Documents control of issue of dangerous materials 37 results

"Endocrine disruptors are exogenous substances that alter the functions of the endocrine system and consequently cause adverse health effects in an intact system, its progeny and the larger population. During the last century, many endocrine disrupting compounds have been synthesised and released into the environment. The production of several of these compounds has been phased out, because of either legislation or voluntary action by the companies that manufacture the compounds. In many cases, this has led to a reduction of exposure in humans and the environment. However, negative health effects might still be present at these lower levels. For several groups of endocrine disruptors, there have been substitutions of one compound for other compounds with similar chemical structure. The toxicity of the newly introduced compounds is often less known than the effect of the one originally used, which can lead to adverse health effects with eventual restrictions of the new compounds. We discuss here the government and private sector actions that have been taken in the Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Denmark and Norway) regarding some groups of endocrine disruptors and the consequences for human exposures. In addition, we will stress the issue of mixed exposures at all levels and the importance of new legislation addressing the mix of chemical compounds at all levels. ..."

"The high volume and widespread use of industrial chemicals, the backlog of internationally untested chemicals, the uptake of synthetic chemicals found in babies in utero, cord blood, and in breast milk, and the lack of a unified and comprehensive regulatory framework all necessitate developing policies that protect the most vulnerable in our society – our children. Australia's failure to do so raises profound intergenerational ethical issues. This article tells a story of international policy, and where Australia is falling down. It demonstrates that we can learn from countries already taking critical steps to reduce the toxic chemical exposure, and that the development of a comprehensive, child-centered chemical regulation framework is central to turning around Australia's failure."

"Since 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made progress implementing its new approach to managing toxic chemicals under its existing Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) authority; particularly by increasing efforts to obtain chemical toxicity and exposure data and initiating chemical risk assessments--which EPA uses, along with other information, to decide what regulatory or other actions, if any, are warranted. The results of EPA's data collection activities, in most cases, have yet to be realized, and it may take several years before EPA obtains much of the data it is seeking. Also, EPA has not pursued some opportunities to obtain chemical data that companies submit to foreign governments or to obtain data from chemical processors that prepare chemical substances after their manufacture for distribution in commerce--some of which could help support the agency's risk assessment activities. Of the 83 chemicals EPA has prioritized for risk assessment, it initiated 7 assessments in 2012 and plans to start 18 additional assessments in 2013 and 2014. However, it may take several years to complete these initial risk assessments and, at the agency's current pace, over a decade to complete all 83, especially as EPA does not have the toxicity and exposure data needed for 58 of the 83 chemicals prioritized for risk assessment. In addition to its risk assessment activity, EPA has initiated other actions--such as increasing review of certain new uses of chemicals--that may discourage the use of these chemicals, but it is too early to tell whether these actions will reduce chemical risks."

"A register of nanoproducts (nanomaterials, mixtures and articles) produced or placed on the market in Germany is legally viable and is workable in practice.

The purpose of such a product register and a corresponding mandatory reporting requirement is to provide the authorities with an overview of nanoproducts produced or put on the market in Germany. Following the precautionary principle, the register aims to prevent the emergence of hazards to the life and health of humans (including at their workplace), as well as to the environment as a dynamic complex, that may result from the production, utilisation and disposal of nanoproducts.

This is necessary as the analysis of laws and regulations applicable to substances and products shows that currently the use or presence of nanomaterials in consumer products available in the marketplace is not explicitly disclosed to the competent authorities in Germany. At the moment competent authorities cannot obtain an adequate overview on the precise name of a nanoproduct, the amount of nanomaterials in a product or the detailed specifications of the nanomaterials contained in a product placed on the market."

"Health statistics reported by large geographic area such as province, state, county or health region offer little insight into disease conditions at the community level where people live and work, where occupational and environmental exposures occur, and where industrial emissions are often concentrated. This study investigated overall patterns of cancer incidence and socioeconomic status (SES) among 14 communities in the province of New Brunswick (Canada). A multivariate ordination technique, hierarchical clustering, and permutation procedures were used to identify and test significance of community clusters and whether the overall pattern of SES was correlated with patterns of cancer among communities. Communities with significantly high or significantly low overall rates of cancers were identified, patterns that were not related to SES. The potential influence of age, small populations, diagnostic screening, smoking and environmental risk factors contributing to locally elevated cancer rates are discussed. Cancer incidence reported at smaller spatial scales provides health officials and researchers with a basis for identifying communities potentially at-risk and aids in the development of appropriate community-based risk reduction actions and cancer prevention."

"This article gives an account of Canadian Chemicals Policy over the past three decades, including the project for the "virtual elimination" of toxic chemicals and the federal government's Chemical Management Plan. The latter is what remained when the virtual elimination program achieved few results. The article then embarks on its central theme: explaining how the labor movement introduced the concept and the practice of Pollution Prevention (P2) to Canada, as well as its impact on legislation and policies over the use reduction of chemical pesticides. The Appendix is a glossary of terms and concepts used in the article."

"Preparation of the REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) regulation on chemicals has reached a critical stage in Europe. Depending on how key elements of the legislative proposal are finalised, especially that on the authorisation of uses of so-called ‘substances of very high concern', REACH could either provide an effective measure to phase-out such chemicals by driving innovation towards cleaner and safer alternatives, or instead condemn the EU to decades more of inefficient and ineffective analysis and risk assessment while avoidable chemical exposures are allowed to continue."

"The European Commission has proposed a radical new policy for the regulation of chemicals in the EU in the form of aWhite Paper. The current system has separate regulatory provisions for “new” chemicals (introduced to the market since September 18, 1981) and “existing” chemicals (on the market before September 18, 1981). The proposed future policy will have a single unified regulatory system for all chemicals, which should result in better regulation of chemicals in the EU single market. It will be better because risk assessments will be targeted at the chemicals of greatest concern. Furthermore, the system will be streamlined, making regulatory decisions faster, and thus reducing the so-called burden of the past (the large number of chemicals that have never been assessed for their risks to human health or the environment). The new system incorporates the precautionary principle, which will be applied where there is an early indication of unacceptable risk or where there is undue delay in the regulatory process. Moreover, the new strategy is intended to promote greater transparency for all stakeholders."