Environmental Health News

The 389 European companies producing the SIN List chemicals

Excerpt: "Last week ChemSec publishes the SIN Producers List, listing the 389 companies producing or importing SIN List chemicals in Europe. Along with information on which SIN List chemicals these companies produce in volumes of 10 tonnes per year or more, the SIN Producers List also highlights how many of these are currently on the REACH candidate list."  more 

BPA exposure 'alters breast development in unborn girls'

Excerpt: "Pregnant women exposed to synthetic bisphenol A (BPA) could give birth to girls who are at a greater risk of suffering from breast cancer later in life, a maternal and newborn health study has shown."  more 

European Chemicals Agency to propose six new REACH chemicals

Excerpt: "The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is preparing dossiers recommending six chemicals are added to the REACH regulation's candidate list this year. "  more 

New Report on Pharmaceuticals in Drinking-water

Excerpt: "New WHO Technical Report and Information Sheet on Pharmaceuticals in Drinking-water Trace concentrations of pharmaceuticals reported in drinking-water have raised concerns over the potential health risks they may pose. This WHO technical report takes into consideration the available scientific knowledge and evidence that support the management of such concerns. "  more 

Greenland is stepping up its efforts to improve waste management

Excerpt: "Prof. Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency (EEA) and a team of experts visited Greenland this week to make a short film on waste and exchange ideas about its prevention and better management."  more 

EU to exceed nitrogen oxides emission ceiling, mostly due to road transport

Excerpt: "The annual status report released today by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that while the EU countries are projected to meet the ceilings emissions for three air pollutants (set by the National Emission Ceilings Directive), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emissions for the EU-27 as a whole will exceed its ceiling by 17 %. These ceilings on the four air pollutants,sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and ammonia (NH3), have been set to protect human health and the environment. "  more 

Companies told to improve REACH dossiers

Excerpt: "Some 86% of the 400 REACH registration dossiers for chemical intermediates evaluated by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) so far have failed to demonstrate the applicants' eligibility for reduced regulatory requirements, it has said."  more 

Norway: Stricter requirements on hazardous substances

Excerpt: "The Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency (Klif) wants to incorporate a list of the most hazardous substances into the Pollution Regulation. This will ensure that all companies are bound by the same strict requirements for emissions of the most hazardous substances. "  more 

Latex Gloves should be banned, says Public Citizen advocacy group

Excerpt: "WASHINGTON, D.C. – Surgical and patient examination gloves that have cornstarch powder on them or are made of natural rubber latex should be banned because of the serious threat they pose to patients and health care workers, Public Citizen said in a petition filed late Monday with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "  more 

Endosulfan facing global ban at Persistent Organic Pollutants meeting

Excerpt: "Parties to the Stockholm convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) will decide whether to eliminate use of pesticide endosulfan at a meeting in Geneva this week. The convention's review committee recommended an international ban last year."  more 

Prenatal pesticide exposure linked with lower IQ

Excerpt: "Babies exposed to pesticides before birth may have significantly lower intelligence scores by age 7 than children who were not exposed, three separate studies published on Thursday 21st April said ."  more 

Policymakers discuss further black carbon cuts

Excerpt: "Policymakers discuss further black carbon cuts: Black carbon emissions in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region could drop 40% by 2020 if additional mitigation measures are adopted, according to the findings of an expert group discussed last week."  more 

Failure of MEP talks on 'novel foods'

Excerpt: "MEPs have reacted with dismay following the breakdown of talks on a new 'novel food' regulation. All-night conciliation talks to update the Novel Foods Regulation broke down without agreement after Council refused a final compromise offer from the European Parliament. The main sticking point was whether there should be a ban on food from cloned animals and their descendants, which parliament called for last July. The breakdown of the all-night talks means that the 14-year-old regulation remains in force."  more 

Fears over carbon monoxide poisoning figures

Excerpt: "The number of deaths and injuries from carbon monoxide poisoning could be significantly higher than official figures show, the BBC has been told."  more 

UK calls for better food labelling

Excerpt: "Clearer "best before" date labels could help cut the £680-worth of food thrown away unnecessarily by the average household each year, the Government has said. New guidance will be issued to supermarkets and other shops in the next month in a bid to end confusion blamed by experts for perfectly-healthy produce being binned."  more 

Excessive nitrogen harms the economy and environment – first Europe-wide assessment published

Excerpt: "Nitrogen is needed to feed a growing world population but pollutes air, soil and water. A major new study has found that nitrogen pollution is costing each person in Europe around £130 - £650 (€150 – €740) a year. "  more 

Europe lacking quality data on GM crops – European Commission

Excerpt: "The quality of data on the socio-economic impacts of genetically-modified (GM) crops in Europe is generally poor and not objective, the European Commission said on Friday. It released a report on the issue based on data submitted by EU countries."  more 

Safety of nano silver in consumer products: many questions remain open

Excerpt: "The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) Workshop confirms incomplete data situation concerning the health risks of nanoscale silver. "  more 

Europe can make 30% emissions cuts, EU figures show

Excerpt: "A 30% cut in greenhouse gas emissions is possible by 2020 if Europe meets its efficiency targets, according to the maths used by Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard."  more 

MEPs back national freedom to ban GM crops

Excerpt: "The European Parliament's environment committee have voted to back proposals to give member states a choice of whether to ban cultivation of GM crops on their territory"  more 

New research on risks due to mercury exposure

Excerpt: "New research links mercury exposure to a greater risk of contracting atopic dermatitis (known as eczema), report Korean researchers in the journal Environmental Research. Results from this study are among the first to show a link between mercury and the common skin condition, which is rising in industrialized countries. "  more 

European Public Health Alliance: annual conference

Excerpt: "The European Public Health Alliance held its annual conference entitled: Europe 2020: Delivering a healthy sustainable future for all? Speakers include John Dali, Commissioner for health and consumer policy, MEP Jo Leinen and Staffan Nilsson, president of the European Economic and Social Committee."  more 

Annual conference on European pharmaceutical law

Excerpt: "The Academy of European Law is holding an annual conference on European pharmaceutical law 2011: Towards better patient protection in Europe. The event takes place over two days."  more 

Tougher Carbon Targets Will Boost European Economy

Excerpt: "Europe's climate chief insisted that tougher greenhouse gas targets would improve the EU's economic performance, rather than push businesses overseas, as companies and green campaigners tussled over whether current emissions goals were too weak."  more 

European Parliament Sets Sights High for Cancún Climate Change Talks

Excerpt: "The European Union is being urged to take the lead in the Cancún climate change negotiations opening on 29 November to regain the momentum after the setback at the previous international meeting in Copenhagen last December."  more 

European Union Bans Bisphenol A Chemical From Babies' Bottles

Excerpt: "The European Commission has announced a ban on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in plastic baby bottles from next year."  more 

ECHA Calls for Comments on Reports Proposing Restrictions on Mercury and Phenylmercury

Excerpt: "ECHA has prepared a report, on the request of the Commission, suggesting restrictions on several mercury containing measuring devices. ECHA starts today the six-month public consultation period on these proposals."  more 

The Vienna Hospital Association Created a Charter on Sustainability

Excerpt: "The Vienna Hospital Association (a member of HCWH) and the City of Vienna created a charter on sustainability for the newly planned Vienna North Hospital. It defines the sustainability goals of both institutions and sets criteria for the site, the interior, on energy and the building."  more 

Phthalates Raising Concerns

Excerpt: "Chemical additives found in everything from nail polish to shower curtains to window blinds may be linked to various health problems. As The Graduate once predicted, plastics have become ubiquitous. Unfortunately a common chemical additive of this now-indispensable material, called phthalates, is raising some concerns. While recent research suggests that these chemicals may be dangerous to human health, a little knowledge can go a long way in helping to weigh the risks and make safe choices."  more 

Hospitals Adding Fresh, Organic Food to the Menu

Excerpt: "More hospitals in the U.S. are offering organic produce and hormone- and antibiotic-free meats and dairy foods in response to a trend toward healthier eating habits. Spurred by patient demand, concerns about setting a healthful example and a desire to make notoriously bad hospital food nutritious and appetizing, more hospitals are making strides in serving their patients fresh, organic and local produce alongside meats and dairy foods that are hormone- and antibiotic-free, as well as minimally processed."  more 

Revised GGHC Operations Section Released

Excerpt: "The most significant revision to the Green Guide for Health Care Version 2.2 Operations section to date has been released, marking the completion of a rigorous development process including two public comment periods."  more