Documents Romano, Dolores 17 results

"The prevention of occupational and environmental risks associated with the exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDC) represents a true challenge for experts worldwide. Traditional risk assessment methods included in current legislation prove inadequate to protect human health and the environment from EDCs, given the specific characteristics of these compounds. Protection from the effects of EDCs represents a new challenge that calls for a new paradigm based on the application of the precautionary principle and the adoption of urgent measures."

"La prevención de los riesgos para la salud y el medio ambiente por la exposición a disruptores endocrinos (EDC) supone un auténtico reto. Los métodos tradicionales de evaluación de riegos de las sustancias químicas incorporados a la normativa vigente no son válidos para proteger a la población y al medio ambiente frente a estas sustancias debido a sus particulares características toxicológicas. Este informe pretende dar a conocer qué son los EDC, explicar sus particularidades toxicológicas, sus efectos para la salud, las sustancias y actividades implicadas y ofrecer datos de exposición a EDC en España. Además, presenta 5 estudios de caso de exposición a EDC en diferentes actividades, mostrando posibles alternativas y ejemplos de eliminación o sustitución de estas sustancias. Por último, resume el marco normativo y presenta propuestas de actuación para reducir la exposición a disruptores endocrinos."

"The systematic description and promotion of substitution options and processes is an underdeveloped and often missing element in chemical management and chemical policy discussions. This article describes major barriers and drivers for substitution, and concludes that more specific information can be an essential instrument to overcome those barriers. It also explains the development and features of a large information tool under development called SUBSPORT, an abbreviation for Substitution Support Portal. SUBSPORT is a three-year European project which aims at providing authorities, industry, and stakeholders with information on alternatives for the effective substitution of hazardous chemicals. It will help companies meet the substitution requirements expressed in national, European Union, and international legislation. SUBSPORT will make information available in four languages."

"Background The new EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical Substances (REACH) Regulation to control the trade and use of chemicals has a great potential to reduce worker exposure to hazardous substances and therefore reduce chemical-related occupational diseases. REACH requires manufacturers of substances of very high concern (SVHC) to request an authorisation for each use of these substances in order to continue marketing them. There are between 1500 and 2000 SVHC on the European market; however, to date, the European Chemicals Agency has published only 29 substances as candidates for the authorisation procedure. This work aims to contribute to the practical implementation of REACH by proposing a list of SVHC which, from a union's perspective, should have priority for inclusion in the authorisation procedure. Methods In a first stage, SVHC for prioritisation were identified, prioritisation criteria were established, and scores for each criterion were defined for finally developing the Trade Union List. Results Through previously presented criteria, the Trade Union List includes 305 high-production-volume chemicals that meet the requirements of the authorisation process under REACH. 190 of these substances are associated with recognised occupational diseases, and 22 have been included in the REACH Candidate List. Conclusions In this paper, we present a precautionary but scientifically aligned process for identifying, scoring and ranking SVHC, including categories of substances not currently considered in other approaches to the REACH Regulation. This proposed methodology is advocated by Trade Unions to coherently prioritise SVHC in order to implement and enforce REACH in a way that will more effectively protect the health of the European working and general population."

"En estos años, la idea de la eliminación y sustitución de las sustancias más peligrosas presentes en la industria y en los artículos que produce ha sido motivo de multitud de iniciativas sociales, programas públicos y actuaciones prácticas en las empresas. Sin duda, los disolventes orgánicos han sido el grupo de sustancias que más interés e iniciativas de eliminación y sustitución han suscitado.
Esta guía está dirigida a los delegados y delegadas de prevención y a cualquier otra persona interesada en estos temas, con la pretensión de ofrecer algunas informaciones, razones, herramientas y ejemplos de utilidad para promover procesos de sustitución en las empresas."