EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Widespread declining sperm counts, increased rates of breast and testicular cancer, earlier onset of puberty and children's behaviour problems are a handful of the health effects attributed to so-called chemical cocktails, a growing concern amongst European Union governments. The effects of endocrine disruptors are thought to have their greatest effect on animals in their infancy On Tuesday (22 december), environment ministers from across the bloc ordered the European Commission to take action on the matter and investigate where current legislation is lacking and to plug the holes. The EU, like most other powers, focuses on the benefits and dangers of chemicals on a "chemical-by-chemical" basis. That is, regulators look at the effects of each individual chemical. Only recently have scientists begun to be concerned about the combination effects of chemicals that otherwise appear safe in isolation but when absorbed together - in a "chemical cocktail" - could have unexpected and dangerous consequences. "Chemicals that we surround ourselves with every day can be dangerous to public health in combination. Evaluating the risks posed by individual chemicals on their own is not enough," the ministers said in a statement after meeting in Brussels.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Widespread declining sperm counts, increased rates of breast and testicular cancer, earlier onset of puberty and children's behaviour problems are a handful of the health effects attributed to so-called chemical cocktails, a growing concern amongst European Union governments.
The effects of endocrine disruptors are thought to have their greatest effect on animals in their infancy
On Tuesday (22 december), environment ministers from across the bloc ordered the European Commission to take action on the matter and investigate where current legislation is lacking and to plug the holes.
The EU, like most other powers, focuses on the benefits and dangers of chemicals on a "chemical-by-chemical" basis. That is, regulators look at the effects of each individual chemical. Only recently have scientists begun to be concerned about the combination effects of chemicals that otherwise appear safe in isolation but when absorbed together - in a "chemical cocktail" - could have unexpected and dangerous consequences.
"Chemicals that we surround ourselves with every day can be dangerous to public health in combination. Evaluating the risks posed by individual chemicals on their own is not enough," the ministers said in a statement after meeting in Brussels.
The EU needs to take further steps to protect people from the chemical cocktails they encounter in everyday life, environment ministers agreed yesterday (22 December). The EU has a wealth of chemicals law, covering specific areas, such as pesticides, cosmetics and toys, as well as the overarching REACH regulation on the registration and authorisation of chemicals. But none of these address the fact that people are exposed to chemicals from multiple sources, for example from food, clothing and furniture. During their meeting in Brussels the environment ministers agreed that "further action in the field of chemicals policy research and assessment methods to address combination effects of chemicals is required". 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".
The EU needs to take further steps to protect people from the chemical cocktails they encounter in everyday life, environment ministers agreed yesterday (22 December).
The EU has a wealth of chemicals law, covering specific areas, such as pesticides, cosmetics and toys, as well as the overarching REACH regulation on the registration and authorisation of chemicals. But none of these address the fact that people are exposed to chemicals from multiple sources, for example from food, clothing and furniture.
During their meeting in Brussels the environment ministers agreed that "further action in the field of chemicals policy research and assessment methods to address combination effects of chemicals is required".
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".
