy that are relevant to people's health and the environment. Women in Europe for a Common Future – WECF – is a network of over 100 women and environment organisations in over 40 countries, created in 1994 following the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, to give women a stronger voice in sustainable development and environmental policy, with the aim of balancing environmental, health and economic perspectives, WECF strives for a Healthy Environment for All. WECF implements sustainable development projects at local level and promotes policies for a healthy environment at global level. |
| 11/03/2010 | Wedstrijd beloont milieuproject dat levens van kinderen redt Giftig speelgoed, asbest in scholen en vervuild drinkwater Persbericht Onder embargo tot donderdag 11 maart 00.00 uur . Parma, Italië, 11 maart 2010 – Vandaag hebben acht projecten de Children's Environment and Health Plan for Europe (CEHAPE) Prijs ontvangen op de vijfde ministeriële conferentie over Milieu en Gezondheid van de WHO Europese Regio (1). Alle winnaars laten in hun projecten zien hoe met kleine aanpassingen de leefomgeving van kinderen en hun gezondheid enorm verbeterd kan worden (2), zo stellen de internationale non-gouvermentele organisaties die deze wedstrijd organiseerden; Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), EcoForum, en de Internationale Vereniging van Dokters voor het Milieu uit Oostenrijk. De Nederlandse Sascha Gabizon, directeur van Women in Europe for a Common Future zegt: “Vele landen in de Europese regio investeren weinig geld in maatregelen die de gezondheid van kinderen verbeteren, dit is moeilijk te begrijpen, kinderen zijn immers onze toekomst. Schade aan de gezondheid tijdens de kindertijd kan levenslange, negatieve effecten hebben.” De CEHAPE prijzen laten zien hoe lokale initiatieven de sleutel kunnen zijn tot het verbeteren van de gezondheid van kinderen, in het bijzonder in scholen en kinderopvangcentra. “In 2010 zou elk kind toegang moeten hebben tot veilig water en sanitair – Waarom gaan er dan nog steeds 13.000 kinderen dood aan ziektes die door water worden overgebracht?” (6) vraagt Gabizon zich af. “De gezondheid van kinderen in Europa wordt bedreigd”, zegt Genon Jensen, directeur van HEAL. “Serieuze gezondheidsproblemen, zoals kanker, komen steeds vaker voor en de traditionele doodsoorzaken – zoals aandoeningen aan de luchtwegen en diarree – worden negatief beinvloed door klimaatverandering.(3) Hormoonverstorende stoffen – bekend als EDC’s - vormen een serieus probleem op het terrein van milieu en gezondheid (4), op dit gebied moet prioriteit gegeven worden aan het ontdekken van veiligere alternatieven (5)”. “Elke winnaar van de CEHAPE prijzen heeft laten zien hoe de gezondheid van kinderen beschermd kan worden met behulp van projecten die lage kosten hebben, weinig technologische interventies vereisen en waarin bovendien een actieve rol is weggelegd voor de lokale bevolking. We zouden graag zien dat deze projecten brede navolging ondervinden binnen de gemeenschappen in de Europese Unie en in de gehele WHO Europese regio”. Andere grote problemen voor de gezondheid van kinderen worden gevormd door binnenluchtkwaliteit, blootstelling aan gevaarlijke chemicaliën en een gebrek aan mogelijkheden voor fysieke activiteit (7). “Elk kind zou naar een school moeten kunnen gaan waar hij/zij niet wordt blootgesteld aan asbest, stof of andere binnenlucht vervuilers. Helaas gebruikt de helft van de landen hier aanwezig in Parma asbest om scholen mee te bouwen. Elk kind zou ook beschermd moeten worden tegen gevaarlijke chemicaliën in speelgoed, kleding en in de directe omgeving en zou moeten kunnen genieten van fysieke beweging en groene, natuurlijke gebieden. Dit is nog een lange weg te gaan, maar de CEHAPE prijzen laten zien dat de steun aan lokale initiatieven echt iets oplevert,” zegt Sascha Gabizon. De winnaar in elke categorie van de CEHAPE prijzen zal een cheque ontvangen van 1000 euro. De acht prijzencategorieën zijn gebaseerd op de vier algemene doeleinden van CEHAPE (water en sanitaire voorzieningen; voorkomen van ongelukken en fysieke activiteit; luchtkwaliteit; en gevaarlijke chemicaliën en straling); de twee belangrijkste problemen voor de gezondheid van kinderen en het milieu: mobiliteit en klimaatsverandering, en twee inspirerende gebieden: jeugd participatie en scholen (2). DE WINNAARS Categorie 1: Water en Sanitaire voorzieningen Winnaar: Arūnas Balsevičius, Centrum voor Natuur onderzoek en Milieu onderwijs, Litouwen. Het vrijwillig toezicht op bronnen van drinkwater door burgers zorgt ervoor dat de watervoorziening veilig is voor de kinderen in het Marijampolė gebied. In Litouwen is meer dan 1 op de 4 mensen van de bevolking afhankelijk van de watervoorziening uit bronnen. Categorie 2: Voorkomen van ongelukken en fysieke activiteit Winnaar: Katrina Phillips, Fonds ter voorkoming van kinderongelukken, Verenigd Koninkrijk. De organisatoren van de Kind Veiligheid Week 2009 stellen dat 6.5 miljoen mensen bereikt zijn door mailings en deelname aan lokale activiteiten. Een totaal aantal van 70.000 brochures werd verspreid en gedownload van de website, deze bevatten simpele ideeën over hoe de veiligheid van het kind verbeterd kan worden. Categorie 3: Luchtkwaliteit Winnaar: Sara Reekmans, Vlaams Instituut voor Gezondheidsbevordering en Ziektepreventie, het Vlaams Agentschap voor Zorg en gezondheid, en de Vlaamse Lokale Gezondheidsnetwerken, België. Dit educatieve project hielp bij het voorzien in frisse klaslokalen met een gezonde luchtkwaliteit op basisscholen. Het project is zo succesvol dat er nu gewerkt wordt aan een verzoek om de doelstelling van dit project uit te breiden naar middelbare scholen. Categorie 4: Gevaarlijke Chemicaliën en Straling Winnaar: Petr Sharov, Verre Oosten Milieu-Gezondheidsfonds, Rusland. Dit project heeft substantieel bijgedragen aan het verminderen van het risico op lood vergiftiging bij kinderen, door het veranderen van de vergiftigde grond op speelplaatsen. Het aantal kinderen met een lood-waarde die boven de internationaal aanbevolen veiligheidsnormen ligt, is hierdoor gehalveerd. Categorie 5: Mobiliteit Winnaar: Franz Leeb, PORG Volders Gymnasium, Oostenrijk. Scholieren ondersteunen het gebruik van openbaar vervoer en de fiets als vervoermiddel naar school als een manier om de geluid en lucht vervuiling rondom hun school te verminderen. Doordat dit project veel aandacht kreeg in kranten en op de radio, is een algemene discussie gestart over de hoge kosten van het reizen met openbaar vervoer. Categorie 6: Klimaatbescherming Winnaar: Elena Manvelyan, Armeense Vrouwen voor Gezondheid en een Gezond Milieu, Armenië. Dankzij dit succesvolle project heeft een kinderdagverblijf in Armenië nu de beschikking over een warm water voorziening die is voorzien van zonne-energie en waarvan de kosten laag zijn. Sommige van de ouders van de kinderen zij zo onder de indruk geraakt dat ze eigen zonnepanelen hebben geïnstalleerd in hun huizen. Categorie 7: Deelname van de jeugd Winnaar: Irina Fedorenko, Groen Licht Jeugd Organisatie, Rusland. De organisatoren hebben jongeren voorzien van een inspirerend, computer-gestuurd interactief milieu onderwijs en een actie-programma over gezondheid en milieu. Een geschat aantal van 2000 jongeren hebben deelgenomen aan de milieu maatregelen die verbonden zijn aan het project. Categorie 8: Scholen Winnaar: Umidjon Ulugov, Jeugd van de 21e Eeuw, Tadzjikistan. Dit project heeft “groene scholen” gecreëerd met behulp van milieubeheer programma’s door studenten. Klaslokalen die deelnemen in het project zijn warmer, netter en hebben gekookt drinkwater in voorraad. De gezondheid van studenten is verbeterd, er zijn minder absenten door maagproblemen en koorts. De fondsen hiervoor zijn ontstaan door het verkopen van plastic en papieren afval aan recycle bedrijven. De CEHAPE wedstrijd en prijzenceremonie werd gesponsord door de volgende Ministeries en Agentschappen. Federaal Ministerie van Landbouw, Bosbouw, Milieu en Waterbeheer – Afdeling Transport, Mobiliteit, Human Settlement en Geluid, Oostenrijk. Gemengde-Interministeriële Conferentie over Milieu en Gezondheid, belast met NEHAP, België. Ministerie van Milieu, Denemarken. Federaal Milieu Agentschap, (Umweltbundesamt). Federaal Ministerie voor Milieu, Natuurbeheer en Nucleaire Veiligheid, Duitsland. Ministerie van Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke Ordening en Milieu, Nederland. Ministerie van Milieu, Noorwegen. Ministerie van Volksgezondheid en Zorg, Noorwegen. Ministerie van Milieu, Zweden. Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) en Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) danken de Europese Commissie voor haar financiële steun. www.wecf.eu www.env-health.org Contact voor de pers: Sascha Gabizon, Directeur, Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), Mobiel: +49172 863 7586. Email: sascha.gabizon@wecf.eu Website: www.wecf.eu Chantal van den Bossche, persvoorlichter WECF mobiel +31-6 28129992, chantal.vandenbossche@wecf.eu. Noten voor journalisten 1. Persconferentie: 10.00-10.30,the Media Centre, Auditorium Niccolo Paganini, Parma Municipality Congress Centre, Viale Barilla 29/a, 43100 Parma. Website: www.euro.who.int/parma2010 CEHAPE is een onderwerp van de Vijfde Ministeriële Conferentie betreffende Milieu en Gezondheid georganiseerd door de Wereldgezondheidsorganisatie (WHO) Europese Regio in Parma, 10-12 Maart 2010. 2. Een vollediger beschrijving van elk project is beschikbaar in de brochure, "CEHAPE Awards, Second competition on good practice in children's health and the environment", welke tevens het werk beschrijft van HEAL and WECF aangaande de gezondheid van kinderen. Deze is te downloaden van www.wecf.eu vanaf 11 maart 2010, na bekendmaking van de winnaars. 3. De Parma Verklaring van Milieu en Gezondheid, paragraaf 3.b – de kernproblemen van milieu en gezondheid in onze tijd. Documenten van de conferentie zijn niet openbaar. 4. De Parma Declaration van Milieu en Gezondheid, paragraaf 3.e – een van de kernproblemen van milieu en gezondheid geïdentificeerd door ministers zijn “zorgen die ontstaan zijn door nieuwe onderwerpen zoals blijvende, hormoonontregelende en bio-accumulerende schadelijke stoffen en [nano]” (zoals hierboven). 5. Commitment to Act, Chapter A, RPGIV, paragraaf iv (pagina 3) roept om meer onderzoek naar hormoonontregelende stoffen (EDC’s) en veiligere alternatieven. 6. In de WHO Europese Regio, kost deze risicofactor elk jaar meer dan 13,000 doden door diarree bij kinderen in de leeftijd van 0-14 jaar (5.3% van alle doden in deze leeftijdsgroep), WHO persbericht: www.euro.who.int/mediacentre... 7. Commitment to Act, Beschermen van de gezondheid van kinderen, Hoofdstuk A roept landen op om zich te richten op het verbeteren van toegang tot veilig water en sanitaire voorzieningen, om zich te richten op een veilige omgeving en zo de problemen van zwaarlijvigheid en verwondingen te erkennen en zich te richten op het voorzien in een gezonde binnenhuis omgeving in kinderspecifieke omstandigheden. WECF is een netwerkorganisatie bestaande uit meer dan 100 vrouwen- en milieuorganisaties in veertig landen in Europa en de EECCA regio (Oost-Europa, Kaukasus en Centraal-Azië) die gezamenlijk werken aan duurzame ontwikkeling, bescherming van gezondheid en milieu en armoedebestrijding. Met ons projectwerk ontwikkelen we praktische en betaalbare oplossingen op het gebied van chemicaliën, sanitatie, energie en voedselproductie. Met ons beleidswerk brengen we de perspectieven van vrouwen voor het voetlicht op Europees, VN, nationaal en internationaal niveau. Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) richt zich op het stimuleren van een gezonde omgeving voor gezonde mensen. Het vertegenwoordigd een divers netwerk van meer dan 60 groeperingen die zich richten op burgers, patiënten, vrouwenorganisaties, gezondheidswerkers en milieu organisaties verspreid in Europa. Werkend op het europese niveau, richt HEAL zich op chemicaliën, pesticiden, klimaatverandering, luchtkwaliteit, lood, de kwetsbaarheid van kinderen en veel andere aspecten van Europees beleid die belangrijk zijn voor de gezondheid van mensen en voor het milieu. |
| 11/03/2010 | Les Trophées CEHAPE attribués aux projets environnementaux qui sauvent des vies d’enfants Le RES, membre de HEAL, fait part du Communiqué de presse de HEAL à l’occasion de la conférence de l’OMS sur la santé et l’environnement à Parme Parme, Italie le 11 mars 2010 – Huit projets gagnants ont été récompensés par les Trophées du Plan d’action européen pour la santé et l’environnement de l’enfant (CEHAPE) tenus aujourd’hui à la 5e conférence interministérielle santé-environnement de la région européenne de l’OMS. (1) Les ONG internationales responsables des Trophées du CEHAPE sont l’Alliance pour la Santé et l’Environnement (HEAL), Femmes d’Europe pour un Futur ensemble (WECF), EcoForum et la Société internationales des Médecins pour l’Environnement en Autriche. Selon ces ONG, chaque projet est une illustration des “bonnes pratiques” qui visent à améliorer l’environnement et la santé des enfants (2). “La santé des enfants en Europe est menacée” d’après Genon Jensen, directrice de HEAL (l’Alliance pour la Santé et l’Environnement). « La fréquence des maladies chroniques dégénératives telles que le cancer augmente chaque année et les maladies infectieuses traditionnelles – respiratoire et digestive- sont susceptibles d’exploser avec le changement climatique. (3) Les substances chimiques de type perturbateurs endocriniens – PE- sont identifiées comme un enjeu clé de la santé et de l’environnement aujourd’hui et présentées comme un champ prioritaire où il faut trouver des alternatives saines (5). » “Chaque projet gagnant des Trophées du CEHAPE a montré comment la santé des enfants peut être protégé avec peu de frais et moyens technologiques tout en impliquant le public au niveau local. Nous voudrions que ces projets se reproduisent autant que possible à travers l’Union européenne et la région européenne de l’OMS“. Selon Sascha Gabizon, directrice de WECF (Femmes d’Europe pour un Futur ensemble) : « Beaucoup de pays de la région européenne investissent peu dans les mesures qui permettraient d’améliorer la santé des enfants, ce qui est difficile à comprendre, étant entendu que les enfants sont notre avenir. Les atteintes à la santé pendant l’enfance peuvent avoir des effets négatifs tout au long de la vie ». “Les Trophées du CEHAPE montrent comment les initiatives locales peuvent jouer un rôle clé pour améliorer la santé des enfants particulièrement dans les écoles et les jardins d’enfants. En 2010, chaque enfant devrait avoir accès à l’eau potable et aux commodités – Comment se fait-il que 13000 enfants meurent encore de maladies liées à l’eau dans notre région ? (6)“ demande Mme Gabizon. Autre problème majeur pour la santé des enfants la qualité de l’air intérieur, l’exposition aux substances chimiques toxiques et le manque d’activité physique. (7) « Chaque enfant devrait pouvoir fréquenter une école où il n’est pas exposé à la poussière d’amiante ou à d’autres contaminants présents dans l’air intérieur. Malheureusement, la moitié des états représentés ici à Parme continuent de bâtir des écoles avec de l’amiante. Chaque enfant devrait aussi être protégé des substances chimiques toxiques présentes dans leurs jouets, habits et leur environnement immédiat. Chaque enfant devrait pouvoir bénéficier d’une activité physique saine et d’espaces verts et naturels. Il reste encore un long chemin à parcourir mais les Trophées du CEHAPE montrent que le soutien aux initiatives locales, ça marche » selon Sascha Gabizon. Les primés de chaque catégorie des Trophées du CEHAPE remporteront un cheque de 1000 euros. Les 8 catégories primées sont basées sur les 4 axes prioritaires du CEHAPE (Eau et gestion de l’eau, Prévention des accidents et activités physiques, Qualité de l’air, Substances chimiques toxiques et radiation) ; 2 enjeux clés pour la santé et l’environnement des enfants : la mobilité et le changement climatique ; ainsi que 2 champs d’action : la mobilisation jeune et les écoles. (2) …/… Les gagnants sont : Catégorie 1: Eau et gestion de l’eau Vainqueur : Arūnas Balsevičius, Station de recherche et d’éducation à l’environnement Lituanie Le suivi volontaire des puits d’eau de boisson par les habitants eux-mêmes permet aux enfants du comté de Marijampolè un approvisionnement sain en eau. En Lituanie, plus d’une personne sur 4 se fournit en eau de boisson provenant des puits. Catégorie 2: Prévention des accidents et activités physiques Vainqueur : Katrina Phillips, Fonds de prévention des accidents infantiles, Royaume-Uni Selon les organisateurs de la semaine pour la sécurité des enfants en 2009, 6.5 millions de personnes ont été informées par la diffusion de leur message et les événements locaux. 70 000 livrets contenant des conseils simples pour améliorer la sécurité des enfants ont été distribués et téléchargés sur le site internet. Catégorie 3: Qualité de l’air Vainqueur : Sara Reekmans, L’Institut flamand pour la promotion de la santé et la prévention des maladies, l’Agence flamande pour la Santé et les Soins, et le Réseau flamand local pour la Santé. Belgique Ce projet éducatif aide à fournir un air sain et frais aux classes primaires. Ce projet a rencontré un tel succès que les organisateurs travaillent sur la demande de généralisation du principe aux classes du secondaire. Catégorie 4: Substances chimiques toxiques et radiation Vainqueur : Petr Sharov, Fonds pour la Santé environnementale de l’Extrême-Est. Russie En modifiant le sol contaminé des airs de jeux, ce projet a substantiellement réduit les risques d’exposition des enfants au plomb. Le nombre d’enfants avec une dose de plomb dans leur organisme au-dessus des seuils recommandés au niveau international a diminué de moitié. Catégorie 5: Mobilité Vainqueur : Franz Leeb, L’école de PORG Volders Autriche Les enfants de l’école font la promotion des transports publics et des trajets à vélo pour se rendre à l’école comme moyen de réduire les nuisances sonores et la pollution de l’air autour de leur école. La couverture de ce projet dans les journaux et à la radio a permis une discussion sur le coût élevé des déplacement en transports publics. Catégorie 6: Changement climatique Vainqueur : Elena Manvelyan, Femmes arméniennes pour la santé et un environnement sain. Arménie Un jardin d’enfants en Arménie est désormais équipé d’un système d’alimentation en eau chaude grâce à une centrale économique solaire. Certains parents ont été tellement enthousiasmés qu’ils ont installé leur propre équipement solaire à la maison. Catégorie 7: Mobilisation jeune Winner: Irina Fedorenko, Organisation jeune Lumière verte. Russie Les organisateurs ont mis à la disposition du jeune public un programme informatique interactif d’éducation et d’action favorables à l’environnement et à la santé. 2000 jeunes environ ont pris part à des mesures associées au projet. Catégorie 8: Ecoles Winner: Umidjon Ulugov, Jeunes du 21e siècle. Tadjikistan Ce projet a créé des “écoles vertes” avec le soutien des étudiants en management environnemental. Les classes bénéficiant du projet sont mieux isolées, entretenues et alimentées en eau chaude. La santé des étudiants s’est améliorée puisque l’absentéisme dû aux troubles de l’estomac et aux infections respiratoires a diminué. Les fonds ont été récoltés grâce à la vente de plastique et de résidus de papier aux compagnies de recyclage. Les Trophées du CEHAPE et la cérémonie de remise ont été sponsorisés par les ministères et les agences ci-après : • Ministère de l’Agriculture, des forêts, de l’environnement et de la gestion de l’eau – Division transport, mobilité, occupation des sols et bruits. Autriche • Conférence interministérielle sur l’Environnement et la Santé en charge du Plan national d’action Santé Environnement en Belgique • Ministère de l’Environnement, Danemark • Agence fédérale de l’Environnement, Allemagne Ministère de l’environnement, de la conservation de la nature et la sûreté nucléaire, Allemagne • Ministère du logement, de l’aménagement et de l’environnement, Pays-Bas • Ministère de l’environnement Norvège • Ministère de la santé et des services de soins. Norvège • Ministère de l’environnement. Suède HEAL (l’Alliance pour la Santé et l’Environnement) et WECF (Femmes d’Europe pour un Futur ensemble) remercient la Commission européenne pour son soutien financier. Contacts: Genon K. Jensen, Directrice, Health & Environment Alliance, E-mail: genon@env-health.org Mobile: +32 4 72 445 968 Website: www.env-health.org Sascha Gabizon, Directrice, Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), Mobile: +49 172 863 7586. Email: sascha.gabizon@wecf.eu Website: www.wecf.eu Diana Smith, Responsable communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943 E-mail: Diana@gsmith.com.fr Website: www.env-health.org Notes pour les journalistes 1. Conférence de presse : 10.00-10.30, Media Centre, Auditorium Niccolo Paganini, Parma Municipality Congress Centre, Viale Barilla 29/a, 43100 Parma. Site internet : www.euro.who.int/parma2010 Le Plan CEHAPE (Plan d’action européen pour la santé et l’environnement de l’enfant) est discuté par les participants à la 5e conférence interministérielle santé-environnement de la région européenne de l’OMS. 2. Une description de chaque projet est disponible sur la brochure “Trophées du CEHAPE, deuxième concours des bonnes pratiques pour la santé et l’environnement des enfants“ mettant également en avant les actions de HEAL et de WECF pour la santé des enfants. Cette brochure sera disponible après l’annonce des vainqueurs des Trophées du CEHAPE le 11 mars 2010 sur www.env-health.org ou www.wecf.eu . 3. Déclaration de Parme sur la Santé et l’Environnement, para 3.b – les défis clés de notre temps en matière de santé et d’environnement. Documents de la Conférence pas encore disponible en version publique. 4. Déclaration de Parme sur la Santé et l’Environnement, para 3.e – un des défis clés en matière de santé et d’environnement identifié par les ministres est « la préoccupation soulevée par des sujets émergents tels que les substances chimiques toxiques bio-accumulables, persistantes et à caractère perturbateur endocrinien ainsi que les nanos ». (comme ci-dessus). 5. Engagement à agir, Chapitre A, RPGIV, para IV (page 3) appel à davantage de recherche sur les substances à caractère perturbateur endocrinien (PE) et des alternatives saines. 6. Dans la région européenne de l’OMS, ce facteur de risque cause près de 13.000 morts suite à des troubles liés à la diarrhée chez des enfants de 0 à 14 ans (5,3% du total des décès survenus dans cette tranche d’âge) chaque année, Communiqué de Presse de l’OMS www.euro.who.int/mediacentre... 7. Engagement à agir, Protéger la santé des enfants, le Chapitre A appelle les Etats à travailler sur l’objectif d’améliorer un accès et une gestion de l’eau saine, combattre l’obésité et les affections infantiles en faisant la promotion d’environnements sains et particulièrement l’environnement intérieur des structures dédiées aux enfants. L’Alliance pour la Santé et l’Environnement (HEAL) fait la promotion d’un environnement plus sain pour des citoyens en meilleure santé. HEAL représente un réseau composé au niveau européen de plus de 60 groupes de citoyens, malades, professionnels de santé, associations de femmes et de protection de l’environnement. HEAL concentre ses actions sur les substances chimiques, les pesticides, le changement climatique, la qualité de l’air, le mercure, les affections des enfants et beaucoup d’autres champs des politiques européennes recouvrant la santé et l’environnement des citoyens au niveau européen. WECF (Femmes d’Europe pour un Futur ensemble) est un réseau de plus de 100 femmes et d’organisations de protection de l’environnement présentes dans près de 40 pays. WECF a été créé à la suite du Sommet de la Terre tenu à Rio en 1992 pour mieux porter la voix des femmes en matière de développement durable et de politiques environnementales et ainsi rééquilibrer les perspectives économiques, en santé et en environnement pour tous. WECF met en place des projets de développement durable à l’échelle locale et fait la promotion des politiques globales en faveur de l’environnement et la santé. |
| 11/03/2010 | Wedstrijd beloont milieuproject dat levens van kinderen redt Giftig speelgoed, asbest in scholen en vervuild drinkwater Italië, 11 maart 2010 – Vandaag hebben acht projecten de Children's Environment and Health Plan for Europe (CEHAPE) Prijs ontvangen op de vijfde ministeriële conferentie over Milieu en Gezondheid van de WHO Europese Regio (1). Alle winnaars laten in hun projecten zien hoe met kleine aanpassingen de leefomgeving van kinderen en hun gezondheid enorm verbeterd kan worden (2), zo stellen de internationale non-gouvermentele organisaties die deze wedstrijd organiseerden; Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), EcoForum, en de Internationale Vereniging van Dokters voor het Milieu uit Oostenrijk. De Nederlandse Sascha Gabizon, directeur van Women in Europe for a Common Futurezegt: “Vele landen in de Europese regio investeren weinig geld in maatregelen die degezondheid van kinderen verbeteren, dit is moeilijk te begrijpen, kinderen zijn immers onze toekomst. Schade aan de gezondheid tijdens de kindertijd kan levenslange, negatieve effecten hebben.” De CEHAPE prijzen laten zien hoe lokale initiatieven de sleutel kunnen zijn tot het verbeteren van de gezondheid van kinderen, in het bijzonder in scholen en kinderopvangcentra. “In 2010 zou elk kind toegang moeten hebben tot veilig water en sanitair – Waarom gaan er dan nog steeds 13.000 kinderen dood aan ziektes die door water worden overgebracht?” (6) vraagt Gabizon zich af. “De gezondheid van kinderen in Europa wordt bedreigd”, zegt Genon Jensen, directeur va HEAL. “Serieuze gezondheidsproblemen, zoals kanker, komen steeds vaker voor en de traditionele doodsoorzaken – zoals aandoeningen aan de luchtwegen en diarree – worden negatief beinvloed door klimaatverandering.(3) Hormoonverstorende stoffen – bekend als EDC’s - vormen een serieus probleem op het terrein van milieu en gezondheid (4), op dit gebied moet prioriteit gegeven worden aan het ontdekken van veiligere alternatieven (5)”. “Elke winnaar van de CEHAPE prijzen heeft laten zien hoe de gezondheid van kinderen beschermd kan worden met behulp van projecten die lage kosten hebben, weinig technologische interventies vereisen en waarin bovendien een actieve rol is weggelegd voor de lokale bevolking. We zouden graag zien dat deze projecten brede navolging ondervinden binnen de gemeenschappen in de Europese Unie en in de gehele WHO Europese regio”. Andere grote problemen voor de gezondheid van kinderen worden gevormd door binnenluchtkwaliteit, blootstelling aan gevaarlijke chemicaliën en een gebrek aan mogelijkheden voor fysieke activiteit (7). “Elk kind zou naar een school moeten kunnen gaan waar hij/zij niet wordt blootgesteld aan asbest, stof of andere binnenlucht vervuilers. Helaas gebruikt de helft van de landen hier aanwezig in Parma asbest om scholen mee te bouwen. Elk kind zou ook beschermd moeten worden tegen gevaarlijke chemicaliën in speelgoed, kleding en in de directe omgeving en zou moeten kunnen genieten van fysieke beweging en groene, natuurlijke gebieden. Dit is nog een lange weg te gaan, maar de CEHAPE prijzen laten zien dat de steun aan lokale initiatieven echt iets oplevert,” zegt Sascha Gabizon. De winnaar in elke categorie van de CEHAPE prijzen zal een cheque ontvangen van 1000 euro. De acht prijzencategorieën zijn gebaseerd op de vier algemene doeleinden van CEHAPE (water en sanitaire voorzieningen; voorkomen van ongelukken en fysieke activiteit; luchtkwaliteit; en gevaarlijke chemicaliën en straling); de twee belangrijkste problemen voor de gezondheid van kinderen en het milieu: mobiliteit en klimaatsverandering, en twee inspirerende gebieden: jeugd participatie en scholen (2). DE WINNAARS Categorie 1: Water en Sanitaire voorzieningen Winnaar: Arūnas Balsevičius, Centrum voor Natuur onderzoek en Milieu onderwijs, Litouwen. Het vrijwillig toezicht op bronnen van drinkwater door burgers zorgt ervoor dat de watervoorziening veilig is voor de kinderen in het Marijampolė gebied. In Litouwen is meer dan 1 op de 4 mensen van de bevolking afhankelijk van de watervoorziening uit bronnen. Categorie 2: Voorkomen van ongelukken en fysieke activiteit Winnaar: Katrina Phillips, Fonds ter voorkoming van kinderongelukken, Verenigd Koninkrijk. De organisatoren van de Kind Veiligheid Week 2009 stellen dat 6.5 miljoen mensen bereikt zijn door mailings en deelname aan lokale activiteiten. Een totaal aantal van 70.000 brochures werd verspreid en gedownload van de website, deze bevatten simpele ideeën over hoe de veiligheid van het kind verbeterd kan worden. Categorie 3: Luchtkwaliteit Winnaar: Sara Reekmans, Vlaams Instituut voor Gezondheidsbevordering en Ziektepreventie, het Vlaams Agentschap voor Zorg en gezondheid, en de Vlaamse Lokale Gezondheidsnetwerken, België. Dit educatieve project hielp bij het voorzien in frisse klaslokalen met een gezonde luchtkwaliteit op basisscholen. Het project is zo succesvol dat er nu gewerkt wordt aan een verzoek om de doelstelling van dit project uit te breiden naar middelbare scholen. Categorie 4: Gevaarlijke Chemicaliën en Straling Winnaar: Petr Sharov, Verre Oosten Milieu-Gezondheidsfonds, Rusland. Dit project heeft substantieel bijgedragen aan het verminderen van het risico op lood vergiftiging bij kinderen, door het veranderen van de vergiftigde grond op speelplaatsen. Het aantal kinderen met een lood-waarde die boven de internationaal aanbevolen veiligheidsnormen ligt, is hierdoor gehalveerd. Categorie 5: Mobiliteit Winnaar: Franz Leeb, PORG Volders Gymnasium, Oostenrijk. Scholieren ondersteunen het gebruik van openbaar vervoer en de fiets als vervoermiddel naar school als een manier om de geluid en lucht vervuiling rondom hun school te verminderen. Doordat dit project veel aandacht kreeg in kranten en op de radio, is een algemene discussie gestart over de hoge kosten van het reizen met openbaar vervoer. Categorie 6: Klimaatbescherming Winnaar: Elena Manvelyan, Armeense Vrouwen voor Gezondheid en een Gezond Milieu, Armenië. Dankzij dit succesvolle project heeft een kinderdagverblijf in Armenië nu de beschikking over een warm water voorziening die is voorzien van zonne-energie en waarvan de kosten laag zijn. Sommige van de ouders van de kinderen zij zo onder de indruk geraakt dat ze eigen zonnepanelen hebben geïnstalleerd in hun huizen. Categorie 7: Deelname van de jeugd Winnaar: Irina Fedorenko, Groen Licht Jeugd Organisatie, Rusland. De organisatoren hebben jongeren voorzien van een inspirerend, computer-gestuurd interactief milieu onderwijs en een actie-programma over gezondheid en milieu. Een geschat aantal van 2000 jongeren hebben deelgenomen aan de milieu maatregelen die verbonden zijn aan het project. Categorie 8: Scholen Winnaar: Umidjon Ulugov, Jeugd van de 21e Eeuw, Tadzjikistan. Dit project heeft “groene scholen” gecreëerd met behulp van milieubeheer programma’s door studenten. Klaslokalen die deelnemen in het project zijn warmer, netter en hebben gekookt drinkwater in voorraad. De gezondheid van studenten is verbeterd, er zijn minder absenten door maagproblemen en koorts. De fondsen hiervoor zijn ontstaan door het verkopen van plastic en papieren afval aan recycle bedrijven. De CEHAPE wedstrijd en prijzenceremonie werd gesponsord door de volgende Ministeries en Agentschappen. Federaal Ministerie van Landbouw, Bosbouw, Milieu en Waterbeheer -Afdeling Transport, Mobiliteit, Human Settlement en Geluid, Oostenrijk. Gemengde-Interministeriële Conferentie over Milieu en Gezondheid, belast met NEHAP, België. Ministerie van Milieu, Denemarken. Federaal Milieu Agentschap, (Umweltbundesamt). Federaal Ministerie voor Milieu, Natuurbeheer en Nucleaire Veiligheid, Duitsland. Ministerie van Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke Ordening en Milieu, Nederland. Ministerie van Milieu, Noorwegen. Ministerie van Volksgezondheid en Zorg, Noorwegen. Ministerie van Milieu, Zweden. Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) en Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) danken de Europese Commissie voor haar financiële steun. www.wecf.eu www.env-health.org Contact voor de pers: Sascha Gabizon, Directeur, Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), Mobiel: +49 172 863 7586. Email: sascha.gabizon@wecf.eu Website: www.wecf.eu Chantal van den Bossche, persvoorlichter WECF mobiel +31-6 28129992, chantal.vandenbossche@wecf.eu. Noten voor journalisten 1. Persconferentie: 10.00-10.30,the Media Centre, Auditorium Niccolo Paganini, Parma Municipality Congress Centre, Viale Barilla 29/a, 43100 Parma. Website: www.euro.who.int/parma2010 CEHAPE is een onderwerp van de Vijfde Ministeriële Conferentie betreffende Milieu en Gezondheid georganiseerd door de Wereldgezondheidsorganisatie (WHO) Europese Regio in Parma, 10-12 Maart 2010. 2. Een vollediger beschrijving van elk project is beschikbaar in de brochure, "CEHAPE Awards, Second competition on good practice in children's health and the environment", welke tevens het werk beschrijft van HEAL and WECF aangaande de gezondheid van kinderen. Deze is te downloaden van www.wecf.eu vanaf 11 maart 2010, na bekendmaking van de winnaars. 3. De Parma Verklaring van Milieu en Gezondheid, paragraaf 3.b – de kernproblemen van milieu en gezondheid in onze tijd. Documenten van de conferentie zijn niet openbaar. 4. De Parma Declaration van Milieu en Gezondheid, paragraaf 3.e – een van de kernproblemen van milieu en gezondheid geïdentificeerd door ministers zijn “zorgen die ontstaan zijn door nieuwe onderwerpen zoals blijvende, hormoonontregelende en bio-accumulerende schadelijke stoffen en [nano]” (zoals hierboven). 5. Commitment to Act, Chapter A, RPGIV, paragraaf iv (pagina 3) roept om meer onderzoek naar hormoonontregelende stoffen (EDC’s) en veiligere alternatieven. 6. In de WHO Europese Regio, kost deze risicofactor elk jaar meer dan 13,000 doden door diarree bij kinderen in de leeftijd van 0-14 jaar (5.3% van alle doden in deze leeftijdsgroep), WHO persbericht: www.euro.who.int/mediacentre... 7. Commitment to Act, Beschermen van de gezondheid van kinderen, Hoofdstuk A roept landen op om zich te richten op het verbeteren van toegang tot veilig water en sanitaire voorzieningen, om zich te richten op een veilige omgeving en zo de problemen van zwaarlijvigheid en verwondingen te erkennen en zich te richten op het voorzien in een gezonde binnenhuis omgeving in kinderspecifieke omstandigheden. WECF is een netwerkorganisatie bestaande uit meer dan 100 vrouwen- en milieuorganisaties in veertig landen in Europa en de EECCA regio (Oost-Europa, Kaukasus en Centraal-Azië) die gezamenlijk werken aan duurzame ontwikkeling, bescherming van gezondheid en milieu en armoedebestrijding. Met ons projectwerk ontwikkelen we praktische en betaalbare oplossingen op het gebied van chemicaliën, sanitatie, energie en voedselproductie. Met ons beleidswerk brengen we de perspectieven van vrouwen voor het voetlicht op Europees, VN, nationaal en internationaal niveau. Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) richt zich op het stimuleren van een gezonde omgeving voor gezonde mensen. Het vertegenwoordigd een divers netwerk van meer dan 60 groeperingen die zich richten op burgers, patiënten, vrouwenorganisaties, gezondheidswerkers en milieu organisaties verspreid in Europa. Werkend op het europese niveau, richt HEAL zich op chemicaliën, pesticiden, klimaatverandering, luchtkwaliteit, lood, de kwetsbaarheid van kinderen en veel andere aspecten van Europees beleid die belangrijk zijn voor de gezondheid van mensen en voor het milieu. |
| 10/03/2010 | Lung health under threat from climate change and deteriorating air quality Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, Protecting children's health in a changing environment", Parma, Italy, 10-12 March 2010 Side event symposium organised by the European Respiratory Society, ERS Environmental influences on children's respiratory health INFORMATION RELEASE, Parma, Italy 10 March 2010 – Environmental health and medical experts are calling for more attention to be given to respiratory disease (1) at a symposium during the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health today in Parma, Italy, as part of the 2010 Year of the Lung activities. "Unless we act NOW, one in six premature deaths worldwide will be caused by lung disease by 2020," says Prof. Nikos Siafakas, ERS President, and Coordinator of the 2010 Year of the Lung campaign, European Region. “We are here today to provide recommendations on the necessary research and policy actions to reverse this trend in Europe.” (2) People with respiratory problems will be hit particularly hard by temperature increases and poor air quality associated with global warming, according to the European Respiratory Society and the Health and Environment Alliance, leading organisations with expertise in environment and health. Recent scientific evidence shows that the risk of premature death among respiratory patients is up to six times higher than in the rest of the population for every one degree Celsius rise in temperature. (3) Outdoor and indoor air pollutants are other concerns. Everyone living in a city is exposed to outdoor air pollution to some extent, and even low dose exposure can be harmful to health. The most prevalent problem for indoor air quality is still environmental tobacco smoke but concerns extend to other sources of indoor air pollution, such as various consumer products (air fresheners) and building materials, further aggravated by problems of dampness and mould. As households in Europe and elsewhere endeavour to make their homes more air tight in an attempt to reduce energy costs, opportunities for ventilating indoor spaces decline and exposure to indoor air pollutants increases. The symposium today will review these and other factors so that research gaps and policy recommendations can be defined. Isabella Annesi-Maesano of the European Respiratory Society, who will be speaking at the symposium, says: "We need to increase awareness of these problems, boost research capacity, and introduce the health-friendly policies that can make a difference to adults and children's lives. For example, on outdoor air policy, specific public level decisions can be taken to reduce emissions and thus reduce children's exposure." Italian Dr Gennaro D'Amato will speak on behalf of the European Respiratory Society on "Emerging future threats due to climatic change factors". The European Respiratory Society would like to see more funds allocated to research on children's respiratory health. While the impact of climate change on older people, and the particularly serious effects on people with respiratory diseases, are known, no similar research has been done for the impact on children. Such research is urgently needed because children absorb proportionately more than adults from each breath they take. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) is calling for a strong stance from the European Union on targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A report commissioned by HEAL and others shows that the cleaner air associated with climate change policies can reduce hospital admissions and premature deaths representing future savings to society and health systems of up to 25 billion Euros per year in monetary terms. (4) "We believe that both a 40% reduction target on carbon emissions in the EU and urgent implementation of the WHO guidelines on air quality are needed to protect respiratory health," says Anne Stauffer, Policy Coordinator at HEAL, who will also be speaking at the Symposium in Parma. Contacts: Dr. Isabella Annesi-Maesano, Member European Respiratory Society Environment & Health committee, INSERM & UPMC, Medical School Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France. Email: annesimaesano@gmail.com. Anne Stauffer, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), E-mail: anne@env-health.org, Tel: +32 472 711092 Diana Smith, Communications, HEAL, E-mail: Diana@env-health.org. Tel:+33 6 33 04 2943. Notes 1. Respiratory diseases include conditions such as asthma, respiratory tract infections, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 2. Year of the Lung: The European Respiratory Society has joined with several other leading lung health organisations to launch the Year of the Lung in 2010. See www.2010yearofthelung.org) The 2010 Year of the Lung aims to: increase awareness and action in lung health, call for health-friendly environment policies, and advocate for resources to improve diagnosis, treatment and care. 3. ERS Position Statement, Climate change and respiratory disease: European Respiratory Society position statement, J G Ayres et al, European Respiratory Journal 2009; 34: 295-302. The position paper is available at http://erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/cont... 4. The 25 billion Euro figure is taken from the “Co-benefits of stronger climate change policy” report. It was commissioned by HEAL, WWF and Climate Action Network Europe. It is available at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/C... to_health_report_-september_2008.pdf The European Respiratory Society (ERS) is a professional, medical organisation with more than 10,000 members in over 100 countries representing medical and scientific experts in the field of respiratory medicine and lung science. Its mission is to promote lung health through research, knowledge sharing and medical education. Website: www.ersnet.org Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection and sustainability improves health and to empower the health community to contribute their expertise to policy making. Since its inception, HEAL’s membership has grown to include a diverse network of more than 60 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organizations across Europe which together have a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debate and the decision-making process. Website: www.env-health.org |
| 08/03/2010 | HEAL takes part in ministerial talks on children’s health in Parma Press announcement, Brussels, 8 March 2010 ‐ The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) is leading a delegation of non‐governmental organisations to the 5th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health of the WHO European Region, which will take place in Parma, Italy, 10‐12 March 2010. HEAL and other not‐for‐profit representatives (1) will be among about 600 participants brought together to review progress on agreements by European ministers of health and environment, and make new pledges to improve people’s health and the environment. The cornerstone document is the Children's Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe (CEHAPE), which was adopted at the last ministerial conference in 2004 and has four priority themes: Reducing gastrointestinal disorders with safer water and adequate sanitation Protection from injuries and adequate physical activity to combat obesity and reduce accidents Cleaner air to reduce asthma and respiratory diseases Protection from hazardous chemicals to reduce disease. HEAL will be urging ministers to take action against emerging health and environment threats such as climate change, pesticides, hazardous chemicals and nano materials; highlighting areas where progress is slow; awarding winners of a nongovernmental good practice in children's environment and health competition; and highlighting why youth participation is so important in environmental health. MEDIA EVENTS and PRESS RELEASES Press briefing "Acknowledging good practice in improving children's environmental health" Competition organised by HEAL and NGO partners where eight winning awards will be presented. A booklet and press release about the winning projects will be available at www.env‐health.org from early morning on the day. When and where: Thursday 11 March, 10.00‐10.30 in Media Centre (to right of the plenary room), Auditorium Niccolo Paganini, Parma Municipality Congress Centre, Viale Barilla 29/a, 43100 Parma. DAILY UPDATES: HEAL will also provide regular press releases and updates, which will be available on our website www.env‐health.org You can also join our Twitter news feed to be alerted on all developments (twitter.com/HealthandEnv). WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION programme of media events and registration is available at http://www.euro.who.int/parma2010/m... (2) The WHO European Region Environment and Health process with a series of ministerial meetings over the past 20 years, is coordinated by a steering group brought together by the World Health Organization. Genon Jensen, Executive Director, HEAL has represented the health non‐governmental sector in this process for the past 10 years. For more information (and to be added to the press mailing list), please contact: Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, 28 Boulevard Charlemagne, B‐1000 Brussels. Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943 (in Parma from Tuesday, 9 March). E‐mail: diana@env‐health.org Notes to journalists 1. Many HEAL members and partners are attending the meeting including Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), International Society of Doctors for the Environment Austria, European Respiratory Society (ERS), European Child Safety Alliance (ESCA), International Network on Children's Health, Environment & Safety (INCHES), Health Care Without Harm Europe amongst many others. 2. Briefings include a media workshop on 9 March, a curtain raiser press conference organized by WHO/Europe and the Italian government on Wednesday 10 March at 12:30 in the Auditorium Niccolò Paganini of the Parma Municipality Congress Centre, Parma Municipality Congress Centre, Viale Barilla 29/a, 43100 Parma. Regular press briefings will be held throughout the Conference after each plenary session, and a closing day news conference is planned for Friday 12 March. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) is a leading non‐governmental and not‐for‐profit advocacy group focusing on health and environment at the European level. It aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. Its membership brings together 60 organisations working to promote and protect health at the European level. Our membership includes medical, health and patients' associations, environmental organisations, consumer and women's groups, many of which are themselves European networks. HEAL websites: www.env‐health.org and cehape.env‐health.org |
| 11/02/2010 | Study charts path for better protection from harmful "chemical mixtures" Information Release, Brussels, 11 February 2010 - The EU can and should assess and manage the risks from exposure to chemical mixtures, better known as the "cocktail effect", according to a significant report commissioned by the Environment Directorate General (DG) of the European Commission and released on 9 February 2010. (1) The study, entitled "State of the Art Report on Mixtures Toxicity", says scientific research "underlines the need for dedicated regulatory considerations of the problem of chemical mixtures in the environment". Although commissioned by DG Environment, it does not reflect any official view of the EU Commission. However, the report makes an important contribution to the debate about how EU policy should tackle ongoing multiple exposures to harmful chemicals. DG Environment is inviting comment and questions on the report by 30 April 2010. This will be followed by a consultation process with EU Member State ministries and EU scientific committees. The Commission's intention is to issue a collective, official position on the way forward in assessing and managing the risks from combination effects by early 2012. (2) The Health and Environment Alliance strongly welcomes this report. "We have been highlighting the link between a combination of effects from synthetic hormone disruptors and breast cancer for several years," (3) says Lisette van Vliet, Toxics Policy Adviser. "We urge groups to give input so that the Commission, in developing their official position, are informed by the expertise and concerns of the health and environment communities." The report takes a critical look at the current science on "mixtures"; considers how EU legislation currently deals with hazards and risks from such toxic mixtures; surveys different approaches and lessons from EU Member States; and reviews how other governments and international bodies, such as the WHO International Programme on Chemical Safety, deal with the mixtures problem. Under current EU regulations, the assessment of health and environmental risks posed by chemicals is usually based on the evaluation of single chemicals and assumes the absence of any other interacting chemicals. The report makes clear that this approach is not adequate. "Scientific research has repeatedly demonstrated that the effects of mixtures are considerably more pronounced than the effect of each of its individual components and that environmental pollution is from the chemical mixtures and not from individual substances," the report says. It notes that there is sufficient scientific know-how to assess the risks emerging from this exposure. Most notably, the study points to the necessity of establishing consistent and clear legal mandates to incorporate mixtures assessments into the many EU laws so that human health and environmental risks are not underestimated. “We call on the European Commission to take the recommendations of this report into full account within the EU Strategy on Endocrine Disruptors as swiftly as possible,” says Lisette van Vliet. The impact from mixtures of chemicals to which humans, wildlife and the environment are daily exposed was the subject of conclusions issued from the European Council of Environment Ministers in December 2009. The Ministers expressed serious concern, and set the Commission to assess existing legislation and suggest modifications. (4) (5) Contact: Dr Lisette Van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel. +32 2 234 3645. Email: lisette@env-health.org +32 4 84 614528 (mobile) Website: www.chemicalshealthmonitor.org Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943 E-mail: Diana@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Notes for journalists 1. The report, State of the Art report on Mixtures Toxicity, is posted at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/che... The pdf link for the full study: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/che... The study was led by a foremost research scientist in endocrine disruption, Professor Andreas Kortenkamp, Head of the Centre for Toxicology in University of London’s School of Pharmacy. 2. Any organisations or individuals with interest and relevant experience who would like to comment or ask questions on the report, are welcome to write to ENV-Chemical-Mixtures@ec.europa.eu by 30 April 2010 at the latest. 3. The report on breast cancer, including the cocktail effect of oestrogen mimicking chemicals, was produced by HEAL through its Chemicals Health Monitor Project and CHEM Trust, a UK charity whose aim is to protect humans and wildlife from harmful chemicals. The report “Factors influencing the risk of breast cancer – established and emerging” is available at: http://www.chemicalshealthmonitor.o... It was developed from an appraisal of the scientific evidence of breast cancer and exposure to hormonally active chemicals produced by Professor Kortenkamp, who is also the lead author of the report for DG Environment. Other recent studies show that chemicals with hormone disrupting properties are suspected of playing a role in birth defects, the increasing rates of testicular cancer and the decline in sperm counts - with one in five young men in several EU countries now estimated to have impaired fertility. Examples of such chemicals include some phthalates, which are used as softeners in PVC plastic products such as flooring and shoes, and Bisphenol-A (BPA), which is widely used to make hard clear plastic such as babies bottles, tin can linings and DVDs. 4. The Environment Ministers in the December Council gave the European Commission the task of recommending how exposure to multiple hormone disrupting chemicals should be further addressed within existing EU laws, as part of the forthcoming report on the implementation of the Community strategy on endocrine disrupters due by the end of 2010. The Environment Council also asked the Commission to assess whether EU laws adequately address risks from exposure to multiple chemicals (not solely endocrine disruptors) from different sources and pathways, and to report on any necessary changes by early 2012. 5. NGO reaction to the outcome of the Ministerial meeting see: http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/F... The Health and Environment Alliance aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It achieves this by creating opportunities for better representation of citizens’ and health experts’ perspectives in the environment and health-related European policy-making. Our membership includes a diverse network of more than 60 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organisations across Europe and has a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. www.env-health.org Chemical Health Monitor is an initiative of the Health and Environment Alliance. The project’s website is available at www.chemicalshealthmonitor.org |
| 01/02/2010 | European Launch of the Year of the Lung 2010 held in Marseille HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE NEED HELP 1 February, 2010 Marseille - Hundreds of millions of people suffer every day from lung diseases, and they cause almost 20% of all deaths in the world. Increased awareness about lung diseases is vital, because they are killing more and more people every year and account for a socioeconomic burden of €102 billion due to health care costs and lost working days in Europe alone. The ‘Big Five’ lung disorders are lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB) and asthma. Despite this evidence, public and political awareness of respiratory and lung diseases is very limited. Therefore, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) led by ERS President Prof. Nikos Siafakas, together with the leading Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) have declared 2010 Year of the Lung in an effort to increase awareness of the importance of lung health. The launch of this campaign in Europe took place on the 30th January 2010 at the French‐language Society of Pneumology (Société de Pneumologie de Langue Française, SPLF) conference in Marseille. Under the direction of the President Nikos Siafakas, the ERS is responsible for the European region activities during 2010 Year of the lung. Speaking at the European Launch, Prof Nikos Siafakas emphasised that: “there is an urgent need for the European Commission and Member States to provide increased resources for research for improved patient care and quality of life”. He also added that: “most respiratory diseases are both preventable and treatable – treatment however is very costly, and effective prevention policies in the EU and worldwide are severely lacking”. According to the latest WHO estimates (2007), 300 million people have asthma, which represents one of the most prevalent chronic conditions, and is unequivocally one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the developed world. During the Year of the Lung, support will be mobilized all around the world for World Asthma Day on 4th May 2010. Another lung disease, COPD, also affects the ability to breathe. 210 million people suffer from COPD. It is a complex, progressive (gets worse over time), debilitating and life‐threatening disease. The WHO predicts that it will be the third leading cause of death by 2020. Infectious pneumonia is the world’s number one killer of infants and children below 5 years, accounting for more childhood deaths than malaria, AIDS, and measles combined. World Pneumonia Day held on 2nd November 2010 will be strengthened during the Year of the Lung to increase awareness and mobilise support against the world’s leading infectious killer of young children. In 2007 there was an estimated 9.27 million cases of TB according to a recent report of the WHO. Tuberculosis is also the number one cause of death among people infected with HIV. The current economic crisis is also expected to have an impact on TB. The 22 countries with the highest burden of the disease — nearly 80% of the cases — are also among the world’s poorest. Of all global deaths from cancers, lung cancer remains, by far, the largest cause of death from all cancers. It is the leading cause of cancer and is likely to increase faster than many other types because of the accompanying upsurge of smoking, particularly in low and middle income countries. A key initiative will be the launch of the first ever World Spirometry Day on 14th October 2010, a global event providing public lung testing in hospitals and clinics across the world. Notes to the Editors About the 2010 Year of the Lung - The overall goal of the Year of the Lung is to raise awareness about lung health among the public, initiate action in communities worldwide, and advocate for resources to combat lung disease including increased investment in basic, clinical and translational research worldwide More information on European Year of the Lung activities, see: http://alturl.com/p466 More information on worldwide Year of the Lung activities, see: www.2010yearofthelung.org About FIRS - The Year of the Lung is being organised by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS). FIRS includes the Asociacion Latinoamericana del Thorax (ALAT), the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), the American Thoracic Society (ATS), the Asia Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR), the European Respiratory Society (ERS), the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), and the Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS). About ERS - The European Respiratory Society, ERS, is an international and medical organisation with more than 9000 members in over 100 countries representing medical and scientific experts in the field of respiratory science and medicine. Its mission is to promote lung health through research, knowledge sharing, medical and public education. More info at: www.ersnet.org |
| 01/02/2010 | Health groups call for 40% target on carbon emissions Press release, Brussels, 1 February 2010 - Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWHE) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) are calling on EU Heads of States to increase the European target on climate change. They are seeking a 40% unconditional emissions reduction target by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. The reductions should be made through domestic action, which they say could bring substantial benefits in improving people’s health and reducing healthcare costs. The two groups put out a joint position statement after the Copenhagen talks in December 2009 urging the EU to take a stronger leadership role.1 Now they are concerned that the EU and its 27 Member States will miss another opportunity to lead the fight against climate change and to protect health. This new request comes prior to the informal EU Council meeting on 11 February, where climate change is expected to be on the agenda. By pledging a 40% emissions reduction target, the EU could re-claim its leadership role and help foster a breakthrough for a fair, ambitious and binding climate change agreement at the COP 16 in Mexico later this year2, the groups say. Under the Copenhagen Accord, industrialized countries were asked to register their formal emissions reduction pledges for 2020 with the UNFCCC Secretariat by 31 January 2010. The EU and its Member States have committed to an independent quantified economy-wide emissions reduction target of 20% by 2020, compared to 1990 levels, with a conditional increase to 30% “under the conditions set out by the European Council of December 20093”. HEAL and HCWHE consider this position to be inadequate. “Climate change is already causing hundreds of additional deaths each day around the world, and higher temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events are exacerbating some of the major causes of diseases. A 40% domestic target, would significantly improve people’s health in Europe, reduce rising healthcare costs and protect our fragile ecosystems,” explained Dr Pendo Maro, Senior Climate and Policy Advisor, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWHE) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). The health sector is committed to a fair, ambitious and binding international climate change treaty that provides for public health, drastically reduces greenhouse gas emissions, promotes alternative, renewable energy and provides significant funding for developing countries to adapt and mitigate4. Contacts: Dr Pendo Maro, Senior Climate and Policy Advisor, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWHE) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), tel: +32 495 281 494 (mobile). Email: pendo@env-health.org Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), E-mail: genon@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Mobile phone: + 32 495 808732. Anja Leetz, Executive Director, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), Email: anja.leetz@hcwh.org Website: http://www.noharm.org/europe Mobile phone: +32 484 786 058 or +49 175 732 0657 1 HEAL and HCWH Post Copenhagen Position Statement http://www.noharm.org/europe/news_h... 2 The meeting is expected to take place November-December 2010. 3 5794/10, Letter by the (Spanish) Presidency and the Commission to the UNFCCC Executive Secretary, 27 January 2010. 4 HEAL and HCWH Letter to Spanish Presidency concerning EU pledges to the UNFCCC for 31 January 2010. http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/H... The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org Health Care Without Harm is a global network of more than 470 organizations in 52 countries working to transform the health care sector so it is no longer a source of harm to people and the environment.v |
| 14/01/2010 | Cancer-linked pesticides used in schools - New survey PRESS RELEASE, 14th January 2010 - Children may be being exposed to at least four potentially cancer causing pesticides that are being used in UK schools, according to the findings of a new survey released today by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Pesticides Action Network (PAN) (1). The snapshot of English, Welsh and Scottish school authorities also revealed that 7 of the pesticides used in schools may have other serious negative health impacts (2). The survey also showed that 47% of local authorities who responded would like schools to go pesticide free. Pesticides may play a role in several types of cancer - those affecting children including acute lymphocytic Leukaemia, brain cancer and others, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer and testicular cancer – all have been rising in incidence over more than three decades (3). The Government is about to launch a consultation on its National Plans for pesticide use. This survey shows that these plans must include a ban on hazardous pesticide use in schools. The HEAL survey of local authorities revealed: The pesticides being used include Dichlobenil – identified as possible cancer causing carcinogen; Oxadiazon classified as possible carcinogen and toxic to development; Sulfosulfuron, classified as likely to be carcinogenic, and the possible carcinogen mecoprop (4); A third of respondents said they could not give details of pesticides used in their schools; Only a third of schools and pupils were warned when pesticides were being used in schools or nearby by farmers or contractors; More than half of the respondents to the survey wanted to know more about pesticide residues in school food; and 36% wanted their food tested for residues. [NOTE TO EDITORS: Full survey results will be available at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/U... ] Removing the risk of cancer to school-aged children, who are uniquely vulnerable while their organs are growing, must be a high priority. Some suggested alternatives could be costly but one survey respondent proposes how this could be done: “..... With budgets as they are [huge reductions in the amount of pesticides used around school] seems as good an alternative as there is along with schools learning to "live with their weeds" a bit.“ In North America, many schools are already pesticide free. In the UK, the Food For Life programme and Garden Organic Schools work has resulted in hundreds of schools reducing pesticide exposure for their pupils. (5). HEAL is proposing that Local authorities protect children by implementing a ban on pesticide spraying in schools and school grounds in 2010, and that the UK government’s pesticide National Action Plans (6)- due for public consultation in January, include: Setting an early date for the phase out of the use of all pesticides in school grounds and playing fields as part of the UK National Action Plan on pesticide use. Requiring local authorities and independent school bodies to collate information on pesticide use in schools and on areas used regularly by schools, such as parks and sports utilities; Providing resources for authorities to use alternatives to pesticides. HEAL and PAN also recommend that the UK Government support the phase out of all potentially carcinogenic and other hazardous pesticides (at EU level) by 2012 and that school authorities be given the budgets and advice to access pesticide free, organic food options where available. The survey also highlights the need for more action to protect children from the effect of biocides, such as rat and cockroach poisons, since hazardous biocides were being used in schools (Bromadiolone is classified as extremely hazardous, and Aluminium Phosphide as highly toxic.). The current revision of the EU Biocides Law needs to be strengthened to protect health, monitor use, and ensure effective information for the public. (7) Vicki Hird, HEAL Sick of Pesticides Campaigner says, “This is a hidden menace – carcinogens may be used where children play and learn, as this survey reveals. But it is an avoidable menace - so here’s the New Year’s resolution for local authorities – pesticide free schools. And the UK government must move quickly to eliminate the possible carcinogens from schools and help local authorities go pesticide free in their buildings grounds and in the food they serve to children. ” Nick Mole of Pesticides Action Networks says, “New legislation requires European Member States to reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides in areas frequented by vulnerable groups such as children. This should be a priority for the UK Government. It does not need to be expensive or difficult but would help to reduce children's exposure to toxic chemicals." -ends- Contact Vicki Hird Sick of Pesticides Campaign 07903478249 vicki@env-health.org . PAN contact Nick Mole 07906892648. HEAL media contact: Diana Smith 0033633042943 Notes 1. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), an international non-governmental organisation based in Brussels, is working to encourage wider public involvement on pesticide policy. In November 2008, HEAL launched the Sick of Pesticides campaign in the UK to raise awareness of the links between pesticides and cancer and put pressure on Governments to set up an ambitious National Action Plan for Pesticide Reduction. See www.pesticidescancer.eu and on Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/Sick-.... PAN is working to eliminate the dangers of toxic pesticides, our exposure to them, and their presence in the environment where we live and work. Nationally and globally, PAN UK promotes safer alternatives, the production of healthy food, and sustainable farming. www.pan-uk.org 2. Advanced copies of the full report can be sent. This gives the results from 30 authorities and details the pesticides being used by the local authorities which provided detailed information.[will be on www.env-health.org]. The summary: “Children are uniquely vulnerable to adverse health effects from exposure to pesticides and biocides. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), undertook desk and industry research to identify possible pesticides and biocides being used or present in the school environment and school food. The results prompted HEAL to survey all 206 Local Authority education departments in England Scotland and Wales on the pesticides they use in schools and their attitude to pesticide use and pesticide residues. 15% of authorities provided usable responses. 57% of these provided details of pesticides used. These included 4 possible or probable carcinogens, and 7 pesticides with serious health associations. 47% of respondents wanted to go pesticide free. 36% wanted their school food tested for residues and 60% wanted more information about pesticides in school food. Some school described ways they were using fewer pesticides to tackle weeds and pests but several indicated that alternatives were unavailable or too costly. HEAL proposes that local authorities should voluntarily stop use of any hazardous pesticides and biocides and that the UK government should include, in its forthcoming National Action Plans on pesticides, measures to ban hazardous pesticides in schools and parks/play areas and provide support and finance for alternative approaches.” 3. See details in the Schools and Pesticides Briefing http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/S... For further information see Cancer Prevention & Education Society at http://www.cancerpreventionsociety.... 4. Pesticides are classed according to the limits of existing data and according to their acute toxicity, carcinogenicity, or their potential to disrupt hormone systems. The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) had classified at least 72 pesticides as known, likely, probable or possible human carcinogens. That list is growing all the time as more detailed studies are carried out. See http://www.pan-uk.org/PDFs/List%20o.... This list cites potential pesticide carcinogens from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Union (EU) found in public documents. 5. California Safe Schools pesticide policy (www.thedailygreen.com). California Safe Schools (CSS) - this non-profit coalition of over 50 organizations is internationally recognized for spearheading the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation at Los Angeles Unified School District. This ‘Integrated Pest Management Policy’ (IPM) uses low risk methods to eliminate pest and weeds. The policy was the first in the United States to embrace the Precautionary Principle and Parents Right to Know about pesticides used on school campuses. There are 27 good practice case studies from the US at http://www.beyondpesticides.org/sch.... Two Canadian provinces have banned the sale and use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes. (www.cancer.ca and http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/land/pe...). The Canadian Cancer Society is promoting bans on the cosmetic use of pesticides (lawns, gardens, schools and parks) as a precautionary approach to potentially carcinogenic exposures as a precautionary part of a wider cancer eradication strategy. UK - Food For Life - for details of schools work - http://www.foodforlife.org.uk/case-...; Garden Organic Schools – for details of schools involved see http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/sch... 6. A new package of European measures has been passed which includes an EU regulation on authorisation of ‘plant protection’ products, a directive on the sustainable use of pesticides, and an amended machinery directive. The UK Government is due to consult with the public this January on National Action Plans on Human Health which results from the Sustainable Use Directive. 7. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/bio... |
| 22/12/2009 | Ministers worried about hazardous chemicals cocktails, but postpone action 22.12.2009, Brussels – EU Environment ministers meeting in Brussels today have expressed concerns that the environment and the health of European citizens may not be properly protected from the combined effects of hazardous chemicals, particularly those that can disrupt hormones. However, they have decided to postpone any decisions on tackling this problem by reducing the combined exposure to such chemicals. Environment, health, women’s and consumer organizations welcome the ministers’ recognition of the risks of the so-called ‘cocktail effects’, but warn that what is really needed are urgent measures to reduce exposure to hazardous chemicals from various sources and their substitution with safer alternatives. Recent studies show that chemicals with hormone disrupting properties are suspected of playing a role in birth defects, the increasing rates of testicular cancer and the decline in sperm counts - with 1 in 5 young men in several EU countries now estimated to have impaired fertility. 1 Additional research shows mounting concerns that exposure to hormone disrupting chemicals may also be linked to increase in breast cancer2. Examplesof such chemicals include some phthalates, softeners used in PVC plastic products such as flooring and shoes, and bisphenol-A, widely used to make hard clear plastic such as babies bottles, tin can linings and DVDs. In spite of their worries, EU ministers have merely invited the European Commission to provide a report analyzing the gaps in existing EU legislation and proposing appropriate modifications. The deadline for this European Commission report was postponed until 2012, meaning it will be years before much-needed amendments to legislation will be discussed. NGOs are urging the European Commission to prepare concrete amendments to deal with the combination effects of chemicals in existing EU legislation, in particular REACH3, in order to protect the health of Europe’s citizens and environment. They also call on companies and EU Member States to enhance the substitution with safer alternatives and adopt reduction measures to reduce exposures to hormone disrupting chemicals. Contacts: Ninja Reineke – Senior policy officer, Chemicals, WWF European Policy Office: +32 (0)2 740 0926, nreineke@wwfepo.org Gwynne Lyons – CHEM Trust director: + 44 (0) 1603 507363, gwynne.lyons@chemtrust.org.uk Christian Schaible – Policy Officer for Industrial Policies & Chemicals, European Environmental Bureau (EEB): +32 (0)2 289 1090, christian.schaible@eeb.org Mark Breddy - Communications manager, Greenpeace EU: +32 4 96 15 62 29, Mark.Breddy@diala.greenpeace.org Anne Stauffer– Policy Manager, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL): +32 (0)2 234 3643, anne@env-health.org Chantal van den Bossche - Coordinator Public Relations & Press, Women in Europe for a common future (WECF), +31 (0) 30 23 10 300 Chantal.vandenbossche@wecf.eu Notes to editors 1. See CHEM Trust report, written by Prof R. Sharpe, on male reproductive health disorders and the potential role of exposure to environmental chemicals (including hormone disrupting chemicals), 2009 http://www.chemtrust.org.uk/documen... 2. See CHEM Trust and HEAL report, written by Prof A. Kortenkamp, on breast cancer and exposure to hormonally active chemicals, 2008 http://www.chemtrust.org.uk/documen... 3. REACH is the acronym of the EU chemicals law and stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of chemicals 4. A recent Danish survey has raised concerns that 2-year-old children may be at risk from daily combined exposure to certain chemicals, particularly chemicals with hormone disrupting properties commonly found in food and the indoor environment, and used in some personal care products. See report: http://www.mst.dk/Udgivelser/Public... |
| 16/12/2009 | Tackling the twin threats of climate change and the global health gap Student and professional health leaders to offer a Prescription for a Healthy Planet - emphasizing the twinned opportunity decision-makers have to tackle climate change, AND to narrow the global health gap between rich and poor. What: 5-10 health professionals take action on climate change in COP15 conference centre. When: 3pm Wednesday, 16th December 2009, Hall B near ICT Centre in Bella Centre, UNFCCC Conference, Copenhagen Climate change is the most serious health issue of the 21st century. Health professionals from around the world have gathered in Copenhagen in recognition of the need to build a binding treaty to not only protect the environment, but also to protect public health. Dramatically reducing global greenhouse gas emissions whilst supporting low-income countries in their adaptation efforts can bring a host of health co-benefits. Participants will assemble for a mock ‘ward round’ where they will diagnose the health impacts of climate change, and suggest a remedy for the condition of the climate - a ‘Prescription for a Healthy Planet’ which has been endorsed by leading health organizations representing millions of health professionals from more than 120 countries. The action will be supported by voices from the Global South, representing those countries where health will first and foremost suffer as a result of climate change. Health professionals in Copenhagen are asking world leaders to: 1) Recognise that climate change is a key health issue, and this should be reflected in any global agreement; 2) View adaptation and mitigation support to developing countries as an opportunity to tackle “diseases of poverty” which climate change will exacerbate, undermining further efforts to meet Millennium Development Goals: 3) Mitigate greenhouse gas emissions to preserve our environment, and also yield many co-benefits on health through improvements to agriculture, transport, and energy production. These benefits make mitigation an investment in creating a healthy and economically active population. Contact: Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), E-mail: genon@env-health.org Website www.env-health.org Mobile phone: + 32 495 808 732 Jonny Currie, National Coordinator, Medsin-UK, E-mail president@medsin.org Website www.medsin.org Mobile phone: +44 791 756 43 43 Prof. Mike Gill, Co-Chair Climate and Health Council, E-mail: mgilm1@gmail.com Website www.climateandhealth.org Mobile phone: +44 786 753 8245 Anja Leetz, Executive Director, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWHE), Email: anja.leetz@hcwh.org Website: www.noharm.org Mobile phone: +49 175 732 0657 Mori Mansouri, Director on Human Rights & Peace 2009/2010, International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA), E-mail: scorpd@ifmsa.org Website: www.ifmsa.org/ Mobile phone: +44 772 169 1269 Notes to Editors: Medsin-UK is a network of students with an interest in global health, based at universities across the UK. Medsin aims to promote health as well as to act upon and educate students about health inequalities in their local and global communities. www.medsin.org Health Care and Environmental Alliance aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It achieves this by creating opportunities for better representation of citizens’ and health experts’ perspectives in the environment and health-related European policy-making. www.env-health.org Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition of 470 organisations in more than 52 countries, working to transform the health care sector so it is no longer a source of harm to people and the environment. www.noharm.org Climate and Health Council is a UK-based charity, which aims to mobilise health professionals to tackle climate change. It is running a pledge-based campaign, which has sign-ups from health professionals in 125 countries www.climateandhealth.org The International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) is an independent, non-governmental and non-political federation of medical students' associations throughout the world. The IFMSA represents over 1.2 medical students from 91 countries across the globe. Our mission is to offer future physicians a comprehensive introduction to global health issues. www.ifmsa.org/ Quote from Nick Watts, Mori Mansouri, Guppi Bola and Jonny Currie, UK & Australian students: “As future leaders in health and in light of the recent developments at COP15, we strongly affirm our belief in the relationship between climate change and individual and population health. Climate change presents a major threat to global public health and equity. Without immediate action, catastrophic impacts will worsen the state of health in many countries of the global south, widening the health gaps between global rich and poor. Yet, the opportunity at hand in creating a new, brighter and cleaner environment for our communities makes efforts to tackle climate change pivotal to improving the health of our world. The relationship between health and climate change makes it crucial that health is placed at the centre of the UNFCCC Global Deal this December. We call for the immediate reduction of global carbon emissions to stabilise them at 350 ppm as well as support for international institutions advocating for the health community to bring positive change to our climate.” |
| 10/12/2009 | HEAL and HCWH announce top-level delegation and daily briefings at COP15 Negotiations (14 - 17 December) PRESS ADVISORY, Brussels/Copenhagen, 10 December 2009 - Delegation: The Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care Without Harm are leading a 20-person, international delegation of health leaders to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen. The delegation will meet and participate in a series of activities 14 - 17 of December (See 1 & 2 below for list of health delegates and programme). The health leaders, representing a diversity of medical and public health organizations, will emphasize the fact that climate change profoundly impacts human health. They will underscore their call on world leaders for a “Prescription for a Healthy Planet” — a strong, fair and binding treaty to address the problem. Briefings: The health delegation will conduct daily ad-hoc briefings on December 15,16 and 17 in the morning (exact time to be confirmed). These meetings will review the state of the negotiations from a health perspective, the impacts of climate change on health and proposed solutions. To be advised of the locations and times of the meetings please contact Anne Stauffer at +32 473 711092. Prescription for a Healthy Planet: HCWH and HEAL, together with the Climate and Health Council and other members of the delegation have jointly launched the Prescription for Healthy Planet – an initiative endorsed by leading health organizations and networks representing millions of health professionals from more than 120 countries (See 3 below for more information). Contact: Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), E-mail: genon@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Mobile phone: + 32 495 808732. Anja Leetz, Executive Director, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), Email: anja.leetz@hcwh.org Website: http://www.noharm.org/ Mobile phone: +49 175 732 0657 (Not in Copenhagen) Diana Smith, Communications and Media, tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84 Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is a global coalition of more than 440 organizations in 52 countries working with the health sector to reduce its impact on human health and the environment while advocating for global environmental health. www.noharm.org Notes to journalists 1. List of health delegates 2. COP15 High Level Health Delegation Detailed Programme http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/C... 3. Other organizations endorsing the Prescription for a Healthy Planet include the World Federation of Public Health Associations, International Council of Nurses, Standing Committee of European Doctors, European Respiratory Society, Tanzanian National Nurses Association, Brazilian Medical Association and the Health Care Foundation of Nepal, among many others. See www.climateandhealthcare.org for more information. Belpomme, Dominique President-founder Association for Research and Treatment against Cancer Currie Jonny National Coordinator Medsin-UK Gill Mike Co-Chair Climate and Health Council Hyldahl Fogh Bente CEO Danish Medical Association (representing World Medical Association) Jensen Genon Executive Director Health and Environment Alliance Jensen Jens Winter President Danish Medical Association (representing World Medical Association) Kosinska Monika Secretary General European Public Health Alliance Leetz Anja Director Health Care Without Harm Europe Manukyan Karine Chairwoman Women for Green Way for Generations Manvelyan Elena President Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment Maro Pendo Senior Policy Officer HEAL/HCWH Sienkiewicz Dorota Policy Officer for Global Health European Public Health Alliance Sigsgaard Torben Member ERS Env. & Health Committee European Respiratory Society Stauffer Anne Policy Manager Health and Environment Alliance Watts Nicolas Think Global Initiative Project Coordinator International Federation of Medical Students' Associations Wilks Michael President Standing Committee of European Doctors |
| 25/11/2009 | Health impact of climate change recognised in EP resolution Press release, Brussels, 25 November 2009 - In a plenary vote on its Resolution on Climate Change, the European Parliament has today recognised the need to consider public health, as well as the co-benefits of emission reductions to global health.(1) Two leading European health advocacy organisations, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe) welcome the amendments. HEAL, HCWH and six other health organisations (2) wrote to Members of the European Parliament on 23 November to encourage them to support the health-friendly amendments (See below). Two amendments tabled by the ALDE Group, and one amendment tabled by Greens/EFA were accepted. The urgent call to include health more centrally in climate negotiations is being voiced by the health community around the world. In London and Washington today, the influential health publication The Lancet is launching its “Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions” report. (3) HEAL and HCWH have launched "The Prescription for a Healthy Planet" to draw attention to the impact of climate change on health, and to show how tackling climate change can be good for people’s health. The Prescription has been endorsed by leading health, medical and nursing groups around the world which represent millions of health professionals in more than 120 countries. Groups that have signed up include the Standing Committee of European Doctors, which represents medical associations in each of the 27 countries of the European Union, European Public Health Alliance, European Respiratory Society, American Public Health Association, World Federation of Public Health Associations, and International Council of Nurses amongst many others. (4) During the international climate talks in Barcelona earlier this month, the UNFCCC negotiating team chose to explicitly recognise the need to include health protection in its draft. Amendments were also considered to highlight the health benefits of strict emission targets. (5) Genon Jensen, Executive Director of HEAL says the amendments to the Resolution represent an important turning point. "With today’s vote, the European Parliament is acknowledging the increasing evidence and concern from the health and medical community on how climate change may be hazardous to people’s health. We hope that EU leaders will take this health message to Copenhagen to underline the necessity of an ambitious treaty. After all, what is good for climate is good for health," she says. (6) Anja Leetz, who leads HCWH in Europe says: "Strong targets on emission reductions bring clear benefits for public health and reduce the costs of health care services in Europe and globally." (7) HEAL and Health Care Without Harm will bring a high level international medical and health delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen, 7-18 December 2009. Daily briefings will be organised on the negotiations from a public health perspective. Contact: Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), E-mail: genon@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Mobile phone: + 32 495 808732. Anja Leetz, Executive Director, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), Email: anja.leetz@hcwh.org Website: http://www.noharm.org/europe Mobile phone: +32 484 786 058 or +49 175 732 0657 Health-related amendments to the EP Resolution on climate change voted on 25 November 2009. Amendment tabled Satu Hassi, Bas Eickhout On behalf of Greens/EFA Recital Ga new Amendment Ga. Whereas a binding international framework leading to emission reductions on the necessary scale will also have large immediate co-benefits to global health, and that without such a framework progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals is at risk, and could be reversed; Amendment tabled by Frederique Ries, Corinne Lepage On behalf of ALDE Article 12 Amendment 12. Emphasises that an agreement in Copenhagen could provide the necessary stimulus for a 'Sustainable New Deal' boosting sustainable social and economic growth, promoting environmentally sustainable technologies, renewable energy and energy efficiency, reducing energy consumption and securing new jobs and social cohesion in both developed and developing countries; notes also that due consideration needs to be given to the public health aspects of climate change; recalls the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change which demonstrates clear economic incentives for the international community to act as soon as possible to tackle climate change; recognises that upfront investments by the public sector in a sustainable energy infrastructure and in complementary research and development will reduce the social costs of climate change; Amendment tabled by Frederique Ries, Corinne Lepage On behalf of ALDE Recital D Amendment D. whereas climate change may exacerbate the potential for conflicts over natural resources owing to shrinking arable land, growing water scarcity or deforestation, or due to climate-induced migration; whereas the potential impact on public health should also be taken into account, Notes to journalists 1. European Parliament Resolution on Climate Change, see (not yet updated) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides... 2. See letter - http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/L... 3. “The Lancet Series on Health and Climate Change: Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions” www.wellcometrustevents.org/... Lancet Press Office T) +44 (0) 20 7424 4949 E) pressoffice@lancet.com 4. Prescription for a Healthy Planet website at www.climateandhealthcare.org 5. See letter from HEAL/HCWH/Climate and Health Council on Barcelona negotiations: http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/H... 6. Research by HEAL and others last year shows that savings on health costs achieved from a target of 30% rather than 20% in Europe may reach 25 billion Euros per year from 2020 onwards. See "The co-benefit to health of a strong EU climate change policy" published by HEAL, WWF and Climate Action Network Europe in December 2008 at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/C.... 7. Healthy Hospitals, Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Addressing climate change in health care settings, World Health Organization and Health Care Without Harm is available at http://www.who.int/globalchange/pub.... The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org Health Care Without Harm is a global network of more than 470 organizations in 52 countries working to transform the health care sector so it is no longer a source of harm to people and the environment. |
| 18/11/2009 | Negociaciones sobre Cambio Climático en Barcelona, 2-6 Noviembre 2009 Líderes del Sector Salud solicitan medidas decisorias sobre el cambio climático Comunicado de Prensa, Barcelona, 4 de Noviembre 2009 - Algunas de las organizaciones más grandes del mundo de enfermería, medicina y salud pública están instando a los líderes mundiales a que tomen medidas decisivas para hacer frente al cambio climático, de forma de evitar lo que podría convertirse en una crisis mundial en materia de salud pública. "Receta para un Planeta Saludable" es un cartel gigante que representa, de forma simbólica, el apoyo y los intereses de millones de profesionales de la salud en más de 120 países. El cartel será entregado a funcionarios de las Naciones Unidas durante las negociaciones sobre clima. La Receta diagnostica las amenazas mundiales para la salud pública que plantea el cambio climático, a la vez que insta a los gobiernos del mundo a que negocien un acuerdo fuerte y vinculante. Los grupos están pidiendo que el tratado de Copenhague proteja la salud pública, establezca objetivos fuertes para la reducción de emisiones, promueva el uso de energía limpia, y obligue la financiación de los países en desarrollo de forma de que puedan enfrentar la crisis climática. (1) "Con esta Receta, los líderes de la salud de todo el mundo están hablando con la misma voz, insistiendo en que un acuerdo en Copenhague debe proteger tanto al planeta como a la salud pública", explica Pendo Maro, Director Asesor de Clima y Energía de Salud sin Daño y de la Alianza de Salud y Medio Ambiente (HEAL), dos organizaciones que, en colaboración con el Consejo de Clima y Salud (CHC), estuvieron encargadas del desarrollo de la Receta. En los últimos dos meses, la Receta para un Planeta Saludable ha sumado el apoyo de muchas organizaciones importantes de salud (2) como el Consejo Internacional de Enfermeros/as, una federación global de distintas organizaciones nacionales de enfermería que representa a enfermeros/as en 128 países. "Los/as enfermeros/as hemos de aprovechar todas las oportunidades disponibles para influenciar el curso de las acciones de los gobiernos en relación con el cambio climático. Como profesionales de primera línea, podemos ver los efectos agudos y crónicos que los daños al medio ambiente tienen sobre la salud y el bienestar de los ciudadanos", comenta David C. Benton, Director Ejecutivo del CIE. Otro firmante de la Receta, el Dr. Paulo M. Buss – Presidente de la Federación Mundial de Asociaciones de Salud Pública – agrega: "Como profesionales de la salud pública, tenemos el deber de advertir a los gobiernos del mundo de que, de no adoptar medidas decisorias ahora, hemos de enfrentar el fantasma de un futuro posiblemente crítico en materia de salud pública mundial, exacerbado o hasta generado por el cambio climático". Otras organizaciones que han respaldado la Receta son la Sociedad Internacional de Médicos por el Medio Ambiente (ISDE) y el Comité Permanente de Médicos Europeos (CPME), el cual representa a 27 asociaciones de médicos en Europa. En los Estados Unidos, una iniciativa paralela encabezada por líderes de la salud que representa a cientos de hospitales y a casi tres millones de profesionales de la salud, solicita al Presidente Obama el apoyo a cada uno de los puntos descritos en la Receta. (3) Durante las negociaciones en Barcelona, la Receta será entregada al Dr. Roberto Bertollini, el experto en clima más importante de la agencia de salud de la ONU: la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). “En la OMS nos gustaría que, durante las negociaciones actuales, se preste mayor atención a los impactos sociales y sanitarios del cambio climático. La adaptación poblacional requerirá la participación activa de los sistemas de salud, así como diversos recursos humanos y financieros. Esperamos que el nuevo acuerdo satisfaga estas necesidades y esperamos, también, que esta iniciativa de la comunidad de la salud en Barcelona atraiga mayor atención sobre las impactos del cambio climático en la salud, así como las respuestas y acciones que sean necesarias", explica el Dr. Bertollini. La Organización Mundial de la Salud predice que el cambio climático causará aumentos significativos de enfermedades y muertes, como consecuencia de la siguiente serie de factores: calor intenso, inundaciones y otros fenómenos meteorológicos extremos, deterioro de la calidad del aire, aumento de la transmisión de enfermedades infecciosas y de vectores tales como el cólera, la malaria y el dengue, e impactos sobre la producción agrícola y la seguridad alimentaria, causando desnutrición. El número de líderes del sector del cuidado de la salud que están de acuerdo con esta evaluación es alto. El mes pasado en Nueva Delhi, la Dra. Dana Hanson – presidente de la Asociación Médica Mundial – dijo en su discurso inaugural que "el cambio climático podría eclipsar las grandes pandemias conocidas actualmente, al convertirse en la principal causa de muerte y enfermedades del siglo 21." En una iniciativa de promoción paralela, HEAL, SSD y CHC, enviarán una carta a los negociadores de la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (UNFCCC) enumerando las recomendaciones hechas en la Receta y explicitando la necesidad de prestar especial atención sobre la salud a lo largo de las negociaciones del acuerdo. A la vez, la carta hace referencia a la necesidad de atender los costos del cambio climático sobre la salud que actualmente no se encuentran controlados, como es la necesaria reducción significativa de emisiones de carbono por parte de los países ricos. A su vez, en la carta se recomienda que una proporción importante de los recursos del fondo de acción global, financiado por contribuciones nacionales, sea asignada al sector salud. Los costos del cambio climático sobre la salud pública serán, posiblemente, altos. Sólo en Europa, el ahorro anual estimado para la salud pública a partir de reducir el 20% de las emisiones de carbono (los niveles de 1990) para el año 2020, sería de 52 millones de euros por año, a partir de 2020. (4) De tener en cuenta los beneficios de salud a nivel mundial, esta cifra sería considerablemente mayor. Contactos: Diana Smith, Alianza para la Salud y el Ambiente (HEAL) Celular +33 6 33 04 2943. Diana@env-health.org Pendo Maro, PhD, Director Asesor de Clima y Energía, SSDHCWH/HEAL +32 495 281 494 Génon K. Jensen, Director Ejecutivo, Alianza para la Salud y el Ambiente (HEAL), Celular: + 32 495 808732. Anja Leetz, Directora Ejecutiva, SSD Europa, Celular: +32 484 786 058 ó +49 175 732 0657 Josh Karliner, Coordinador Internacional, SSD, Celular: +1-415-613-5386 Notas para los periodistas 1. La "Receta para un Planeta Saludable” es una iniciativa que apunta a aumentar la atención sobre los efectos del cambio climático en la salud humana y a potenciar la voz del sector salud en las negociaciones durante las cruciales semanas previas a la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático que se llevará a cabo en Copenhague del 7-18 de Diciembre de 2009. Más información en: www.climateandhealthcare.org 2. Signatarios (en desarrollo): Ärztinnen und Ärzte für Umweltschutz; Clima y Salud del Consejo, Reino Unido; Instituto Colegiado de Salud Ambiental, Reino Unido; Comisión de Desarrollo Sostenible de la Salud; Alianza de Salud Pública Europea (EPHA); Sociedad Respiratoria Europea (ERS); Sociedad de la Familia de la Medicina Académica; Haciendo Verde el Sector Salud, Reino Unido; Red de jóvenes del Conocimiento Verde; Hainaut Vigilancia Sanitaria - Higiene Pública en Hainaut, Bélgica; Alianza de la Salud y Medio Ambiente (HEAL); Salud sin Daño; Consejo Internacional de Enfermeras (CIE); Sociedad Internacional de Médicos por el Medio Ambiente (ISDE); ISDE Austria; ISDE Italia; ISDE Suecia; Médicos por la Responsabilidad Social (PSR), Comité Permanente de Médicos Europeos (CPME); Médicos Suecos para el Medio Ambiente (LFM); Asociación Médica de Suecia; Mujeres para el Camino Verde de las Generaciones Futuras; Mujeres en Europa por un Futuro Común (WECF); Federación Mundial de Asociaciones de Salud Pública (WFPHA). 3. La carta ha sido firmada por sistemas de salud integrados por cientos de hospitales de EE.UU. y por asociaciones de profesionales que representan los intereses de millones de profesionales de la salud, incluida la Asociación Americana de Enfermeras (2,9 millones de enfermeras registradas en los EE.UU.) y la Asociación de Salud Pública Americana (APHA) que representa a más de 50.000 profesionales de la salud. 4. Comisión Europea de Evaluación de Impacto: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/cli... La Alianza de Salud y Medio Ambiente (HEAL) tiene como objetivo crear conciencia sobre las formas en que la protección del medio ambiente mejora la salud. Reúne a más de 60 organizaciones que trabajan a nivel de la Región Europea. Sitio Web: www.env-health.org Salud sin Daño es una red global de más de 470 organizaciones en 52 países que trabaja para transformar el sector de la salud para que deje de ser una fuente de daño para las personas y el ambiente. Sitio Web: www.noharm.org |
| 16/11/2009 | TIME TO PULL MERCURY OUT OF FILLINGS say HEALTH AND GREEN GROUPS to W.H.O. Press release -EMBARGOED until MONDAY 16 NOVEMBER , 9.00 am GMT+1 Geneva, Switzerland, 16th November, 2009 -Today, at an expert meeting on the future use of dental fillings, a letter signed [1] by over 70 non-governmental organisations from around the world was presented, calling on the World Health Organization (WHO) to establish a schedule to phase out the use of dental mercury fillings as soon as possible. “We strongly urge the WHO to foster the innovative use of mercury-free alternatives in parallel with its commendable goal of bringing affordable dental healthcare to the global population,” said Michael Bender of the U.S.-based Mercury Policy Project. “This is entirely consistent with the vast number of similar initiatives going on worldwide to phase out the use of mercury in products and processes.” In their letter, the groups point out that mercury from dental use can drift long distances through the atmosphere and contamination from this dangerous neurotoxin poses a major worldwide threat to both human health and the environment. They also point out that there are various pathways where mercury from dental amalgams is haphazardly released and where it can be only partially controlled (dental clinics, waste water and sewage sludge, crematoria, cemeteries etc.) “It is generally accepted that effective global control of these releases would be not only impossible, but also inordinately expensive,” said Elena Lymberidi, coordinator of the European Environmental Bureau’s Zero Mercury Campaign; “Therefore, over time, the more cost effective solution is that mercury-free fillings become the rule and not the exception to dental treatment.” The WHO recently recognised the fact that world governments have reached a consensus on the need for a legally binding treaty to reduce global mercury exposure. The WHO said that today’s meeting is intended to provide information for future biomaterials use, as well as address the different challenges to richer and poorer countries [2]. “There are a growing number of examples where developed countries have dramatically reduced or practically eliminated dental mercury use,” said Rico Euripidou of Friends of the Earth, South Africa. “However, we understand the challenges developing countries face in phasing out mercury uses and recognise that an innovative and differentiated approach may be necessary.” For further information please contact: Michael Bender, Director, Mercury Policy Project, Co-founder of Zero Mercury Working Group: mercurypolicy@aol.com, T: +1 802 223 9000, Mob: +1 802.917.4579, www.mercurypolicy.org Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, EEB Zero Mercury Project Coordinator, Co-founder of Zero Mercury Working Group, elena.lymberidi@eeb.org ; T: +32 (0)2 289 1301, Mob: +32 496 532818, www.zeromercury.org Rico Euripidou, groundwork, Friends of the Earth S. Africa, rico@groundwork.org.za, T: +27 (0) 33 3425662, Mob:+27 (0)835193008, www.groundwork.org.za About mercury: Mercury is persistent and can be transformed in the environment into methylmercury, its most toxic form, which readily passes through both the placenta and blood-brain barriers. It accumulates in the bodies of humans and wildlife and can become more concentrated as it moves up the food chain, and poses a particular risk to pregnant women and young children who eat contaminated fish. Editors Notes: [1] NGOs letter to WHO http://www.zeromercury.org/UNEP_dev... [2] The WHO’s 22nd October 2009 correspondence, recognised that world governments reached a consensus in February 2009 on the need for a global legally binding treaty to significantly reduce global mercury exposure: . “…awareness of the environmental implications of mercury has increased markedly over recent years, and mercury is a matter of concern to several countries and international organizations.… Furthermore, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has launched an initiative on avoiding the contamination of the environment from mercury which has implications to the use of dental amalgam in countries…The advantages and disadvantages of these alternatives need to be analyzed in order for WHO to update the knowledge base and give advice to countries in this matter. The intention of the meeting is to provide global guidelines and strategies for the future use of biomaterials and the challenges are different for high-, middle-, and low-income countries.” REFERENCE: http://www.zeromercury.org/UNEP_dev... http://www.zeromercury.org/UNEP_dev... |
| 04/11/2009 | Health leaders call for strong measures on climate change Climate change talks in Barcelona, 2-6 November 2009 Press release, Barcelona, 4 November 2009 - Some of the world's largest medical, nursing and public health organisations are calling on world leaders to take bold action to address climate change. They say that this is needed to avert what could become a global public health crisis. A giant placard, "Prescription for a Healthy Planet" symbolically represents the interests of millions of health professionals in more than 120 countries whose organisations have endorsed it. The placard will be handed to United Nations officials at the climate talks. The Prescription diagnoses the global threats to public health that climate change poses while urging the world’s governments to negotiate a strong, binding agreement. The groups are calling for the Copenhagen treaty to protect public health, set strong targets on emission reductions, promote clean energy, and mandate major funding for developing countries to address the climate crisis. (1) “With this Prescription, health care leaders from around the world are speaking with one voice, insisting that an agreement in Copenhagen must protect both the planet and public health,” says Pendo Maro, Senior Climate and Energy Advisor, Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), the two organizations which developed the Prescription in collaboration with the Climate and Health Council (CHC). In the past two months the Prescription for a Healthy Planet has been endorsed by many major health organizations (2) including the International Council of Nurses, a global federation of national nursing organizations representing nurses in 128 countries. “Nurses need to take every opportunity to influence governments in relation to climate change. As front-line professionals, we see both the acute and chronic impact that damage to our environment has on health and the wellbeing of citizens,” says David C Benton, ICN Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Paulo M. Buss, President of the World Federation of Public Health Associations, another signatory of the Prescription adds: “As public health professionals, we have a duty to warn the world’s governments that if they do not take bold action now, we face the spectre of a future of global public health crises generated or exacerbated by climate change.” Others who have endorsed the Prescription include International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE) and the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME), which represents 27 medical associations in Europe. In the United States, a parallel initiative from health care leaders representing hundreds of hospitals and nearly three million health professionals is calling on President Obama to support the points made in the Prescription. (3) At the Barcelona talks, the Prescription will be handed to Dr Roberto Bertollini, top climate expert at the UN's specialist health agency, the World Health Organization. "At the WHO, we would like to see greater attention given the social and health impacts of climate change in the current negotiations. Population adaptation will require the active involvement of health systems and the necessary human and financial resources. We hope that the new treaty will meet these needs, and we expect that this initiative from the health community in Barcelona will draw more attention to the health impacts of climate change and the necessary response," Dr Bertollini says. The World Health Organization predicts that climate change will likely lead to significant increases in illness and death related to a number of factors: intense heat, floods and other extreme weather events; the deterioration of air quality; increased transmission of vector-borne and infectious diseases such as cholera, malaria, and dengue; and the compromising of agricultural production and food security causing malnutrition. Many health care leaders agree with this assessment. Dr. Dana Hanson, President of the World Medical Association said in his inaugural speech in New Delhi last month that he believes that, "climate change is likely eclipse the major known pandemics as the leading cause of death and disease in the 21st century." In a parallel advocacy initiative, HEAL, HCWH and CHC are sending a letter to the UNFCCC negotiators about the Prescription recommendations and the need to increase the focus on health in the agreement. The letter says that the costs of unchecked climate change on health necessitate a significant reduction in carbon emissions on the part of wealthy nations. The letter also recommends that a significant proportion of resources should be allocated to the health sector from the global action fund financed by national contributions. The costs to public health of climate change are likely to be high. In Europe alone, the estimated annual public health savings resulting from a 20% reduction in carbon emissions (from 1990 levels) by 2020 would be 52 billion Euros each year from 2020. (4) This figure would be significantly higher if health benefits globally were taken into account. Contacts: Diana Smith, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) mobile +33 6 33 04 2943. Diana@env-health.org Pendo Maro, PhD, Senior Climate and Energy Advisor, HCWH/HEAL +32 495 281 494 Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), Mobile: + 32 495 808732. Anja Leetz, Executive Director, HCWH Europe, Mobile: +32 484 786 058 or +49 175 732 0657 Josh Karliner, International Coordinator, Heath Care Without Harm, Mobile +1-415-613-5386 Notes to journalists 1. "Prescription for a Healthy Planet" initiative aims to increase focus on the effects on human health of climate change and to bring the voice of the health sector to the negotiations in the crucial weeks leading up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen, 7-18 December 2009. More information at: www.climateandhealthcare.org 2. Signatories (in development): Ärztinnen und Ärzte für Umweltschutz; Climate and Health Council, UK; Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, UK; Committee on Sustainable Development in Health; European Public Health Alliance (EPHA); European Respiratory Society (ERS); Family Medicine Academic Society; Greening Healthcare, UK; Green Knowledge youth network; Hainaut Vigilance Sanitaire - Hygiène Publique en Hainaut, Belgium; Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL); Health Care Without Harm (HCWH): International Council of Nurses (ICN); International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE); ISDE Austria; ISDE Italy; ISDE Sweden; Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR); Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME); Swedish Doctors for the Environment (LfM); Swedish Medical Association; Women for Green Way for Generations; Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF); World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA). 3. The letter has been signed by health systems composed of hundreds of US hospitals and professionals associations representing the interests of millions of health care professionals, including the American Nurses Association (2.9 million registered nurses in the US) and the American Public Health Association (APHA) representing over 50,000 health professionals. 4. European Commission Impact Assessment, http://ec.europa.eu/environment/cli... The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org Health Care Without Harm is a global network of more than 470 organizations in 52 countries working to transform the health care sector so it is no longer a source of harm to people and the environment. Website: www.noharm.org |
| 04/11/2009 | EU Biocide Policy – Safety for Health and Biodiversity first! PRESS RELEASE, Brussels/Berlin/London, 04, Nov 2009 - Today the European Parliament Committee for Environment will discuss a new legislation for the authorisation and use of disinfectants in households, wood preservatives, insect sprays and other biocidal products. In light of this PAN Germany, PAN Europe, PAN UK and the Health and Environment Alliance HEAL have presented their key demands. They call to significantly improve the current legislative proposal in order to prevent a roll-back of health and environmental standards. The discussed regulation draft of the Commission is intended to replace the current Biocidal Product Directive (Directive 98/8/EC), which regulates the authorisation and market placement of substances and products that kill or deter hazardous or unwanted organisms from viruses to mammals. Already under current legislation, biocides have to be authorized, since many of the products are used by consumers as well as in the environment at large and can be hazardous to human health and the environment.The biocide industry already markets 50.000 products in the EU without consistent protection of and information for end users. The Commission freely acknowledges that the regulation draft aims to increase the free marketing of biocides, thus aiding the biocide industry.“ This is a slap in the face of all efforts for the consumer’s and environmental protection.” says Carina Weber, PAN Germany’s executive director. Taking the recent reports of the Commission and other authorities into consideration, we are faced with huge inputs of biocides into our drinking water sources. The competent Commission directorate generale for health and consumer protection has documented an inter-relationship between biocides like disinfectants and bacterial resistance against antibiotics. This is a risk for the patients in hospitals. The health risks of the use of insecticides in households are already well-known. Despite these dangers for health and environment, many suggestions of the Commission’s proposal would help biocidal products to reach the market faster, more easily and at less cost to the producer. “It is necessary that certain hazardous biocides which are for example very eco-toxic, endocrine disrupting, cancerogenic, toxic for reproduction or have developmental neurotoxic effects, will be ultimately banned,” says Gergely Simon, board member of PAN Europe. Nick Mole from PAN UK urges: “There should be a regulation in balance that complies with the objectives for the protection of the environment and health. Concrete measures should be established to guarantee a transparent and sustainable use of biocides. One of the few positive aspects of the draft is the proposed requirement to label biocide treated products like wool. Unfortunately, the draft stops at the half way for such requirements and provides several exemptions which weaken the substance of the provision.“ Anne Stauffer, HEAL Policy Manager comments: “The Biocides regulation should not fall back behind the important protection provisions which have been agreed on in the recently adopted pesticides regulation. Many biocides pose a significant risk to human health. All decisions on the approval of such hazardous substances must therefore be based on the precautionary principle, to ensure there are no adverse health and environment effects. We urge MEPs to also include provisions on the protection of vulnerable groups such as children or pregnant women, who are at particular risk.“ PAN and HEAL criticise that the Commission proposal does not refer to any relevant environmental objectives, which for example are established in the requirements for the protection of our waters (Water Framework Directive), nor does it control the placement of nano-biocides (e.g. anti-bacterial nano-silver) They call on the Members of the ENVI Committee to strengthen the Commission’s proposal towards a better protection of human health and the environment. For further information: Christian Schweer (PAN Germany) Tel. ++49-40-3991910-24 Christian.Schweer@pan-germany.org Gergely Simon (PAN Europe) Tel. ++ 36 20 334 4336 gergely@pan-europe.info Nick Mole (PAN UK) Tel. ++ 44 20 7065 0905 nickmole@pan-uk.org Anne Stauffer (HEAL) Tel: +32 2 234 3643 anne@env-health.org Background information: Key demands of PAN and HEAL 3-11-2009 http://www.pan-germany.org/deu/ ste... http://www.env-health.org/r/68 |
| 20/10/2009 | Health impact of climate change not recognised in Parliamentary resolution Press release, Brussels, 20 October 2009 - Not one amendment on the need to protect public health was accepted in the European Parliament's Resolution on Climate Change agreed last night. (1) Two leading European health organisations received the news with disappointment. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) are leading a campaign in Europe to increase focus on the effects on human health of climate change and to bring the voice of the health sector in the crucial weeks leading up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen, 7-18 December 2009. (2) Circumstances were against the health-friendly amendments: over 200 amendments had been tabled and the political parties wanted to keep the text of the Resolution short and focused on Copenhagen. HEAL and HCWH had hoped that at least one of the amendments tabled (see below) would be agreed so that the consequences for health of climate change would receive a mention. "Despite the fact that climate change could erode current public health achievements globally and in Europe, amendments to add the effects on human health in this crucial resolution from the European Parliament have not been voted. We are dismayed at this omission," says Pendo Maro The World Health Organization considers that climate change could put at risk or even reverse progress towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals, which includes public health targets. One amendment referred to the risk that these goals might even be reversed by the effects of climate change. (See all proposed health amendments below) An amendment tabled by MEP Frederique Ries (ALDE, Belgium) makes reference to the need for domestic reductions to achieve protection public health in European countries. "To avoid worsening air quality from high ozone levels during hot temperatures, emissions cuts need to take place at home rather than being implemented as "offsets" through tree planting in developing countries for example," Pendo Maro added. "Our recent report shows that savings on health costs achieved from a higher target on carbon emission reductions may reach 25 billion Euros per year from 2020 onwards. (3) These savings would result from avoiding the costs of premature deaths, hospital admissions, days lost to ill health and extra medications that would be associated with higher levels of air pollution if strong action is not taken. If the health amendments to the resolution had been passed, it would have sent an important message to the EU delegation to the climate change talks on the serious consequences of climate change for health and quality of life in Europe and around the world. The following health-related amendments to the EP Resolution on climate change were rejected during evening of 19 October 2009. Amendment 19 Satu Hassi, Bas Eickhout Draft motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) Draft motion for a resolution Amendment Ca. whereas a binding international framework leading to emission reductions on the necessary scale will also have large immediate co-benefits to global health, and whereas without such a framework progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals is at risk, and could be reversed, Amendment 40 Frédérique Ries Draft motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 Draft motion for a resolution Amendment 1. Urges the EU to speak with one voice to maintain its leading role in the negotiations at COP 15, and to maintain a high level of ambition in discussions with its international partners, in order to achieve an ambitious international agreement in Copenhagen, in line with the latest developments in science and consistent with the 2ºC objective and with the protection of global health; Amendment 67 Frédérique Ries Draft motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 Draft motion for a resolution Amendment 3. Recalls that the international agreement should ensure collective greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the industrialized countries at the high end of the 25-40 % range for 2020 compared to 1990 as recommended by the Fourth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 4AR), and calls for those reductions to be domestic to ensure significant health benefits especially for people with respiratory diseases and recalls that a long-term reduction target should be set for the EU and the other industrialised countries of at least 80 % by 2050 compared to 1990; Amendment 100 Frédérique Ries Draft motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 Draft motion for a resolution Amendment 5. Emphasises that an agreement in Copenhagen could provide the necessary stimulus for a 'Green New Deal' boosting economic growth, promoting green technologies and securing new jobs in both industrialised and in developing countries; recognises that upfront investments by the public sector in a green energy infrastructure and in complementary research and development will bring down costs, not only for industry but also for public health and healthcare institutions; Contact: Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943. E-mail: Diana@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Notes to journalists 1. See http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetd... (not yet updated) 2. HEAL and HCWH have launched the "Prescription for a Healthy Planet" asking the EU to provide a better “treatment” for the ailing climate negotiations. For details of the campaign visit the "Climate change" section at www.env-health.org The Prescription provides a simple set of policy recommendations for EU and global negotiators. It argues that health professionals have the moral authority to help push for a 40% target on carbon emission reductions and an EU contribution to global financing of 35 billion Euros per year. The Prescription, which has been signed by several leading health and medical organisations including the Climate and Health Council, UK and the European Respiratory Society, calls on European leaders to: Protect public health, Shift to clean energy, Reduce emissions, and Finance global action. 3. "The co-benefit to health of a strong EU climate change policy" published by HEAL, WWF and Climate Action Network Europe in December 2008 at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/C.... The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org Health Care Without Harm is a global network of more than 470 organizations in 52 countries working to transform the health care sector so it is no longer a source of harm to people and the environment. |
| 06/10/2009 | Vassiliou welcomes health community’s "Prescription" on climate change Press release - Launch of the "Prescription for a Healthy Planet" campaign Brussels, 6 October 2009 - Two leading European health organisations handed a giant "Prescription for a Healthy Planet" (1) to European Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou today. The health community is asking the EU to provide a better “treatment” for the ailing climate negotiations. (2) The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) has launched the campaign to increase focus on the effects on human health and to bring the voice of the health sector in the crucial weeks leading up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen, 7-18 December 2009. The organisations are joined by the UK Climate and Health Council whose high level pledge on climate change and health has already been signed by many thousands of doctors and health professionals. At the reception, European Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou said: "Climate change is a major issue for all EU policy areas, and it is clear that its impact on human, animal and plant health will be of massive importance to citizens in years to come. "Each organisation and every citizen can also contribute substantially to reducing their own climate footprint. The 'Prescription for a Healthy Planet' is one such initiative and I welcome the high level of concern from health and medical professionals for the future of our planet." Health groups urged Ms Vassiliou to present the health arguments to representatives of the EU delegation to Copenhagen and to other EU commissioners, including Stavros Dimas, the Environment Commissioner as the EU sets to finalize its negotiating position. "The arguments about the health impact should be used right now to help achieve a 40% target on carbon reductions compared to 1990 emission levels by 2020 and to counterbalance the debate on how much climate will cost us," said Génon Jensen, Executive Director of HEAL. "Higher targets on carbon emission reductions mean better air quality, less ill health, greater public health protection and healthcare savings." Savings on health costs that can be achieved from a higher target on carbon emission reductions are estimated at up to 25 billion Euros per year from 2020 onwards. (3) These result from avoiding the costs of premature deaths, hospital admissions, days lost to ill health and extra medications that would be associated with higher levels of air pollution if strong action is not taken. The Prescription campaign is driven by growing concern within the health and medical sector about the health impact of climate change, and how they can be more involved in crucial climate talks. "It is disappointing that none of the climate change funding is explicitly directed at health. Experts consider global warming to be potentially the biggest health threat in the 21st century (4) yet the health arguments are not taken on board and acted upon,” said Anja Leetz, Executive Director, Health Care Without Harm Europe. Ms Leetz added: "We are recommending that by 2020 the EU contribute at least 35 billion Euros per year to fund global action on climate change. A proportion of this should be allocated to the health sector." Some hospitals are already engaged in installing solar panels and encouraging staff to walk or cycle to work rather than travelling in private cars. (5) The European launch of the Prescription for a Healthy Planet sets the scene for the next stage in the campaign. A new website and publicity campaign is expected to draw support from dozens of major health and medical organisations and thousands of healthcare and public health individuals all over the world. They will be invited to endorse and send the Prescription to their own governments highlighting policy responses to climate change that would protect the health of our communities. At the UNFCCC pre-Copenhagen meeting in Barcelona in November a Global Network on Health and Climate Change will launched, joining the European efforts to those of other regions to prepare for actions and policy responses beyond Copenhagen. Contact: Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943. E-mail: Diana@env-health.org Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), 28 Boulevard Charlemagne, B-1000 Brussels. E-mail: genon@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Mobile phone: + 32 495 808732. Anja Leetz, Executive Director, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), Rue de la Pépinière 1, B-1000 Brussels, Email: anja.leetz@hcwh.org Website: http://www.noharm.org/europe Mobile phone: +32 484 786 058 or +49 175 732 0657 Notes to journalists 1. The "Prescription of a Healthy Planet", an explanation of the campaign and a briefing document on the policy recommendations will be available at www.env-health.org/r/93 The Prescription provides a simple set of policy recommendations for EU and global negotiators. It argues that health professionals have the moral authority to help push for a 40% target on carbon emission reductions. Specifically, it calls on European leaders to: Protect public health, Shift to clean energy, Reduce emissions, and Finance global action. 2. The reception is hosted by Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Healthcare Without Harm Europe (HCWHE) at the start of HEAL's Annual General Meeting at 12.00 on Tuesday, 6 October 2009 at 28 Bld. Charlemagne (opposite the Berlaymont building) followed by buffet, organic lunch. 3. The Commission's own research shows substantial public health savings from its announced 20% target on carbon emissions. NGO research, based on the Commission's findings, shows that the health costs avoided by increasing the target from 20% to 30% would increase the benefits by 48% (from up to 52 billion Euros to 76 billion Euros per year from 2020 onwards). See "The co-benefit to health of a strong EU climate change policy" published by HEAL, WWF and Climate Action Network Europe in December 2008 at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/C.... A target of 40% would push the total savings even higher. 4. Lancet Commission Report, 13 May 2009 http://www.thelancet.com/climate-change 5. Healthy Hospitals, Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Addressing climate change in health care settings, World Health Organization and Health Care Without Harm is available at http://www.who.int/globalchange/pub.... The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org Health Care Without Harm is a global network of more than 470 organizations in 52 countries working to transform the health care sector so it is no longer a source of harm to people and the environment. Climate and Health Council, UK aims to mobilise health professionals across the world to take action to limit climate change, a serious threat to human health. |
| 02/10/2009 | Commissioner presented with health community’s "Prescription" on climate change Press release - Launch of "Prescription for a Healthy Planet" campaign Brussels, 2 October 2009 - Two leading European health organisations will hand a giant "Prescription for a Healthy Planet" (1) to European Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou on Tuesday, 6 October. The health community is asking the EU to provide a better “treatment” for the ailing climate negotiations. (2) The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) have launched a campaign to increase focus on the effects on human health and to bring the voice of the health sector in the crucial weeks leading up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen, 7-18 December 2009. The organisations are joined by the Climate and Health Council whose high level pledge on climate change and health has already been signed by many thousands of doctors and health professionals. The Health Commissioner is expected to welcome the initiative and to stress the importance of health being more prominent in the climate change debate and outcome. Health groups will urge her to present the health arguments to representatives of the EU delegation to Copenhagen and to other EU commissioners, including Stavros Dimas, the Environment Commissioner as the EU sets to finalize its negotiating position. "The arguments about the health impact should be used right now to help achieve a 40% target on carbon reductions compared to 1990 emission levels by 2020 and to counterbalance the debate on how much climate will cost us," says Génon Jensen, Executive Director of HEAL. "Higher targets on carbon emission reductions mean better air quality, less ill health, greater public health protection and healthcare savings." Savings on health costs that can be achieved from a higher target on carbon emission reductions are estimated at up to 25 billion Euros per year from 2020 onwards. (3) These result from avoiding the costs of premature deaths, hospital admissions, days lost to ill health and extra medications that would be associated with higher levels of air pollution if strong action is not taken. The Prescription campaign is driven by growing concern within the health and medical sector about the health impact of climate change, and how they can be more involved in crucial climate talks. "It is disappointing that none of the climate change funding is explicitly directed at health. Experts consider global warming to be potentially the biggest health threat in the 21st century (4) yet the health arguments are not taken on board and acted upon,” says Anja Leetz, Executive Director, Health Care Without Harm Europe. Ms Leetz adds: "We are recommending that by 2020 the EU contribute at least 35 billion Euros per year to fund global action on climate change. A proportion of this should be allocated to the health sector." Some hospitals are already engaged in installing solar panels and encouraging staff to walk or cycle to work rather than travelling in private cars. (5) The European launch of the Prescription for a Healthy Planet sets the scene for the next stage in the campaign. A new website and publicity campaign is expected to draw support from dozens of major health and medical organisations and thousands of healthcare and public health individuals all over the world. They will be invited to endorse and send the Prescription to their own governments highlighting policy responses to climate change that would protect the health of our communities. At the UNFCCC pre-Copenhagen meeting in Barcelona in November a Global Network on Health and Climate Change will launched, joining the European efforts to those of other regions to prepare for actions and policy responses beyond Copenhagen. Contact: Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943. E-mail: Diana@env-health.org Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), 28 Boulevard Charlemagne, B-1000 Brussels. E-mail: genon@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Mobile phone: + 32 495 808732. Anja Leetz, Executive Director, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH Europe), Rue de la Pépinière 1, B-1000 Brussels, Email: anja.leetz@hcwh.org Website: http://www.noharm.org/europe Mobile phone: +32 484 786 058 or +49 175 732 0657 Notes to journalists 1. The "Prescription of a Healthy Planet", an explanation of the campaign and a briefing document on the policy recommendations will be available from noon on 6 October. The Prescription provides a simple set of policy recommendations for EU and global negotiators. It argues that health professionals have the moral authority to help push for a 40% target on carbon emission reductions. Specifically, it calls on European leaders to: Protect public health, Shift to clean energy, Reduce emissions, and Finance global action. 2. The reception is hosted by Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Healthcare Without Harm Europe (HCWHE) at the start of HEAL's Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, 6 October 2009 at 12.00. Reception takes place 12.00-14.00 on Wednesday 6 October 2009 at 28 Bld. Charlemagne (opposite the Berlaymont building) followed by buffet, organic lunch. 3. The Commission's own research shows substantial public health savings from its announced 20% target on carbon emissions. NGO research, based on the Commission's findings, shows that the health costs avoided by increasing the target from 20% to 30% would increase the benefits by 48% (from up to 52 billion Euros to 76 billion Euros per year from 2020 onwards). See "The co-benefit to health of a strong EU climate change policy" published by HEAL, WWF and Climate Action Network Europe in December 2008 at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/C.... A target of 40% would push the total savings even higher. 4. Lancet Commission Report, 13 May 2009 http://www.thelancet.com/climate-change 5. Healthy Hospitals, Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Addressing climate change in health care settings, World Health Organization and Health Care Without Harm is available at http://www.who.int/globalchange/pub.... The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org Health Care Without Harm is a global network of more than 470 organizations in 52 countries working to transform the health care sector so it is no longer a source of harm to people and the environment. Climate and Health Council, UK aims to mobilise health professionals across the world to take action to limit climate change, a serious threat to human health. |
| 01/08/2009 | Respiratory doctors call for EU action on climate change The Position Statement on Climate change and respiratory disease will be available on the website of the European Respiratory Journal from 05:00 CET on Saturday 1 August 2009. Brussels 1 August 2009 – The risk of premature death due to temperature increases associated with global warming is six times higher for Europeans who are already suffering from respiratory problems, according to a paper published today. Two leading health organisations, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), want to ensure that the respiratory health effects and costs of climate change are considered in all discussions and recommended actions at the EU level. The position paper published today (1) by the ERS describes the heavy burden of temperature increases and poor air quality on people whose health is already compromised due to respiratory problems, such as asthma, respiratory tract infections, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (2). For instance, a one degree Celsius increase in temperature produces a 1-3% increase in deaths in the general population, but this same temperature increase results in a 6% increase in deaths among people with respiratory conditions. Professor Jon Ayres, director of the Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Birmingham, UK and lead author of the paper in the European Respiratory Journal says: "In the summer when temperatures rise significantly, the effect on patients with lung disease is marked. If we can provide better warning systems and information for respiratory patients, and encourage stronger EU action to mitigate the effects of climate change, fewer people will die unnecessarily." The ERS encourages its doctors to speak out and to educate healthcare professionals on the impact of hotter temperatures on their patients. The ERS, the leading medical society for lung health, which brings together some 9000 respiratory clinicians and scientists in over 100 countries worldwide, is working together with HEAL to emphasise the impact on health of climate change to policy makers in current discussions on climate change (3). HEAL has welcomed the publication of the position paper by the ERS, which represents a first from a specialist medical society. Representing more than 60 health and environment organisations, HEAL would like to see other specialist medical bodies producing similar position papers so that the scale of the impact for health of climate change becomes more widely known. In June 2009, HEAL called upon the European Union to send a health delegation to the deal-making climate change talks in Copenhagen in December 2009 (4). The aim is to draw attention to the often overlooked benefits of strong, "health-proofed" climate change policy for health. "Recent research shows that the cleaner air associated with climate change policies can reduce hospital admissions and premature deaths," says Génon Jensen, Executive Director of the Health and Environment Alliance. "This would represent future savings to society and health systems of up to 25 billion Euros per year in monetary terms." (5) ends- For more information, please contact: Prof Jon G Ayres, Institute of Occupational & Environmental Health, University of Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. E-mail: j.g.ayres@bham.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)121 414 6671 Website: www.ersnet.org. Mobile phone: +44 (0)788 428 0099 Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance, 28 Boulevard Charlemagne, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: +32 2 234 3641 (direct) Fax : +32 2 234 3649 E-mail: genon@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Mobile phone: + 32 495 808732. Notes for journalists 1. ERS Position Statement, Climate change and respiratory disease: European Respiratory Society position statement, J G Ayres et al, European Respiratory Journal 2009; 34: 295-302 Available for public access as of 05:00 CET on Saturday 1 August 2009 at the following links: http://erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/cont... (HTML) http://erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/repr... (PDF) 2. In Europe, as elsewhere, lung diseases are among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity and a further increase in mortality is expected in the future if adequate policy responses are not taken. Respiratory diseases rank second (after cardiovascular disease) in terms of mortality, incidence, prevalence and costs with an estimated yearly financial burden of €102 billion in Europe and 68 million deaths world wide by 2020. Lung cancer, pneumonia and COPD are the main respiratory causes of death in Europe. Moreover, hundreds of millions of people suffer every day from chronic respiratory diseases. According to the latest WHO estimates (2007), currently 300 million people have asthma, 210 million people have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) while countless millions have allergic rhinitis and other, often under-diagnosed, chronic respiratory diseases. For more information on respiratory diseases, see: www.european-lungfoundation. org 3. HEAL has launched a campaign to push health to the centre of the debate on climate change. It organised several seminars on this theme and produced advocacy materials. HEAL works in close collaboration with the Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Europe, which has recently produced a joint report with the World Health Organization entitled "Healthy Hospitals, Healthy Planet, Healthy People, Addressing climate change in health care settings". (See www.noharm.org) 4. HEAL and HCWH Europe press release: Call for "health check" at climate change talks http://env-health.org/IMG/pdf/PR_Bo... 5. The 25 billion Euro figure is taken from the “Co-benefits of stronger climate change policy” report. It was commissioned by HEAL and others, and authored by Dr Mike Holland, an independent consultant who has worked with the European Commission and the World Health Organization on similar cost-benefit analyses. For this paper, Dr Holland used the European Commission’s model. It is available at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/C... september_2008.pdf The European Respiratory Society (ERS) is a not-for-profit international medical organisation composed of some 9000 individual members in over 100 countries who represent pneumologists and other medical disciplines (paediatricians, intensive care, oncology, thoracic surgeons, epidemiologists etc); scientists and allied health professionals in the field of respiratory medicine across Europe and globally. The ERS mission is to alleviate suffering from respiratory disease and to promote lung health through research, knowledge sharing, medical and public education and advocacy. Website: www.ersnet.org Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection and sustainability improves health and to empower the health community to contribute their expertise to policy making. Since its inception, HEAL’s membership has grown to include a diverse network of more than 50 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organizations across Europe which together have a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. Website: www.env-health.org |
| 24/06/2009 | EU says cancer prevention needs to address environmental factors PRESS RELEASE, Brussels 24 June 2009 – The European Commission's Communication on Cancer released today takes an important step forward in recognising the environmental dimension of cancer prevention, according to the Health and Environment Alliance. (1) Historically, prevention work has predominantly focused on changing lifestyle risk factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption. Many environmental factors, including carcinogenic chemicals, pesticides and particles in air pollution, contribute to cancer. These cancers could be prevented by changes in policy to reduce people’s involuntary exposure to these chemical substances. For the first time, the Commission officially acknowledges that cancer prevention should address lifestyle, occupational and environmental causes on an equal footing. "We welcome today's Communication with its recognition that exposure to chemicals are key determinants of cancer," says Lisette van Vliet, Chemicals Policy Advisor. "As individuals, we have very limited choice about the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the level of chemical contamination in our indoor and outdoor environments." In April 2008, the European Parliament recognised that the multiple factors and stages involved in cancer causation required "a new cancer prevention paradigm that addresses [the different causes] … in a manner that reflects the actual combination effects of different causes, rather than focusing on isolated causes”. (2) The Parliament also noted "the increasing scientific evidence that certain cancers, such as cancer of the bladder, bone cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, breast cancer and others are caused not only by the effects of chemical substances, radiation and airborne particles but also by other environmental factors" in its Resolution of September 2008. (3) An Impact Assessment commissioned by the European Parliament on recent pesticides legislation estimates that one per cent of cancers diagnosed each year in Europe may be directly associated with exposure to pesticides. (4) HEAL is particularly keen to see stronger controls of man-made chemicals, especially hormone disruptors, under the EU chemicals legislation, known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals) and changes in the way chemicals are assessed. The decisions about the risks that chemicals pose should recognise people’s multiple, concurrent exposures. Other important arenas for action in reducing cancer rates include strong implementation of pesticides legislation, and improving air quality in line with the World Health Organization recommendations. The many European scientists who consider changes are needed to reduce people’s exposures to hormone disrupting chemicals are supported by US experts. In a recent letter about the Obama Cancer Plan, medical and scientific experts highlight numerous different types of cancer and their links to everyday chemicals, such as sun screens, cosmetics and personal care products, and herbicides. They argue that more attention must be given to environmental prevention. (5) "The EU has achieved huge success in cancer prevention through its determined action on smoke-free public places Europe-wide," says Lisette van Vliet. "We hope to help the new European Partnership Against Cancer make similar progress on wider environmental prevention by making all our indoor and outdoor environments cleaner and safer. For real primary environmental prevention, we must go beyond passive smoke exposure and lifestyle factors to bring down the number of cancer cases." For more information, please contact: Lisette van Vliet, Health & Environment Alliance, 28 Boulevard Charlemagne, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: +32 2 234 3645 (direct) Fax : +32 2 234 3649 E-mail: lisette@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Mobile phone: + 32 4 84 614 528. Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943. E-mail: Diana@gsmith.com.fr Notes to journalist 1. The Communication on Cancer is available at http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_infor... Citizen’s summary at http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_infor... 2.European Parliament Resolution of 10 April 2008 on Combatting Cancer in the Enlarged European Union http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides... 0121+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN 3. European Parliament resolution of 4 September 2008 on the mid-term review of the European Environment and Health Action Plan 2004-2010 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides... //EP//TEXT+TA+P6-TA-2008-0410+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN 4.See http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activ... 5.Letter available http://world-wire.com/news/09061500... Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection and sustainability improves health and to empower the health community to contribute their expertise to policy making. Since its inception, HEAL’s membership has grown to include a diverse network of more than 60 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organizations across Europe which together have a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. Website: www.env-health.org |
| 10/06/2009 | Call for "health check" at climate change talks For distribution at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) preparatory conference in Bonn (1-12 June 2009) where decision-makers are negotiating important texts in the lead-up to COP 15 in Copenhagen in December 2009, where a major new climate change deal is to be agreed. PRESS RELEASE Bonn, 10 June 2009 – Two leading international health organisations are calling for a greater number of health experts to be included in climate change discussions. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Healthcare Without Harm Europe (HCWH) say that although human health is already being seriously affected by climate change, less than 1% of government participants involved in the process are from the health sector. The two organizations have asked the European Commission to include a group of top-level health experts in the EU delegation to the crucial "COP 15" climate change talks planned for Copenhagen in December 2009. (1) “With the world’s governments moving closer to a new agreement on tackling climate change in Copenhagen this December, the health sector must have a fair chance to bring attention to serious human health concerns and to focus on the best policy options for human health and the society at large,” said Pendo Maro, Joint Senior Climate Change and Energy Advisor for HEAL and HCWH, who is in Bonn. (2) HEAL and HCWH want to see the combined economic, social and health "co-benefits" of strong climate change policy highlighted in the negotiations. Research projections show that premature deaths and hospital admissions can be avoided as a result of the cleaner air associated with a strong package on climate change. (3) Global warming is already causing 300,000 deaths per year. Increasingly severe heatwaves, floods, storms and forest fires could push up the annual death toll to 500,000 by 2030, according to a report published by the Global Humanitarian Forum, the think tank of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, in May 2009. (4) Funding for health projects is very low. In April 2009, Dr Roberto Bertollini, Senior Advisor and Coordinator, Public Health and Environment Department, World Health Organization told a meeting of health and environment ministers from 53 European countries that although 32 of the world's 38 poorest countries identified health in their national action plans on climate change, funding for health has received only less than 1% of allocations under the climate change framework. (5) He also asked for the under-representation of health expertise in the climate change talks to be addressed. He said that only about 20 of the official 10,000 participants to the UNFCCC process are from the health sector. (5) The health sector is already working to reduce its carbon footprint. A recently released WHOHCWH- HEAL report provides case studies of what hospitals are doing. For example, the Constance Hospital in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany has converted to "combined heat and power" technology, installed solar panels and improved its thermal insulation - resulting in a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 25%. (6) Contacts: In Bonn: Pendo Maro, Joint Senior Climate Change and Energy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Mobile phone:+32 495 281 494 Diana Smith, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) +33 6 33 04 2943 (mobile) +33 1 55 25 25 84. Email: Diana@env-health.org Notes for journalists 1. The two health organizations, Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care Without Harm have sent a letter to the European Commission addressed to President Jose Manuel Barroso, Commissioner for Environment Stavros Dimas; Commissioner for Health Androulla Vassiliou, and copied to Ministers of Health of Member States of the European Union asking for a European health delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009. 2. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and HealthCare Without Harm (HCWH) want to see aid agencies, international institutions and intergovernmental negotiations: Establish a framework that will promote health, social justice, and survival for current and future generations. Ensure that international agreements and financing mechanisms support climate change mitigation by the health sector worldwide. Encourage financial assistance that promotes climate-friendly and environmentally sustainable health facilities. 3. If the European Union increased its target greenhouse gas emission reductions from the present 20% to 30%, the total savings from death and ill-health due to respiratory conditions alone could reach an additional 25 billion Euros per year by 2020. Fewer emissions result in cleaner air, fewer premature deaths among people with existing respiratory problems, 5,300 fewer cases of bronchitis, and 2,800 fewer hospital admissions each year. See report from HEAL, CAN Europe and WWF entitled "The co-benefits to health of a strong EU climate change policy" available at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/C... september_2008.pdf 4. Human Impact Report, The Anatomy of a Silent Crisis, Global Humanitarian Forum, available at http://www.ghf-geneva.org/ 5. "Climate Change and Health: The Global Perspective" presentation by Dr Roberto Bertollini, Senior Advisor and Coordinator, Public Health and Environment Department, World Health Organization, Geneva (copy available on request from Diana Smith, Diana@gsmith.com.fr or +33 6 33 04 2943) 6. "Healthy Hospitals, Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Addressing climate change in health care settings", Discussion Draft is available at www.noharm.org or http://env-health.org/a/3351 Health Care Without Harm is a global network of more than 440 organizations in 52 countries working to transform the health care sector so it is no longer a source of harm to people and the environment. The Health and Environment Alliance aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 60 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org |
| 10/06/2009 | Green groups: European Commission off target Brussels, 10 June 2009 – The environmental record of the outgoing European Commission is worryingly off target, the ‘Green 10’ coalition of leading environmental organisations said today in Brussels. Environmental groups published an assessment of the Barroso Commission, giving it an overall mark of 4.4/10. In all, the ‘Green 10’ report examines successes and failures in 12 policy areas that impact the environment, and sets out a checklist for the next Commission.[1] The Green 10 blamed the low score on, among other things, a failure to reform agriculture and fisheries policies, and, more broadly, to propose sustainable economic policies. But there were some positive notes, notably in climate, energy and transport policy. At a time when Europe is gripped by economic and environmental crises, the environmental groups call on the next Commission to double its efforts over the next five years and put in place policies that benefit the environment and people’s health, and create sustainable economic growth and jobs. On taking office in 2004, the Barroso Commission got off to a bad start by judging environmental objectives to be inconsistent with the overriding jobs and competitiveness agenda, the report says. But spurred by growing public and media interest in environmental issues in the second half of its term, the Commission belatedly began to strengthen legislation in the fields of climate, energy and transport, thus earning scores of 7/10, 6/10 and 6/10 respectively. The Green 10 report, however, warns that these policies – in particular the EU’s ‘climate and energy package’ – have not delivered the results predicted in the original Commission proposals after being weakened by EU governments. Much more will need to be achieved by the incoming European Commission, say the groups. The report also finds that the Commission has neglected the protection of nature and disregarded its importance for long-term economic sustainability and the fight against climate change. The report is critical of the Commission for too often giving in to vested interests when legislating on issues affecting agriculture and marine life. In particular, the so called ‘CAP Health Check’ was a missed opportunity to truly reform the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, the groups say. The Commission only scores 4/10 on agriculture. Failure to adequately finance ‘Natura 2000’ sites, a network of sensitive protected areas, a poor initial proposal for the new ‘Marine directive’ that failed to address the pressures on the marine environment, and continued support for genetically modified organisms all contributed to another low score of 4/10 on biodiversity policy. Although polls consistently show that citizens are concerned about the impact that the environment plays on their health, the Commission has only achieved a mark of 5/10 for its health-related policies. The positive outcome of a global mercury ban and proposals to reduce air pollution have been contrasted by internal disagreements over legislation to ban dangerous chemicals. To download the Green 10 report, go to: http://green10.typepad.com/docs/G10... Notes to editors: [1] Please refer to the end of this press release for a summary of the marks in each policy area. Green 10 press contact: Mark Breddy : +32 (0)2 274 1903, +32 (0)496 156 229 (mob.), mark.breddy@greenpeace.org The Green 10 are ten of the largest environmental organisations working at EU level. They coordinate joint responses and recommendations to EU decision-makers, to ensure that the environment is placed at the heart of policymaking. Membership of the Green 10 is more than 20 million people. www.green10.org |
| 26/05/2009 | Health Care Can Help Lead the Fight Against Climate Change Press release , Geneva-Washington DC, 26 May 2009—Climate change not only poses serious threats to human health, but the health-sector can play a leadership role in reducing the magnitude and consequences of global warming by getting its own house in order. That is the message of a discussion paper just issued by the World Health Organization and Health Care Without Harm. “By reducing its climate footprint and moving toward carbon neutrality, the health sector can demonstrate the path forward in this age of global warming, thereby playing a leadership role in advocating for a healthy and sustainable future,” commented Maria Neira, Director of WHO’s Department of Public Health and Environment. Released earlier this month at the World Health Assembly, a gathering of Ministers of Health from every nation, the discussion paper presents examples from around the world of hospitals taking measures to reduce their climate footprint. It outlines seven steps health care systems can take to move toward climate friendly health care. And it identifies a series of opportunities for action at the global, national and local levels. “This paper begins to define a framework for analyzing and addressing the health sector’s climate footprint,” said Josh Karliner, International Coordinator for Health Care Without Harm, one of the report’s authors. “HCWH and its NGO partners, including the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) in Europe, will be using it as the basis for discussion and consultation with health care professionals, hospitals and health systems around the world in order to build a global network that can advocate for climate friendly health care.” The discussion paper argues that many of the steps hospitals and health care systems can take to reduce their impact on the world’s climate can also save money and improve the health of the population and the quality of care they deliver. It also points out that “urgent action from all sectors of society is necessary to mitigate the impacts of climate change.” “With the world’s governments set to establish a new agreement for addressing climate change in Copenhagen this December, it is essential that Europe’s health sector speaks out and puts pressure on the EU and our governments to advocate for a strong stance that addresses the most serious environmental health issue that the world faces today,” said Dr Pendo Maro, Joint Senior Climate Change and Energy Advisor, Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) and Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL). The paper is available for download at www.noharm.org or www.env-health.org Health Care Without Harm is a global network of more than 440 organizations in 52 countries working to transform the health care sector so it is no longer a source of harm to people and the environment. The Health and Environment Alliance aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It brings together more than 50 organizations working at the European level. Website: www.env-health.org The World Health Organization is the international agency within the United Nations system responsible for health. Contacts: Diana Smith, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) +33 6 33 04 2943 (mobile) Pendo Maro, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) +32 2 234 3647 Susan Wilburn, WHO, + 41-22 791 4780 Josh Karliner, HCWH, +1-415-752-1658 |
| 02/04/2009 | EU Plan targets health problems related to climate change Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) response to launch of a European framework to address health impacts of climate change, which was published to coincide with the release of the White Paper, Adapting to Climate Change on 1 April 2009. Brussels, Thursday 2 April 2009 - The European Commission has published a plan on how the health sector should adapt to climate change. The document was launched in conjunction with the EU's White Paper on Climate Change Adaptation yesterday. (1) The plan is a staff working document outlining EU plans for tackling all emergency and health-related problems associated with climate change. (2) It estimates that within just under 20 years an additional 30,000 people may dying each year as a result of higher temperatures. Drawing on the Commission's own research findings, the working document says: "In EU countries, it is estimated that mortality increases by 1–4% for each one-degree rise in temperature, meaning that heat related mortality could rise by 30 000 deaths per year by the 2030s and by 50 000 to 110 000 deaths per year by the 2080s." (2) European Union Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou says the Commission is making the effects of climate change on human health a priority. “The surveillance of climate change and its effects on human health, emerging diseases and on animal and plant health is amongst the Commission's priorities. We present proposals today which outline how EU policies such as the Health Programme, but also our legislative framework on communicable disease in humans, or our animal or plant health strategies could be mobilised to contribute to adaptation of the health sector to climate change challenges. Making our citizens ready for change through member state planning processes in the public and private sectors, and mobilising our society to protect vulnerable populations are among my main priorities". (3) Genon Jensen, Executive Director welcomed the coordinated approach taken by the Commission and the focus on protecting vulnerable groups who will be hardest hit, such as asthma suffers, the elderly and those facing socio-economic difficulties. "The Communication on health reflects the urgency associated with many of the actions needed today. However, we must rapidly go beyond surveillance to implementing actions to ensure that the EU provides hospitals, clinics, doctors and patients with the tools and examples of good practice they need to make the change happen." The health sector in Europe is already feeling the effects of climate change. Hospital admissions rose dramatically and 70,000 people died during the heatwave of summer 2003. (2) Emergency services have had to deal with more floods and forest fires, and worsening air pollution. Allergy seasons are starting earlier and ending later and outbreaks of food and vector borne diseases are more common. "At HEAL, we are urging EU Health Ministers to take seriously not only the need to adapt to these problems but also to organise for action that will substantially reduce carbon dioxide emissions and help prevent additional deaths. Specific policy changes aimed at mitigating climate change can provide enormous benefits for public health (4), and the health sector itself is becoming increasingly engaged in lowering its carbon footprint (5)," says Genon Jensen. …/… Notes 1. The press release on the White Paper, Adapting to climate change, 1 April 2009 is available at http://europa.eu/rapid/pressRelease... 2. Commission Staff Working Document, Accompanying document to the Communication, Adapting to climate change: Towards a European framework for action Human, Animal and Plant Health Impacts of Climate Change COM(2009) 147 To receive a copy email Christian Farrar-Hockley, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Christian@env-health.org (not yet available online). 3. Quote provided on 1 April 2009 following HEAL's direct communication with the Health Commissioner in the preparation of this press release. 4. Report: The co-benefits to health of a strong EU climate change policy, CAN Europe, Health and Environment Alliance, WWF, available at http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/C... 5. According to Carbon Trust's Tim Jenkins: "Eighteen more National Health Service (NHS) Trusts from across England and Scotland are set to cut their collective carbon footprints by 60,000 tonnes and energy costs by £7 million per year by joining phase three of the Carbon Trust’s NHS Carbon Management (NHS CM) programme. The NHS in England currently emits approximately 3.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year from its buildings alone and must cut this by 15 per cent by 2010 if it is to meet mandatory targets set by the Department of Health." Press release, Carbon Trust helping 48 NHS Trusts cut carbon and save cash, 01 May 2008, http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/News/p... For more information, please contact: Christian Farrar-Hockley, Senior Policy Adviser, Health & Environment Alliance, 28 Boulevard Charlemagne, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: +32 2 234 3644 Fax : +32 2 234 3649 E-mail: christian@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Mobile phone: + 32 486 80 7959. Génon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance, 28 Boulevard Charlemagne, B-1000 Brussels. E-mail: genon@env-health.org Website: www.env-health.org Mobile phone: + 32 495 808732. Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943. E-mail: Diana@gsmith.com.fr Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection and sustainability improves health and to empower the health community to contribute their expertise to policy making. Since its inception, HEAL’s membership has grown to include a diverse network of more than 50 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organizations across Europe which together have a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. Website: www.env-health.org |
| 20/03/2009 | DES ESPACES PUBLICS EN VERT ET CONTRE TOUT PESTICIDE ! Communiqué de Presse, Paris, le 20 mars 2009 –80% des Français sont contre l’utilisation des pesticides dans les espaces publics (sondage IFOP / MDRGF, « Les Français et les pesticides »1). Pour relayer cette volonté de la population auprès des élus locaux, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL, réseau européen, pionnier en matière d’information sur l’environnement et la santé) et le Mouvement pour les Droits et le Respect des Générations Futures (MDRGF) lancent au cours de la Semaine pour les alternatives aux Pesticides2, une action « Villes Zéro Pesticides » sous forme de carte postale. Ces cartes seront disponibles dans tous les lieux où des manifestations seront organisées durant cette Semaine3. Il s’agit de permettre aux citoyens d’interpeller directement les autorités locales afin qu’elles abandonnent l’usage des pesticides dans les lieux publics de leur commune. Les deux associations invitent dès maintenant chacun à faire valoir auprès de son maire, en lui envoyant cette carte postale, le droit pour les enfants de vivre dans un environnement sain. En effet, les squares et les aires de jeux, les jardins et les parcs n’échappent pas à l’utilisation des pesticides. Or, cette exposition, peut s’avérer dangereuse surtout pour les enfants4 population particulièrement vulnérable aux effets de ses substances. « L’association entre l’exposition aux pesticides dans les premières années de la vie et l’apparition de cancers infantiles, est de plus en plus admise scientifiquement, en particulier en ce qui concerne les tumeurs cérébrales et les leucémies, et ce d’après de nombreuses études épidémiologiques », constate Genon Jensen, directrice exécutive de HEAL. Si les citoyens se déclarent inquiets des expositions multiples aux pesticides comme le montre le sondage IFOP/MDRGF, ils ont peu de prise sur les politiques et les pratiques agricoles. En revanche, ils peuvent agir, au sein de leur commune. « Tout citoyen peut contribuer à la diminution de l’exposition aux pesticides des enfants et des femmes enceintes utilisés en ville, par ce geste simple : l’envoi de la carte postale HEAL/MDRGF au maire de sa commune », explique François Veillerette, président du MDRGF. Pour réduire la pollution5 et l’exposition aux pesticides, des villes se sont déjà engagées sur cette voie6, de Rennes à Grenoble en passant par 13 communes du Loiret, dont Orléans, ou encore Paris, où 63 parcs et espaces verts sont labélisés « écologiques ». Cette action s’inscrit dans le cadre de la campagne « Pesticides & cancer » (www.pesticidescancer.eu) initiée par HEAL en association avec le MDRGF. La campagne « Pesticides & cancer » doit permettre au public de s’approprier les termes du débat sur les impacts des pesticides sur la santé et de susciter l’implication de tous pour assurer un environnement sain. Cette campagne est en train d’être mise en place au Royaume-Uni, où des demandes équivalentes en terme d’abandon de l’utilisation des pesticides dans les lieux publics vont être formulées. Cela permet d’opérer des échanges d’expériences pratiques au niveau européen pour créer un véritable changement vers un environnement sain, sans pesticides, et ainsi préserver notre santé. Pour plus d’informations, contactez: Aurèle Clémencin, Coordonnateur de la campagne « Pesticides & Cancer » Tel: +33 (0)6 77 06 29 60. E-mail: aurele@env-health.org Notes aux journalistes 1- Sondage IFOP pour le MDRGF, « Les Français et les pesticides », disponible sur : www.mdrgf.org/pdf/sondage_pe... 2- Voir toutes les manifestations de la Semaine Sans Pesticides sur www.semaine-sans-pesticides.com 3- Les cartes postales sont aussi disponibles en téléchargement sur le site http://www.pesticidescancer.eu/spip... 4- Une étude montre que les enfants dont les parents utilisent des herbicides ont un risque doublé de développer des tumeurs cérébrales (résumé en anglais est disponible sur http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2009/...) 5- A Paris, l’air est régulièrement chargée en pesticides mais plus encore pendant la période du début du printemps car c’est le moment où les pulvérisations commencent en agriculture mais aussi dans les espaces publics. Air’parif, dans son rapport de 2007 « Evaluation des concentrations en pesticides dans l’air francilien. Campagne exploratoire », montre que certains herbicides dangereux se retrouvent en concentration non négligeable (p33 et 37 du rapport). Entre autres, nous pouvons citer l’Oxadiazon (herbicide toujours autorisé d’utilisation) qui est, selon la base de données de Pesticides Action Network, classé cancérogène potentiel par l’Agence environnementale Etatsunienne US-EPA et par l’Etat de Californie, et est reconnu toxique pour la reproduction par ces mêmes agences. 6- La liste des villes qui sont Zero pesticide ou qui ont entamé une démarche vers cet objectif est aussi disponible sur le site http://www.pesticidescancer.eu/spip... Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) a pour objectif de sensibiliser le public sur les bénéfices sanitaires de la protection environnementale. Pour cela elle facilite la représentation citoyenne et l’expertise scientifique dans le processus de décision au niveau des politiques européennes environnementales et de santé. Depuis sa création les organisations qui se sont affiliées à HEAL n’ont fait que croître pour former un réseau diversifié de plus de 50 entités européennes de citoyens, de “patients”, de femmes, de professionnels de la santé et d’environnementalistes qui ont toutes montré leur efficacité pour accroitre la participation du public et l’expertise dans le cadre de débats ou des processus de prise de décision au niveau européen. Site: www.env-health.org C’est le principe de responsabilité, tel qu’inscrit dans l’Article 2 de la Charte Française de l’Environnement, qui pousse le Mouvement pour les Droits et le Respect des Générations Futures (MDRGF) depuis plus de 15 ans à s’investir dans un combat pour une agriculture sans pesticides et sans OGM, afin de préserver l’environnement et de prévenir toute pollution. Son action contre les pesticides est en ce sens une action citoyenne et, par définition, responsable. Le MDRGF est à l’origine de la «Semaine sans pesticides» qui aura lieu du 20 au 30 mars 2009. Site: www.mdrgf.org |
| 13/03/2009 | 5-MINUTE TASK FOR YOUR HEALTH: Help push harmful chemicals off the market! Brussels, 13 March 2009 – Recent European Union legislation gives the consumer the right to know whether certain toxic chemicals are being used in everyday products. To celebrate European Consumer Day on Friday, 13 March 2009*, a public interest coalition is promoting an information leaflet for consumers about new rights under REACH, the recent EU chemicals legislation. (1) The groups involved are concerned about how certain chemicals used in consumer products are affecting human health. The "know your rights" leaflet is the initiative of the Chemicals Health Monitor project (2) of the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and supported by 14 European and national health, environmental, women’ and consumers’ groups. (3) Entitled “Harmful chemicals in the products you buy? Your right to know”, the leaflet explains how the new 'right to know' works, and how consumers can use it. It includes a sample letter to a manufacturer or retailer to obtain information on whether harmful chemicals are present in the product. It should take consumers not more than five minutes to prepare. The leaflet also gives examples of chemicals of high concern that are typically found in different consumer products. (2) Why this action? Certain chemicals currently used in the production of consumer products are likely contributors to some chronic health conditions. The REACH legislation introduced an authorisation mechanism that can strictly control the uses of harmful chemicals. However, the process is moving slowly leaving the door open for industry to continue using chemicals in consumer products that are recognised as being harmful to health. (4) "The evidence that some chemicals on the market can contribute to chronic conditions, such as allergies, some types of cancer, and reproductive problems, is growing daily," says Dr Lisette Van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, HEAL. "New rights created by the REACH law mean that when consumers ask, companies must inform them, free of charge, which harmful chemicals are in the product. By asking for this information, consumers show they want manufacturers and retailers to use safer alternatives." * Although activities celebrating Consumer Day in Europe are taking place this year on Friday, 13 March, the official date of European Consumer Day is 15 March. Notes 1. REACH – Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemicals http://www.chemicalshealthmonitor.o... The "right to know" component of the legislation requires the manufacturer or retailer of a consumer product to provide a response to written questions in relation to chemicals on the official list of "Substances of Very High Concern", otherwise known as the "Candidate list", within a 45-day period. More information: http://www.chemicalshealthmonitor.o... 2. Chemicals Health Monitor project is at www.chemicalshealthmonitor.org. The consumer leaflet is available at the Chemicals Health Monitor website: http://www.chemicalshealthmonitor.o... Examples of chemicals of high concern singled out in the leaflet’s "Hidden Dangers" box include phthalates, brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated chemicals, and Bisphenol A. Information on the properties of these chemicals, their health effects and the products in which they can be found is also given. 3. Campaign partner organisations: Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Greenpeace; the European Consumers’ Organisation (BEUC); European Environmental Bureau; WECF – Women in Europe for a Common Future (Germany, France, Netherlands), the European Consumer Association in Standardisation (ANEC); BUND/Friends of the Earth, Germany; Verein zur Hilfe Umweltbedingt Erkrankter (Association for the Support of Environmentally Sick People) Germany, Arnika Association, Czech Republic; Consumers Protection Association, Czech Republic; Cancer Prevention & Education Society, UK; Irish Doctors Environmental Association; CAAG – Clean Air Action Group, Hungary; My Right to Know, Bulgaria; CIEL – Center for International Environmental Law, USA/Switzerland 4. The current version of the official list of chemicals that are candidates for the authorisation process numbers only 15, in contrast to two lists of chemicals made by civil society organisations and trade unions which together cover 482 chemicals. The lists were compiled by ChemSec and the European Trade Union Confederation and are based on criteria defined in the REACH legislation. The SIN (Substitute It Now) List 1.0 (267 chemicals) produced by the International Chemical Secretariat (ChemSec) is available at http://www.sinlist.org. The list of 303 chemicals to which workers are exposed and responsible for occupational diseases compiled by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) will be available at http://www.etuc.org/r/830 Contacts: Dr Lisette Van Vliet, Toxics Policy Advisor, Health and Environment Alliance, 28 Boulevard Charlemagne, B-1000 Brussels. Tel. +32 2 234 3645. Mobile: +32 2 484 614 528. Email: lisette@env-health.org Genon K. Jensen, Executive Director, Health & Environment Alliance. Tel: +32 2 234 3641 (direct) Fax: +32 2 234 3649 E-mail: genon@env-health.org Mobile: +32 472 445968 Website: www.env-health.org Diana Smith, Communications, Health and Environment Alliance, Tel: +33 1 55 25 25 84, Mobile: +33 6 33 04 2943 E-mail: Diana@gsmith.com.fr Website: www.env-health.org The Health and Environment Alliance aims to raise awareness of how environmental protection improves health. It achieves this by creating opportunities for better representation of citizens’ and health experts’ perspectives in the environment and health-related European policy-making. Our membership includes a diverse network of more than 50 citizens’, patients’, women’s, health professionals’ and environmental organisations across Europe and has a strong track record in increasing public and expert engagement in both EU debates and the decision-making process. |
| 10/02/2009 | Mercury in Fish is a Global Health Concern For immediate Release Citizens’ groupsi say problem warrants immediate United Nations action 10 February 2009, Brussels - As the world’s governments convene next week to discuss developing a legally binding treaty on mercury, citizens’ groups from around the world have released a new report calling attention to the significant global human health hazards caused by mercury in fish and fish-eating marine mammals. The international Zero Mercury Working Group (1) released the study, which maintains that the problem demands an effective response from governments and the United Nations. “Mercury contamination of fish and mammals is a global public health concern,” said Michael Bender, report co-author and member of the Zero Mercury Working Group. “Our study of fish tested in different locations around the world shows that internationally accepted exposure levels for methylmercury are exceeded, often by wide margins, in each country and area covered.” According to the report, “Mercury in Fish: An Urgent Global Health Concern”, the risk is greatest for populations whose per capita fish consumption is high, and in areas where pollution has elevated the average mercury content of fish. In cultures where fish-eating marine mammals are part of the traditional diet, mercury in these animals can add substantially to total dietary exposure. In addition, the study shows that methylmercury hazards still exist where these dietary and local pollutant levels are less prevalent. “The proposals outlined in the report, including labelling certain fish products and stronger controls on mercury pollution, should be instituted without delay,” said Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, Zero Mercury Campaign Coordinator. “All governments should consider these results and agree launching an International Negotiating Committee (INC) to start work immediately on a global mercury treaty, in Nairobi next week.” For more information please contact Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, Project Coordinator Zero Mercury Campaign, European Environmental Bureau, elena.lymberidi@eeb.org, T: +32 2 2891301 Lisette van Vliet, Health and Environment Alliance, Toxic Policy Adviser, lisette@env-health.org, T: +32 2 234 3645; Michael Bender, Director, Mercury Policy Project, mercurypolicy@aol.com,T: +1 802 223 9000 Vanessa Bulkacz, EEB Press & Publications Officer: press@eeb.org; Tel: +32 (0)2 289 1309 Notes and More Information: The press release is available at: http://www.zeromercury.org/press/09... The full report is available at: http://www.zeromercury.org/Internat... The executive summary is available, In FR at: http://www.zeromercury.org/Internat... In ES at: http://www.zeromercury.org/Internat... In PT at: http://www.zeromercury.org/Internat... In CHI at: http://www.zeromercury.org/Internat... The report indicates that mercury is a persistent, bioaccumulative transboundary pollutant that contaminates our air, soil, water and fish. Because of this potential for global contamination, mercury pollution requires a coordinated international response. Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that can make its way up the food chain into humans, and poses an increased exposure risk to developing fetuses and young children and to adults exposed to mercury. The report is simultaneously co-released by more than 20 NGOs around the world, namely - Zero Mercury Working Group, European Environmental Bureau, Ban Toxics!, Mercury Policy Project, Indonesia Toxics-Free Network, World Wildlife Federation - Guinea, Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development, Pollution Probe, Pesticide Action Network – Mauritius, Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environnement, Health & Environment Alliance, CEPHED, ACPO, Canadian Environmental Law Association, Pro-biodiversity Conservationations in Uganda (PROBICOU), Uganda Network on Toxic Free Malaria Control (UNETMAC), East African Sustainability Watch Network, Ecologistas en Accion, Legambiente, Arnika, France Nature Environnement, German League for Nature and Environment, DISHA, Sierra Club - US and Canada, NRDC, groundWork (1)The Zero Mercury Working group, www.zeromercury.org, is an international coalition of more than 75 public interest nongovernmental organizations from around the world formed in 2005 by the EEB and the Mercury Policy Project/Ban Mercury Working Group. The aim of the group is to reach “‘Zero’ emissions, demand and supply of mercury, from all sources we can control, towards eliminating mercury in the environment at EU level and globally.” The European Environmental Bureau, (EEB), www.eeb.org, is a federation of more then 140 environmental citizens’ organisations based in EU Member States and most Accession Countries, as well as in a few neighboring countries. The aim of the EEB is to protect and improve the environment of Europe and to enable the citizens of Europe to play their part in achieving that goal. Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), http://www.env-health.org is an international non-governmental organisation advocating environmental protection as a means to improving health and well-being. It represents a diverse network of 60 groups representing citizens, patients, women's groups, health professionals, and environmental advocates across Europe. Working at the European level, HEAL focuses on air quality, chemicals, mercury, pesticides, climate change, children's vulnerabilities and many other aspects of EU policy that are relevant to people's health and the environment. |
| 13/01/2009 | Parliament clears final hurdle towards EU pesticide blacklist Press Release 13 January 2009 - In one of the final legislative acts of the 2004-2009 Parliamentary session, soon to adjourn prior to elections in June, the European Parliament today confirmed its support for a new deal on EU pesticides legislation. Voting in Strasbourg, Members of the European Parliament endorsed a raft of measures including the creation of an EU pesticide blacklist designed to replace the most hazardous pesticides from use in EU food production. The development means Parliament has now cleared the final hurdle in establishing future protocols for the authorisation and use of pesticides. “After nearly three years of discussions the EU is just a heartbeat from eliminating dietary and occupational exposure to the worst carcinogenic and mutagenic pesticides”, said Elliott Cannell, a spokesperson for Pesticide Action Network. “Today’s vote is fantastic for consumers concerned that 50% of food items sold in the EU currently contain pesticides”. “We are glad that MEPs have seized this unique opportunity to phase out pesticides that can play a role in the cancer pandemic and growing fertility problems”, said Monica Guarinoni, Deputy Director at the Health & Environment Alliance. “The pesticides policy reform approved today is a definite step forward for public health. We hope it will lead to creating healthier, pesticide-free public spaces at national level, especially in parks and schools where children spend most of their time”. The measures endorsed by Parliament also offer far greater protection for Europe’s honeybees. Bees are essential for the pollination of up to 80 million tonnes of EU food produce – yet industry figures reveal up to 20% of pesticides may be toxic to bees. Yet while the new deal on pesticides includes many measures designed to better protect public health and the environment, other elements have been greatly diluted over the course of the political decision making process. “Perhaps my greatest regret is that Parliament agreed to go soft on pesticides linked with neurological and immunological damage to the development of the unborn child”, said Monica Guarinoni, Deputy Director at the Health & Environment Alliance. “The agreement also undermines the rights of national governments to take local authorisation decisions, thus opening the door for industry to take aggressive legal action against national decisions that don’t go its way”, said Elliott Cannell a spokesperson for Pesticide Action Network. Media Contacts Elliott Cannell Coordinator, Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe) tel: +44 20 7065 0920 (direct) mob: +44 79 60 333 517 elliott@pan-europe.info Monica Guarinoni Deputy Director, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) tel: +32 2 234 3643 (direct) monica@env-health.org |
