PUBLICATIONS

A new policy brief, co-published by HEAL and the Independent Health Insurance Funds (Mutualités Libres), shows that the Belgian LEZs in Brussels and Antwerp have led to tangible air quality improvements in a period of only five years. Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution was reduced by 30% in Antwerp and 37% in Brussels.

As EU member states, regional and local authorities prepare to implement the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD), this briefing by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) argues that decision-makers and authorities should pay particular attention to addressing socio-economic inequalities in their clean air efforts. The swift transposition and implementation of the new rules, with strengthened administrative collaboration and the full utilisation of financial support schemes, promise significant progress towards cleaner air across Europe. Improved air quality will be beneficial to everyone and contribute to preventing health inequalities for those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.

Science has a crucial role to play in the implementation of the revised EU clean air law, according to a new briefing by the METEOR research cluster. The briefing showcases how the projects in this EU funded research cluster can help support policymakers in the design of clean air measures and help in evaluating those which are most beneficial to health.  

While evidence of the existence of microplastics within our bodies exists, we currently do not know how they affect human health. This new Polyrisk flyer illustrates how this EU-funded project aims to advance the science of how MNPs in our environment impacts health, particularly in relation to the immune system.

We are exposed to a wide mix of potentially harmful chemicals on a daily basis. To assess whether and how exposure to chemical substances can impact our health and the environment, European and national regulatory authorities rely on the results from several testing methods, including animal testing, when performing their safety assessment. In this Q&A, HEAL answers several key questions about the use of animal testing in the European Union.

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.

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.

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.

To answer some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the impact of harmful chemicals on people’s health and the environment, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) has launched a new easy-to-use infographic and supporting social media assets.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of over 10 000 chemicals also known as “forever chemicals’ are taxing our health and economy. HEAL’s new infographic highlights key strengths and weaknesses in the proposed EU restriction on PFAS.

The new HEAL infographic in English and Polish outlines the most important facts about nitrogen dioxide and its impact on health and highlights what actions should be taken to protect people the pollutant.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is a commonly used plastic that exposes people and the environment to toxic, carcinogenic chemicals and contaminants.

As the Polish government is about to launch its update on its 2040 Energy Strategy (PEP), part three of HEAL’s ‘Curing Chronic Coal’ series, published today, shows that the earlier Poland phases out coal power, the greater the health benefits and saved health costs to society will be.

A new report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) now highlights that phasing out…

A new report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), published today, shows that phasing out…

A HEAL report published today shows that scientific evidence that glyphosate is carcinogenic has so far been dismissed in the EU scientific assessment that will form the basis for the re-approval discussion of its EU market license.

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.