Chemicals and Women- So what is the problem?

WOMEN FOR A TOXIC-FREE FUTURE Polish Women´s Seminar & Workshop

 Monday 6th of December 2004, Warsaw

Daniela Rosche daniela.rosche@wecf.orgWomen in Europe for a Common Future International Policy Coordinator

Summary Presentation

• What kind of chemicals are we talking about• Chemicals are everywhere• Why this is a problem• What kind of health effects many man-made

chemicals have• Example: Bisphenol A• Why women are especially affected • Information gap-regulation in EU• New EU legislation- REACH• Why REACH needs strong support of Women

(and Men)

Synthetic Chemicals

• Synthetic – man-made not natural• Manufactured/industrial chemicals as a result of

large scale production- 400 Mio t per year• Come in contact via food, inhalation, through skin• Hazardous chemicals

– Persistent: e.g., plastic bags on the alps– Bioaccumulative: accumulates in your body– Toxic: depending on dose – or not?– Carcinogens– Endocrine disrupters

Chemicals in Every Day Life-A chemical world?

• Chemicals in consumer products:– Cosmetics, perfumes, body care– Household paint– Plastic toys/ other plastic equipment– Non-stick frying pans– Electrical appliances– PCs– Compact disks– Textiles– Food– Cleaning products

Silent, invisible pollutionWithout our consent or knowledge

Health effects linked to synthetic chemicals

Disrupt the hormone system &

reproductive system

Toxic to the immune system

Affect the nervous system

Allergies Respiratory diseases

Cancer

Example: Bisphenol A

• Where?: baby feeding bottles, flooring, nail polish, compact disks, adhesiveselectrical & electronic appliances, lining of tin cans

• What: damages immune system, nervous

system, reproductive system, linked to breast

cancer

• Health effects in animals detected, 2500 times lower than USEPA “lowest observed dose effect”

Women are especially affected by chemicals

• Women have a different physiology-"windows of time"

• Women have more fatty tissue than men, more chemicals can accumulate and be stored in the body

• Pass on these chemicals to the foetus in utero (through placenta) and via breast milk

• Some chemicals have the ability to cross the brain barrier of the developing foetus

Two main problems with regulating synthetic chemicals

• 1) Of certain chemicals, variety of ngeative health effects shown

• 2) Little or no data on environment and health effects of majority of chemicals in consumer products

Chemicals Regulation in the EU

• Pesticides

• Biocides

• Cosmetics

• IPPC

• Worker’s protection

New chemicals law

REACH

30.000Chemicals marketed in the EU

A New Law in the Making: REACH

• RegistrationEvaluation and Authorization of Chemicals

• Aims at protecting human health & environment

• EU takes the lead internationally on managing chemicals proactively, not only their risk

A New Law in the Making: REACH

• REACH is important• Will close the information gap• Burden of Proof on Industry-not governments

or individuals• Data is kept with the help of an Agency-

streamlines information• The most dangerous chemicals will need an

authorization One step further to ensure protection from negative

health & environment effects of hazardous chemicals

REACH out and bring an End to the Chemicals Crisis

• WECF strongly endorses this initiative

• Work in a big coalition on EU level and national level in order to strengthen REACH

• Encourage EU to continue taking the lead globally toward a toxic free future - 2020 WSSD target

“ to achieve by 2020 that chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization

of significant adverse effects on human health and

the environment”

REACH out and bring an End to the Chemicals Crisis

• What you can do:

– Support us and other NGOs in the Pro- REACH campaign

– Lobby your government & MEPs directly

– Be smart consumers- buy products that contain natural ingredients

– Write to producers to find out what their products are made of

REACH out and bring an End to the Chemicals Crisis• What you can do:

– Demand responsibility from producers to make sure their products are safe and there is enough information about them

– Demand from your governments to do the same

– Spread the word and educate others

– COME WITH US TO BRUSSELS !