HEAL Newsflash - February 2013
HEAL announces entries for ’’Health and Environment Film Prize’’
HEAL will be awarding a prize for the best health and environment documentary at the 30th International Environmental Film Festival taking place from 19-26 February in Paris. The winner will be awarded with the HEAL/FIFE trophy and receive 5,000 Euros at a ceremony on 26 February. Read more...
Health groups disappointment on EP noise vote
The majority of MEPs regrettably put the interest of noisy car makers ahead of their constituencies’ health, despite solid evidence on how current noise levels in Europe harm our health. Health groups including HEAL and EPHA and sustainable transport group Transport and Environment (T&E) all expressed their disappointment. Read more...
Second EEA ’Late Lessons’ report draws on environmental health concerns
HEAL welcomes an important report published by the European Environmental Agency (EEA) which highlights how action on early warning signs may be justified – and even act as a driver for innovation. Read more...
HEAL welcomes Parliament vote on endocrine disruptors
On 23 January, the EP Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety voted a draft Resolution, sending a clear message to the European Commission to act promptly to protect public health from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Read more...
Early-life prevention of chronic diseases
For the first time, a leading international health journal, The Lancet, featured the need to address early-life and toxic exposures to metals, chemicals and air pollution to help prevent non-communicable diseases. This commentary article was led by a group of scientists and leading health and environmental spokespeople, including Genon Jensen, Executive Director of HEAL. Read more...
France bans BPA in food packaging
France is now another country which has taken action to reduce exposure to endocrine disrupters. HEAL member Reseau Environnement Santé (RES) and partner La Mutuelle Familiale, a French public health insurer commend this historic vote to ban BPA in food packaging. Read more...
Cutting soot mitigates climate change more than previously thought
Black carbon - otherwise known as soot - has been ranked as the second-largest contributor to climate change, exerting twice as much of an impact as previously thought, according to a new UN sponsored analysis. Cutting soot emissions would have significant benefits for public health and the climate. Read more...
Air pollution ranked as top health risk factor in Europe
The new Global Burden of Disease (GBD) assessment, released in a special issue of the leading British medical journal, The Lancet showed that outdoor air quality has been recognised as a top level risk for public health. Read more...
EU Year of Air: strengthening EU legislation to reduce health impacts from air pollution
The 2013 EU Year of Air provides great opportunities to improve public health as the Commission gears up to review EU air legislation and put forward new proposals later this year. HEAL and other stakeholders discussed what needs to be done at an international conference organised by the European Commission (EC), World Health Organisation (WHO) and the US Health Effects Institute. Read more...
Indoor air quality: launch of EU health-based ventilation guidelines
On 20 February, the HealthVent consortium will launch health-based ventilation guidelines for Europe. At the event in the EP, participants will also discuss the significance of ventilation guidelines for EU policies on health, air quality, energy, eco-design and buildings and consumer products. Read more...
New Eurobarometer: Attitudes of Europeans towards air quality
Europeans are increasingly concerned about air pollution in their countries. A recent Eurobarometer survey carried out by the European Commission highlights the views of the European public on matters of air quality and air pollution. Read more...
Global mercury treaty would make Europe’s children brainer
HEAL welcomes a recent scientific assessment published in Environmental Health which highlights how preventing people’s exposure to mercury in the environment could save the European Union (EU) €8-9 billion per year by protecting children’s brain development. Read more...
Members’ news
Publications
Events
February
- 12 February London, UK: Preventing global NCDs through low carbon development - More information here
- 19 - 26 February - Paris, France: 30th International Environmental Film Festival - More information here
March
- 3 - 6 March - Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Environmental Health 2012 Conference - More information here
- 15 March - Sheffield, UK: Conference - Carcinogens in the workplace - More information here
- 15-16 March - São Paulo, Brazil: 3rd International Conference on Health, Wellness and Society - More information here
- 19 - 20 March - Aronsborg, Balsta: IEE 4th Scientific meeting ’One Health-Cooperation and Vision’ - More information here
- 20-30 March – Global: Pesticide Action Week - More information here
- 23 - 24 March - Paris, France: De l’indignation à l’engagement: la santé environnement: un vrai enjeu? - More information here
May
- 28 - 31 May - Copenhagen, Denmark: COW 2013 7th Copenhagen Workshop on EDCs ’Human Environment, Lifestyle, and Genes in Endocrine Disruption’ - More information here
Take action
- EFSA public consultation: Draft scientific opinion on the safety of artificial sweetener aspartame
All stakeholders and interested parties are invitied to contribute - Deadline 15 February 2013
- Check out an inspiring environmental health film in Paris from 19 - 26 February
Learn more about how your health is intricately linked to our environment by watching a series of health and environment documentaries. The best film will be awarded with a trophy and prize, as part of HEAL´s 10th anniversary celebrations - share on Facebook
- EU public consultation on options for revision of the EU Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution and related policies
All stakeholders and interested parties are invitied to contribute with their views on the review of the EU’s Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution and identify options for a comprehensive air pollution policy package that would aim to ensure full implementation of the existing legal framework and make further progress to reduce the negative impacts of air pollution in the long term - Deadline 4 March 2013
- EU public consultation on unconventional fossiel fuels e.g. shale gas in Europe
All stakeholders are invitied to contribute with their views on the possible opportunities and challenges of such projects - Deadline 23 March 2013
Media coverage
Health and Environment
- L’Europe doit mieux tenir en compte des alertes selon un rapport de l’AEE:La Gazette Santé-Social, 25 January 2013
- Sécurité sanitaire: l’Europe doit mieux tenir en compte des alertes: Romandie, 25 January 2013
Chemicals
- Early-life prevention of non-communicable diseases: The Lancet, 5 January 2013
More media coverage on chemicals here
Mercury
- Negotiators Seek to Finalize Mercury Treaty As Groups Warn About Cost of Inaction: Bloomburg BNA, 15 January 2013
- Global mercury treaty would ’make Europe brainier’: PublicServiceEurope.com, 7 January 2013
HEAL tweets
@HEAL : HEAL welcomes EP vote on endrocrine disrupting #chemicals (EDCs)
@HEAL : Linking #Mercury and adverse #Health effects should be a no-brainer http://bit.ly/UAFVR6 pic.twitter.com/kXP9LgU
@HEAL : We need better communication with the public to highlight #health impacts, Genon Jenson @Green_Europe conference on air #cleanair #YearofAir
Originally posted on 8 February 2013
