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Top Story
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(GCHA) COP19: The road towards addressing the greatest global health threat
The Global Climate and Health Summit 2013 took place on 16th November 2013, during the UNFCCC’s COP19 meetings in Warsaw, Poland. The Summit, organised by the Global Climate & Health Alliance (GCHA) together with the World Medical Association and with support from the World Health Organization, attracted over 180 health and climate experts from around the world. The Summit highlighted the dangerous impacts of climate change on human wellbeing, the health benefits of mitigation and current efforts to make the health system more sustainable. The event established a direction for the international health community to work towards in the run-up to the 2015 climate negotiations in Paris (more). |
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Wrap Up
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Warsaw climate talks set 2015 target for plans to curb emissions
The UN Climate Change Conference in Warsaw fortunately concluded with governments committing to publish their targets on curbing greenhouse gas emissions by the first quarter of 2015. According to Marcin Korolec, President of the COP19 conference, this is an essential step to reach a final agreement in Paris in 2015. Nevertheless, the talks were characterised by discord with a small group of developing countries arguing that its emission goals should take the form of "contributions" rather than stronger "commitments". On a positive note, it was decided that an international mechanism will be established to provide the most vulnerable populations with better protection against loss and damage caused by extreme weather events (more). |
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Chemicals
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Vinyl flooring exposes children to phthalates
Children may be exposed to the most common phthalate, di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Present in vinyl flooring in daycare centres and schools, the findings from a new study published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal confirm children exposure to DEHP indoors. Scientific studies have not examined what products contribute to indoor phthalate levels. This is the first study using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to test flooring materials in 50 public and private daycare centres and kindergartens in Seoul, South Korea (more). |
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The Viennese Database for Disinfectants (WIDES Database)
The WIDES Database, an industry-independent information system established by the City of Vienna Climate Protection Programme, ÖkoKauf Wien, provides information on the effects of existing disinfectants in the market. The database allows hospitals and other institutions in the healthcare sector to procure disinfectants that take into account factors of occupational safety and environmental protection (more). |
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ECHA to request further information on six substances
In their last meeting, the Member State Committee (MSC) concurred that ECHA should request more information on six substances because the currently available information is insufficient to enable an assessment on the risks that they pose to human health and/or the environment. These substances are listed in the Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP) and were evaluated by Germany, France, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Spain. It also requested further information on Bisphenol-A (BPA) in order to assess the risk to consumers from, for example, toys and PVC articles and its impact on the environment (more). |
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BPA in dialysis machine components may be toxic to patients' cells
The endocrine disrupting chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), has been found in dialysis machine components and are likely to be toxic to the immune cells circulating in kidney failure patients' blood. This has been confirmed by a new study conducted by Mauro Neri (San Bortolo Hospital, Italy) and will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2013 (November 5th – 10th), at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, US. The investigation evaluated the effect of BPA on the viability, necrosis, and death of immune cells incubated for 24 hours in samples taken before and after treatment. However, more experiments are needed to confirm these results (more). |
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Nanomaterials
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Inventory finds increase in consumer products containing nanoscale materials
The Nanotechnology Consumer Products Inventory has reported a 24% increase in consumer products containing nanoscale materials introduced onto the market since 2005. Recently relaunched, the inventory has also made efforts to improve the reliability, functionality, and scientific credibility of this database to curb previous criticisms of a lack of scientific data. This first-of-its-kind inventory has become one of the most frequently cited resources showcasing the widespread applications of nanotechnology (more). |
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Nanoparticles in tattoo inks could have carcinogenic properties
Nanoparticles and other chemicals present in tattoo ink could cause illnesses, including cancers, according to research findings from the UK’s University of Bradford. Nanoparticles from the ink can leave the skin - most likely via blood and lymphatic vessels - and be transported to other organs of the body. Scientists are concerned that toxins in the dyes may accumulate in the spleen or the kidneys. There’s an increasing concern over the lack of basic testing of these chemicals, particularly that of black tattoo inks, which are usually made of carbon nanoparticles and titanium dioxide. These are considered more harmful than larger particles of the same chemicals. Many tattoo inks also contain carcinogens, which can decompose in the presence of sunlight to form toxic chemicals (more). |
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Publications
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New study confirms link between phthalate exposure to earlier birth
By assessing the relationship between phthalate exposure during pregnancy and pre-term birth, this new study reveals that women exposed to phthalates during pregnancy have significantly increased odds of delivering prematurely. This case study included 130 cases of pre-term births and 352 randomly assigned control participants, where urine samples were analysed from up to 3 time points during pregnancy for levels of phthalate metabolites. Researchers found that women who delivered babies before 37 weeks gestation had higher levels of phthalates in their urine compared to women who delivered their children at full term - 39 weeks (more). |
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Controlling Health Hazards to Hospital Workers: A Reference Guide
The goal of this guide is to summarise the various hazards faced by hospital workers and effective control methods for these hazards; and to present the information in a way that is easily accessible to hospital employees and healthcare safety professionals. Specialists in occupational medicine from the United States and India describe ways to control everything from anesthetic gases to X-rays. Hazards addressed include lifting and other ergonomic hazards, communicable diseases, hazardous drugs, chemicals, radiation, violence, stress and shift work. The researchers have summarised the literature on controlling these hazards by engineering means such as ventilation, shielding, automation, and administrative changes in procedures. Each section describes the hazard, the literature on controls and internet resources where the reader can find more information. There are also general tips about identifying hazards and setting priorities (more). |
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New German Watch report: The End of EU Climate Leadership
European industry lobby organizations argue that the EU should step down as leader on climate policy and that further EU decarbonisation action would endanger the global competitiveness of entire industry sectors. This paper maintains that it would be beneficial for European competitiveness if the EU were to return to its role as the leader of international climate efforts. That would however, require the EU to adopt a more comprehensive decarbonisation approach that combines protective elements with a state-backed investment and innovation strategy (more). |
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Campaigns
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EDC-Free Campaigners call for urgent action on EDC delay
Banner carrying campaigners from the EDC-Free Europe coalition, of which HCWH Europe is a member, handed to José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, a collage of photos sent in by citizens and groups across Europe who are concerned over the delay of the EU EDC policy proposals. They called on Mr Barroso to quickly put an end to delays in regulatory action on EDCs, which is vital to better protect people’s health and prevent chronic diseases. The chronic diseases associated with EDCs are a leading public health challenge and drain on the economy. The event took place on Wednesday, 13th November outside the European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium. (more). |
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Open Calls
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ECHA initiates consultations on applications for authorisation for DEHP and DBP
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has initiated public consultations on applications for authorisation of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). ECHA has received several applications for authorisation for uses of DEHP and DBP and now invites interested parties to submit relevant information on alternatives to these uses (more). |
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ECHA launches first consultation on a biocidal active substance
In the framework of the Biocidal Products Regulation, ECHA has launched the first public consultation on the active substance dinotefuran as a potential candidate for substitution, which is proposed to be used in biocidal products of product-type 18 (insecticides, acaricides and products to control other arthropods). When an active substance is a candidate for substitution, biocidal products containing that active substance will become subject to a comparative assessment at the time of authorisation and will only be authorised if there are no better alternatives. The consultation is open until 28th January 2014 (more). |
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Notice: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for research and educational purposes. As all these articles are public, some links might expire after some days after their release date. |
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