Health and Environment Alliance | News & Media: Toxic Chemicals

How does early-life exposure to environmental pollutants affect our health? New flyer and video from the ATHLETE project

10th June 2021

Have you ever wondered whether and how our everyday environment and activities affect our health? The ATHLETE project is designed to answer these questions by studying the Human Exposome – the totality of environmental exposures from conception to adulthood. Today we are excited to launch a new flyer and video to present the key activities of our research project.

How PFAS chemicals affect women, pregnancy and human development: Health actors call for urgent action to phase them out

25th May 2021

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) have published a fact sheet and infographic to call for immediate action against “forever chemicals”, to protect reproductive health, fertility and human development.

‘Forever chemicals’ widespread in disposable food packaging from popular fast-food chains across Europe, new study shows

20th May 2021

The use of persistent and health-harming PFAS chemicals in disposable food packaging and tableware is a widespread practice across Europe, as shown in a study by Czech NGO Arnika, HEAL, CHEM Trust and six other non-profit organisations in Europe.

Save the date: Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals & Public Health – How mutuals are taking action

31st March 2021

Which actions are taken at international & European level to reduce exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals? How are healthcare mutuals taking action? Join our special webinar with AIM and the Mutualités Libres on April 29th to find out.

A lire – « Les Plastiqueurs – Enquête sur ces industriels qui nous intoxiquent »

17th March 2021

Une enquête détaillée sur les multiples et complexes intérêts derrière l’omniprésence des plastiques dans le monde contemporain est publiée ce jour sous la forme d’un livre intitulé « Les Plastiqueurs – Enquête sur ces industriels qui nous intoxiquent » aux Editions Calmann-Lévy.

New study suggests association between early pregnancy PFOA exposure and increased risk of miscarriage during first trimester

11th February 2021

A study released today in the Nature journal Scientific Reports finds that exposure to PFOA during the early stages of pregnancy is positively associated with an increased risk for sporadic miscarriage during the second half of the first trimester.

More than 12,200 chemicals can be used in materials and articles coming in contact with food worldwide, according to new scientific database

30th November 2020

The first publicly available database providing an overview of the chemicals that can be used in the processing of food contact materials and articles was released today, which suggests that more than 12,200 chemicals can be used in materials and articles coming in contact with food worldwide.

Survey shows almost 50% of Belgians are unaware of health-harming endocrine disrupting chemicals in daily lives

19th November 2020

Results from a new survey published by the Belgian Independent Health Insurance Funds (Mutualités Libres / Onafhankelijke Ziekenfondsen) reveal nearly half of Belgian citizens have little knowledge of what endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are and how they can impact our health.

Turning the plastic tide: how upgraded chemicals regulations are piece and parcel of addressing the plastics challenge

21st October 2020

Taking on the plastics challenge in a way that puts health and the environment first to deliver on Europe’s Zero Pollution ambition requires upgrading European regulations on chemicals and articles in which they are used, encompassing the entire lifecycle of plastics.

EU chemicals strategy: speedy implementation steps key to truly protect people’s health

14th October 2020

Environmental health advocates have welcomed today’s release of the European Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability as a major step forward in the delivery of Europe’s Zero Pollution Objective. They however insisted…

Save the date: HEAL and Belgian Independent Health Insurance Funds symposium on endocrine disruptors

7th October 2020

Register today to take part in the online symposium ‘Endocrine Disruptors: reduce the impact on our health’, organised by the Belgian Mutualités Libres on 19 November 2020.

Further European Commission frictions revealed over the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability: HEAL concerns for health protection remain

1st October 2020

As an important European Commission meeting was due to take place on 1st October to iron out some of the last contentious aspects of the strategy under development, several media outlets across Europe today reported further frictions.

Say NO to a toxic Europe – sign the petition to demand a EU chemicals strategy that protects health and the environment

28th September 2020

Say NO to a toxic Europe - sign the petition (available in multiple languages) to demand a EU chemicals strategy that protects health and the environment.

FIGO, UCSF and HEAL share 10 tips to avoid toxic chemicals during and after pregnancy

27th July 2020

The Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), the University of California – San Francisco (UCSF) and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) have launched easy-to-use infographics for obstetricians, gynecologists and health groups to create awareness around toxic chemicals and pregnancy in a one-week social media campaign.

Revealed European Commission frictions over the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability – HEAL’s concerns for health protection

17th July 2020

On 16th July 2020, several media outlets around Europe revealed major internal dissensions within the European Commission about the development of the European Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, including a leaked annotated draft of the strategy.

HEAL regrets ECHA Member States Committee failure to recognise endocrine disrupting Resorcinol as a substance of very high concern

18th June 2020

HEAL urges Member States and the Commission to support the recognition of the endocrine disrupting Resorcinol as a substance of very high concern.

HEAL and European Cancer Leagues launch infographic illustrating how Europe can prevent cancer by tackling environmental pollutants

25th May 2020

To mark the start of the European Week Against Cancer 2020, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the European Cancer Leagues (ECL) have teamed up to launch an infographic telling the story behind environmental cancer prevention.

REACH committee to discuss proposal to restrict over 4,000 chemicals that can be used in tattoo inks and permanent make-up

11th May 2020

On 13 May 2020, the REACH committee is scheduled to discuss a proposal from the European Commission that aims to agree on a restriction covering over 4,000 hazardous chemicals that can be used in tattoo inks or permanent make-up.

A healthy, green and just response to the COVID-19 crisis in the Western Balkans

6th May 2020

The Western Balkan countries are faced with an unprecedented crisis, and the magnitude of public health consequences of COVID-19 are and will be costing the Balkan region dearly. The World…

How endocrine disrupting chemicals affect women’s reproductive health: new factsheet and infographic by the FREIA project

9th March 2020

It is beyond a doubt that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) impact the health of humans and the environment globally. Surprisingly, we still don’t know exactly how EDCs can harm female reproductive health. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) has teamed up with the FREIA project to launch a factsheet and infographic - available in English, Dutch and French - to introduce this research project and to illustrate how EDCs affect women’s health.

News & Media: Toxic Chemicals