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
PFAS
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
Why a PFAS group restriction is crucial: lessons from human biomonitoring data
Today, the high level Conference “Human Biomonitoring for science and chemical policy” is being held in Berlin, under the German EU presidency. It has been organised as part of the HBM4EU research initiative which is generating evidence of the actual exposure of citizens to chemicals and the possible health effects in order to support policy making. CHEM Trust’s Head of … [Read more...] about Why a PFAS group restriction is crucial: lessons from human biomonitoring data
PFAS in German children: Human biomonitoring data highlight urgent need for group restriction
An official German human biomonitoring survey of children and adolescents has found harmful per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in the blood of children and adolescents in Germany; including substances that have already been phased out in the EU and globally. Some chemicals were present in the blood of some of the children, even though the chemicals had been … [Read more...] about PFAS in German children: Human biomonitoring data highlight urgent need for group restriction
‘Dark Waters’ and PFOA – FAQ
“It’s not just PFOA, it’s not just this location in West Virginia" - Rob Bilott The new Hollywood film ‘Dark Waters’ tells the real-life story of Rob Bilott, the lawyer who took on chemical giant DuPont after discovering that the company was polluting drinking water with the harmful chemical PFOA (also referred to as C8 in the film). Starring actor Mark Ruffalo and … [Read more...] about ‘Dark Waters’ and PFOA – FAQ
New investigation finds harmful PFAS chemicals in UK food packaging
Today’s report released by Scottish NGO Fidra shows that controversial PFAS chemicals, also known as forever chemicals, are present in UK food packaging. Fidra analysed 20 food packaging samples bought in the UK to test for the presence of PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances). PFAS were present in 95% of the samples tested as reported in their new report: … [Read more...] about New investigation finds harmful PFAS chemicals in UK food packaging