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 book by renowned epidemiologist Dr. Shanna Swan warns about threats posed by endocrine disrupting chemicals that are imperiling reproductive health, fertility and the fate of humankind.
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.
Turkey is pushing ahead with plans to double its coal power capacity with 30 new coal power stations despite major health impacts and costs linked to the country’s existing coal…
Today the European Commission launched the Beating Cancer Plan, marking the beginning of a new era in cancer prevention. The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) has welcomed the ambitious plan as a major step forward to prevent cancer by preventing pollution.
Brussels - The Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) currently excludes limits on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), making it unfit to support the EU's moves to address climate…
The upcoming finalisation of the Just Transition Fund will set the financial framework on how European regions will execute the much needed transition to carbon-neutral economies. Decades of fossil fuel…
Responding to the converging climate and COVID-19 crises can deliver a triple win: better public health, a sustainable economy and environmental protection. Climate action can ensure cleaner air, healthier diets,…
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.
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.
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…
In her first State of the Union speech, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today proposed upping the EU’s 2030 target for GHG emission reductions from the current -40%…
Today, the European Parliament has adopted its position on the 17.5 billion EUR Just Transition Fund. HEAL, together with 64 other organisations, has been advocating to exclude fossil gas from…
The production, use and recycling of plastics are not only the source of significant pollution of our environment, but they also have consequences for our health. Today the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) releases the primer ‘Turning the Plastic Tide’, aiming to shine a light on a rarely explored perspective to plastic pollution: the undeniable link between the synthetic chemicals used in plastics and their effects on our health.
‘Turning the Plastic Tide’ introduces readers to health concerns over our exposure to the chemicals coming at play throughout the entire lifecycle of plastics. It unwraps the grave challenge that the chemicals constituents involved at every stage – monomers, additives – pose to achieve a clean and healthy circular economy. The report also highlights the need for a broad definition of plastics that allows one to define the full scale of plastic contamination, including the all-pervasive problem of microplastics.
Exposure to chemicals used in plastics, like flame retardants, endocrine disruptors, PFAS, bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates has been associated with a myriad of potential health impacts. For example, health concerns related to endocrine disruptors include reproductive disorders, development dysfunction, behavioural disorders, thyroid problems, low birth weight, diabetes and obesity, asthma, breast and prostate cancers.
Stronger regulations for Europe-wide solutions and better health
HEAL’s new primer is being launched at a crucial time for the delivery of Europe’s promises towards bettering future European legislation on chemicals and reaching the zero-pollution ambition. The release of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, a key component of the European Green Deal, is expected in the autumn of 2020. If well crafted, this could be the most transformative chemical policy initiative at European level since REACH was launched in 2006.
Solving the environmental pollution and health impacts of plastics is only possible by acknowledging that the problems of plastics are inextricably linked to chemical safety. Effective protection of health and environment will require stronger, more efficient and protective EU-wide regulations on chemicals and articles in which they are used. And those regulations need to encompass the entire lifecycle of plastics if they are to truly contribute to the transition to a non-toxic circular economy.
Our recommendations for regulators to turn the plastic tide include:
Plastique : Inverser La Tendance
Les substances chimiques dans les plastiques qui mettent notre santé en peril.
Invertire Il Trend Della Plastica
Le sostanze chimiche presenti nella plastica che mettono a rischio la nostra salute.
Sustancias químicas del plástico que perjudican la salud.
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution setting its position on the European chemicals strategy for sustainability, demanding a ‘health and environment-first’ approach to European legislation on chemicals.
Studie belegt: Tausende Todes- und Krankheitsfälle könnten verhindert werden Um die Interessen von Kohlekonzernen zu schützen, ist die Bundesregierung offenbar dazu bereit, die Gesundheit tausender Bürger*innen zu gefährden. Das belegt…
The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) applauds MEPs for supporting ambitious proposals in favour of a shift towards a ‘health and environment-first’ approach in European chemicals legislations, in order to reduce people’s exposure to mixtures of harmful substances, prevent diseases, and support the transition to a non-toxic circular economy.
Coal combustion is the dominant form of energy generation in Serbia and the Western Balkans, with severe health consequences - the 16 outdated coal power plants in the region produce…
Greater policy commitment by Mayor of Bengaluru and Chief Secretary of Karnataka required to turn short-term reductions into long-lasting good air quality as part of recovery from the pandemic. Bengaluru,…
HEAL urges Member States and the Commission to support the recognition of the endocrine disrupting Resorcinol as a substance of very high concern.
