EU Environmental Ministers call for greater protection from "chemical cocktails"
EU Environment ministers in Brussels expressed concerns that the health of European citizens may be at risk from the combined effects of hazardous chemicals.
On 22 December 2009, EU Environment ministers in Brussels rose concerns that the environment and the health of European citizens may not be properly protected from the combined effects of hazardous chemicals, particularly those that can disrupt hormones. The European Environment and Health Strategy (SCALE) and the EU Action Plan on Environment and Health (2004-2010) also state that the combined exposure to chemicals should be addressed in risk assessments.
Under REACH, the EU’s chemicals legislation, risk assessments are made on a chemical-by-chemical basis and there is not much assessment on the adverse effects of combined chemicals. Ulf Björnholm Ottosson, environment Counsellor at the Swedish Representation to the EU, attributed this "deficiency" to the fact that "there has been insufficient knowledge of the matter to date – a situation which is now changing." Denmark had lobbied to put the issue on the EU’s agenda following Danish studies highlighting potential risks to young children. Troels Lund Poulsen, Denmark’s environment minister, hailed the council conclusions as “a great victory”.
A study by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency published in October 2009 suggested that toddlers may be at risk from some endocrine disrupting chemicals found in food, clogs and creams. Endocrine disruptors interfere with hormones and can damage fertility and cause cancers. The Commission is set to finalise a study that scientifically assesses the risks related to exposure to multiple chemicals. It is also expected to recommend, in 2010, how exposure to combinations of endocrine disruptors should be dealt with in existing legislation. Ministers also asked the EU executive to evaluate, by early 2012 at the latest, the extent to which existing EU legislation is sufficient to manage risks resulting from combined exposure, and to consider suitable alternatives
For Further Information
Council Conclusions are available here
To read the response from the Health and Environment Alliance and other NGOs click here.
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