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
Pollution
Chemical pollution is impacting UK marine and freshwater wildlife
Pollution, including chemical pollution, has been recognised as one of the five direct drivers of the biodiversity crisis by the IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services). In England, none of the 4,679 inland water bodies assessed by the Environment Agency in 2019 received good chemical status. All have levels of chemical … [Read more...] about Chemical pollution is impacting UK marine and freshwater wildlife
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
UK NGOs outline 12 Key Asks for the UK Chemicals Strategy
Today CHEM Trust has written to the UK Government, alongside 26 UK public health and environmental NGOs, to outline 12 Key Asks that must be prioritised in the UK’s new Chemicals Strategy. If implemented, these asks would provide strong protection from hazardous chemicals for people, wildlife, and the environment. Synthetic chemicals are used in many different applications … [Read more...] about UK NGOs outline 12 Key Asks for the UK Chemicals Strategy
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
‘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 Hollywood film ‘Dark Waters’ highlights the shocking reality of PFAS pollution
A new Hollywood film ‘Dark Waters’ highlights the dire reality of pollution from harmful PFAS chemicals and the urgent need for strong, protective legislation to protect human health and the environment. PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) are known as the 'forever chemicals' as they do not break down easily and will persist in the environment for decades. PFAS … [Read more...] about New Hollywood film ‘Dark Waters’ highlights the shocking reality of PFAS pollution
Chemical pollution, a key driver of the biodiversity crisis
In December 2019, the European Commission launched a “European Green Deal” as a response to climate and environmental-related challenges defining our generation. The European Commission has started consulting on the roadmap of some of the strategies listed in the green deal, including the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy. This week CHEM Trust submitted comments to the European … [Read more...] about Chemical pollution, a key driver of the biodiversity crisis
Urgent action needed on highly persistent PFAS chemicals
A new CHEM Trust briefing highlights the threats posed to the environment and human health by a family of over 4,000 highly persistent chemicals: PFAS (Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances), also known as the ‘forever chemicals’. CHEM Trust is extremely concerned that, because of their high persistence, this group of chemicals could lead to a situation where their … [Read more...] about Urgent action needed on highly persistent PFAS chemicals
Synthetic chemicals in our bodies: what is our ‘body burden’?
Many people are unaware of the fact that our bodies are contaminated with synthetic chemicals that weren't there in pre-industrial times. Some of these chemicals are now banned, but stick around as they take decades to break down, if at all. Others are still in use in furniture or even cosmetics. More than ten years ago, during the debate which led to the creation of the EU's … [Read more...] about Synthetic chemicals in our bodies: what is our ‘body burden’?