HEAL urges MEPs to put spotlight on environmental health at EU French Presidency exchange
18th January 2022
The European Parliament will hold an exchange with French President Emmanuel Macron regarding the programme of activities of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU (January - June 2022) on 19 January 2022. At the onset of the third year of Covid-19 pandemic, HEAL underlines how this exchange is a major opportunity for MEPs to demand urgent, non-ambiguous and much needed EU action to address environmental pollution, which affects everyone’s health in our society, starting with the most vulnerable.
Chemicals in tattoo inks & permanent make-up: EU-wide restriction covering over 4,000 substances enters into force today
4th January 2022
The legislative piece covers some 4,000 substances and aims to ensure citizens across the EU are equally protected from hazardous chemicals that may cause allergies and serious health impacts like cancer.
Restriction on harmful chemicals in single-use diapers: an opportunity to protect children’s health that Europe is on the verge of missing
9th December 2021
Single-use diapers are a familiar product for most families. But unfortunately, nappies can contain a range of chemicals that can harm human health. A restriction on such substances is an opportunity to protect health that might never see the light of day.
Experts highly concerned as EU body rejects proposal to exclude hazardous chemicals in diapers
9th December 2021
Health and environmental groups have reacted with severe concern after the European Chemicals Agency's scientific committees today rejected an attempt to eliminate hazardous chemicals from single-use babies' diapers.
A 10+13 agroecology approach to shape policies and transform EU food systems
28th January 2021
This policy paper puts forward a proposal to mainstream agroecology into the policies governing EU food systems. It builds on the consensual vision of a coalition of EU civil society, farmers and scientific organizations to use the FAO ‘10 Elements of Agroecology’ and ‘13 Agroecological Principles’ as a framework to develop the appropriate instruments and targets for EU policies.
Turning the plastic tide: New HEAL report puts the spotlight on how chemicals in plastic are putting our health at risk
9th September 2020
Today the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) releases the primer 'Turning the Plastic Tide', unwrapping the story behind the chemicals in plastic that put our health at risk.
The problem of PFAS in Europe – joint NGO flyer
30th March 2020
Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances, more commonly known as PFAS, are a particularly harmful chemical group. In this flyer, HEAL, CHEMSEC, EEB, CHEM Trust and THINK-Film explain the problem of PFAS in Europe.
Food contact materials and chemical contamination
12th June 2019
There are multiple health concerns related to chemicals in food
contact materials in Europe. This briefing looks at the current
legislative system in the European Union for these materials and
defines what is missing in the existing system and what must be
changed if public health is to be protected.
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.
A 10+13 agroecology approach to shape policies and transform EU food systems
28th January 2021
This policy paper puts forward a proposal to mainstream agroecology into the policies governing EU food systems. It builds on the consensual vision of a coalition of EU civil society, farmers and scientific organizations to use the FAO ‘10 Elements of Agroecology’ and ‘13 Agroecological Principles’ as a framework to develop the appropriate instruments and targets for EU policies.
The problem of PFAS in Europe – joint NGO flyer
30th March 2020
Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances, more commonly known as PFAS, are a particularly harmful chemical group. In this flyer, HEAL, CHEMSEC, EEB, CHEM Trust and THINK-Film explain the problem of PFAS in Europe.
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.
EU should ban brain-harming chlorpyrifos to protect health
1st August 2018
Today, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) together with Générations Futures, Pesticide Action Network Europe…
Infographic: Harmful chemicals in food packaging hamper the circular economy
20th September 2021
The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Zero Waste Europe, CHEM Trust and ClientEarth have joined forces to illustrate how harmful chemicals in food packaging can hamper the circular economy and put our health at risk.
Under the Label: The story behind chemicals in cosmetics
21st July 2021
Cosmetics and personal care products can contain harmful endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and other substances of concern, but their labels can be hard to read. The infographic launched by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Tegengif/Erase All Toxins today uncovers the story behind chemicals in cosmetics.
Infographic: Harmful chemicals in food packaging are putting our health at risk
29th June 2021
The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Zero Waste Europe, the European Consumer Organisation BEUC, CHEM Trust and ClientEarth have joined hands to bust some of the most popular myths surrounding chemicals used in food contact materials. The infographic launched today illustrates how the chemicals used in the production, processing, preparation and packaging of food may put our health at risk.
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.
Mutualités Libres and HEAL launch infographic illustrating 10 tips to avoid endocrine disruptors in and around your home
19th November 2020
Results from a new survey published by the Belgian Independent Health Insurance Funds (Mutualités Libres…
Civil society groups call on Belgian federal government’s involvement to guarantee action to clean up and remediate PFAS pollution around Antwerp, monitor consequences, and guarantee accountability
10th November 2021
PFAS pollution is a reality for communities near Antwerp and Zwijndrecht. HEAL and Grondrecht are asking the Belgian government to step in to guarantee action to clean up and remediate pollution, monitor consequences and guarantee accountability.
Glyphosate: Health and cancer groups ask France to publicly clarify contradictory position regarding the health effects of the world’s top-selling herbicide
4th November 2021
Is France making a dangerous U-turn on its position on glyphosate?
In an open letter published today, HEAL, the Association of European Cancer Leagues and La Ligue contre le Cancer urge the French government to publicly clarify its position regarding the health risks posed by the substance.
Chemicals in tattoo inks & permanent make-up: EU-wide restriction covering over 4,000 substances enters into force today
4th January 2022
The legislative piece covers some 4,000 substances and aims to ensure citizens across the EU are equally protected from hazardous chemicals that may cause allergies and serious health impacts like cancer.
Experts highly concerned as EU body rejects proposal to exclude hazardous chemicals in diapers
9th December 2021
Health and environmental groups have reacted with severe concern after the European Chemicals Agency's scientific committees today rejected an attempt to eliminate hazardous chemicals from single-use babies' diapers.
Glyphosate: EU toxicity assessment report still fails to address health risks of world’s most-used pesticide
25th November 2021
A review of the EU assessment report from the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) on the toxicity of the popular pesticide glyphosate confirms that the evaluation is still mostly based on studies and arguments provided by the chemical industry.
Civil society groups call on Belgian federal government’s involvement to guarantee action to clean up and remediate PFAS pollution around Antwerp, monitor consequences, and guarantee accountability
10th November 2021
PFAS pollution is a reality for communities near Antwerp and Zwijndrecht. HEAL and Grondrecht are asking the Belgian government to step in to guarantee action to clean up and remediate pollution, monitor consequences and guarantee accountability.
Glyphosate: Health and cancer groups ask France to publicly clarify contradictory position regarding the health effects of the world’s top-selling herbicide
4th November 2021
Is France making a dangerous U-turn on its position on glyphosate?
In an open letter published today, HEAL, the Association of European Cancer Leagues and La Ligue contre le Cancer urge the French government to publicly clarify its position regarding the health risks posed by the substance.
Glyphosate: 41 health and environment groups urge EU Commission to put an end to use of unreliable industry studies
13th October 2021
41 civil society organisations, including several of the organisers of the successful European Citizens’ Initiative #StopGlyphosate, urge EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides to guarantee that the ongoing assessment of glyphosate is based on updated independent scientific evidence and remains free from vested interests.
‘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.
Turning the plastic tide: New HEAL report puts the spotlight on how chemicals in plastic are putting our health at risk
9th September 2020
Today the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) releases the primer 'Turning the Plastic Tide', unwrapping the story behind the chemicals in plastic that put our health at risk.
Carcinogenicity assessment was flawed for 4 out of 10 pesticides, new report shows
21st October 2019
A new PAN Germany and HEAL review of carcinogenicity assessments of pesticide active ingredients shows 40 percent of them are not carried out in compliance with existing European guidelines, leading to possible continued exposure of farmers and consumers to cancer-causing pesticides. In 30 percent of the cases significant details were missing from the dossiers, raising uncertainties about how European authorities came to a conclusion.
Toxic Soup: Dioxins in Plastic Toys
23rd November 2018
A new study, "Toxic Soup: Dioxins in Plastic Toys", shows alarming levels of very toxic brominated dioxins in eight toys and one hair clip made of recycled plastic stemming from electronic waste.
Toxic chemicals found in carpets sold by major European manufacturers
30th October 2018
New research has found toxic chemicals in carpets produced and sold by some of the…
European Study Exposing Toxic E-Waste Chemicals in Children’s Products Spurs Calls for Policy to End Recycling Exemptions for Hazardous Waste
16th October 2018
Environmental health researchers released alarming evidence today that toxic brominated flame retardants, hazardous chemicals from electronic waste that are known to disrupt thyroid function and cause neurological and attention deficits in children, are contaminating recycled plastics in consumer products across Europe.
