To celebrate International Women's Day 2023 CHEM Trust spoke with Annelies den Boer, the founder of the five-year-old Dutch organisation Tegengif; which means 'antidote' in Dutch. Annelies comes from the field of health protection advocacy and for several years worked with Doctors Without Borders. Together with volunteers and freelancers, she runs the operations of … [Read more...] about Interview with the Dutch NGO Tegengif: small dose, high impact
PFAS
European civil society organisations launch the ‘Ban PFAS manifesto’
Today marks the launch of our joint NGOs Ban PFAS manifesto. The manifesto, which is signed by over 45 organisations, is calling for EU Member States and the Commission to urgently ban PFAS, the ‘forever chemicals’, in consumer products by 2025 and across all uses by 2030. Two years ago, the European Commission published its Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability including a … [Read more...] about European civil society organisations launch the ‘Ban PFAS manifesto’
Human biomonitoring results reveal widespread exposure of general public to harmful chemicals
On 27th and 28th April the final conference of the research project HBM4EU brought together policymakers, scientists, civil society and industry representatives from across Europe to discuss the latest human biomonitoring data on harmful chemicals. The conference had a clear message: a lot more needs to be done to protect the general population from health impacts due to … [Read more...] about Human biomonitoring results reveal widespread exposure of general public to harmful chemicals
UK NGOs call for urgent ban of all PFAS
CHEM Trust is joining health and environment UK NGOs calling on the UK Governments to urgently ban the use of all ‘forever chemicals’, PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances). It is the only way to prevent the continual pollution of the UK environment with the most persistent human-made chemicals known to date, and protect current and future generations from the impact … [Read more...] about UK NGOs call for urgent ban of all PFAS
A ‘Chemical Cocktail’ is threatening England’s rivers
Today the UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has published a new report concluding that a 'chemical cocktail' of sewage, slurry and plastic is polluting English rivers and putting public health and nature at risk. The report is the result of its inquiry into water quality in English rivers, launched in December 2020. None of England's rivers assessed by … [Read more...] about A ‘Chemical Cocktail’ is threatening England’s rivers
EU Court hearing on GenX: company Chemours challenges EU authority
Today CHEM Trust together with ClientEarth (the environmental law charity) are participating in a public hearing at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Both organisations are supporting the EU Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the Government of the Netherlands against a challenge by the chemical company Chemours regarding the identification of their compounds, known as … [Read more...] about EU Court hearing on GenX: company Chemours challenges EU authority
Sewage sludge: Why we must stop pollution at source
In this guest blog for CHEM Trust, Francesca Bevan, policy & advocacy manager for chemicals at the Marine Conservation Society, shares the important messages from their new report: Sewage sludge: Why we need to stop pollution at source Pollution, both chemical and plastic, has been cited as one of the main direct drivers of the current biodiversity crisis. Stopping … [Read more...] about Sewage sludge: Why we must stop pollution at source
PFAS and food packaging – FAQ
A new study has found that PFAS chemicals are being used in disposable food packaging from popular fast-food chains, takeaway restaurants, and supermarkets across Europe, including in the UK. Disposable food packaging and tableware made of paper, board, and moulded plant fibre – such as fast-food bags, bakery bags, and pizza boxes – were purchased in six European countries … [Read more...] about PFAS and food packaging – FAQ
PFAS in food packaging: New European wide investigation
A new report published today by eight non-profit organisations, including CHEM Trust, shows that ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS are present in disposable food packaging and tableware used by popular fast food chains and takeaway restaurants across Europe. This new joint report, Throwaway Packaging, Forever Chemicals: European-wide survey of PFAS in disposable food packaging and … [Read more...] about PFAS in food packaging: New European wide investigation
Chemicals need to be regulated upstream to address chemical pollution in rivers
The news came as a shock: 100% of England’s rivers failed the pollution test. On 17th September, the Environment Agency published the results of their 2019 assessment required under the Water Framework Directive of 4,679 rivers, lakes, estuaries and other surface water bodies: 0% received good chemical status. Not one met the legal water quality standards. Chemical pollution … [Read more...] about Chemicals need to be regulated upstream to address chemical pollution in rivers