Chemicals, environment and human health
We live longer and are healthier than ever, enjoying the 21st century’s many conveniences. Chemistry and the use of different chemicals have played an important role in shaping society and improving our standard of living. But do we understand the impact that these chemicals can have on our environment and our wellbeing? Pollution is the number one burden of disease globally. In Europe, it accounts for 467,000 premature deaths, while carcinogens cause more than 100,000 work-related deaths.
In this session, hear about the Human Biomonitoring Initiative in Europe (HBM4EU) project whose partners include the European Environment Agency. To understand citizen’s perception of chemical exposure in human health, the project organised focus groups and is also involving citizens as participants in research to understand human exposure to chemicals and plausible health effects. Attend this session to meet project representatives and gain insights into how chemicals in our environment impact our planet and our health, and the role of citizens in influencing and supporting actions to reduce chemical exposure, contributing to policy making.
Examples of hidden pollution are exposure to complex mixtures of chemicals in consumer products, food (including water), water and at the workplace; exposure to toxic chemicals during pregnancy; and impacts of chemical production and discharges on people and ecosystems sometimes far way, e.g. in the Arctic.
Facilitator
Head of group on air pollution, environment and health
European Environment Agency
Session speakers
Project Manager & Expert in Industry and Environment
European Environment Agency
How are chemicals getting into our environment, and into our bodies, and what are we doing in Europe to protect the environment and our citizens from them? Ian will take a look at some of the major sources of chemical pollution and how this is impacting on our environment and our wellbeing. He will examine mercury, which has been used by humans for centuries. What are its impacts on Europe’s population and what actions we can all take to address this issue on a personal and societal level.
Water Industries and Pollution
European Environment Agency
What’s my part in chemical pollution of water?
it’s easy to think that chemical pollution is caused by “somebody else” – industry, agriculture, etc. But the thousands of chemicals in use every day are mostly used to benefit our quality of life – the food we eat, what we clean with, the products we buy. When we flush or throw those away, they go somewhere and the chemicals they are made of can reach our rivers, lakes and coasts.
In this session, we look at the challenges for water presented by chemicals and chemical mixtures – the so-called, “cocktail effect”.
Project Manager & Expert in Chemicals, Environment & Human Health
HBM4EU - Human Biomonitoring For Europe & European Environment Agency
We are in contact with complex mixtures of chemicals in our daily lives through the environment, consumer products, food and at work. But do they have an impact on our health? HBM4EU is the “Human Biomonitoring Initiative in Europe” and it coordinates and advances human biomonitoring in Europe. It measures chemicals in our body and the possible health effects of chemical exposure whilst improving health and well-being for citizens and contributing to policy making.
Head of Human Biomonitoring and Industrial Products Laboratory
Cyprus State General Laboratory, Ministry of Health
What is my role in protecting the environment and health from chemical pollution? Can I be a part of the solution? Human biomonitoring provides the public with the opportunity to do just that! By volunteering as participants in human biomonitoring studies, citizens engage with scientists to improve our understanding of human exposure to chemicals, raise public awareness and to co-create better policies. We will use the case-study of exposure to mercury to demonstrate how this collaborative engagement process works in HBM4EU, the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative.
