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Europe News

Forever chemicals: Brussels' mission to clean up Europe's water

The European Commission plans to support water treatment to eliminate forever chemicals (PFAS), according to the European Water Resilience Strategy, adopted in Brussels on Wednesday.

China

Search continues for missing people after China plant explosion

Search and rescue operations continue for six people still missing after Tuesday's deadly blast in the city of Weifang in Shandong province.

Europe News

Toxic cloud in Spain's Catalonia leaves six towns under lockdown

A dangerous toxic cloud caused by a fire on Spain’s Catalan coastline forced multiple towns into lockdown, but the restrictions have since been lifted.

Healthcare

What 'dangerous chemicals' found in EU products mean for your health

A banned fragrance, lead, and restricted "forever chemicals" were found in products in the EU last year, a new report has found.

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Europe News

Chinese toys key culprit for EU's record-breaking alerts on dangerous

Cosmetics, toys and electrical appliances were the most common products flagged by the European rapid alert system, which recorded the highest ever level of notifications last year, with dangerous chemical content involved in roughly half of cases.

Europe News

EU seeks safer toxin-free children's toys with stricter rules

Harmful and toxic chemicals will be banned from toys to better protect children’s health, under new rules aimed at improving the safety of products sold in the European market.

Green News

South African farm workers demand EU stops flow of toxic pesticides

Pesticides deemed too dangerous for Europe continue to be made here and exported. South Africa’s farm workers have had enough.

Green News

Swedish hedgehogs found to contain pesticides, plastics and lead

Researchers have found hedgehog bodies are full of environmental pollutants, including some of the most hazardous to human health.

Europe News

Products containing dangerous chemicals could get EU green label

As the EU pursues its war on red tape, proposed changes to sustainability rules could see harmful chemicals permitted on the bloc’s green investment list, allowing producers to take advantage of policy support and growing demand for environmentally friendly products.

Living

Is it time for Europe to ditch toilet paper and embrace the bumgun?

Going to the toilet is universal but how often do we take the time to reflect on the environmental impact of our bathroom habits?

Europe News

EU bans Bisphenol A from contact with food

The European Union regulation banning the use of bisphenol A in materials that come into contact with food officially took effect on 20 January, in an attempt to minimise exposure to the harmful endocrine disruptor.

Nutrition

US regulator bans red dye No. 3 from food supply

The substance has been restricted in the European Union for decades.

Europe News

Chemicals industry accused of aggressive lobbying against PFAS ban

Investigations by European NGOs and newspapers point to a concerted industry campaign to limit incoming EU restrictions on PFAS, toxic substances dubbed ‘forever chemicals’ because they can persist for centuries in the environment. The European Commission denies it is being unduly influenced.

Health news

EU bans harmful chemical from materials in contact with food

The European Commission has banned the use of bisphenol A, a chemical harmful to human health, in materials that come into contact with food.

Europe News

Toxic flame retardants could face sweeping EU ban

A new report from the European Chemicals Agency suggests potentially carcinogenic aromatic brominated flame retardants, ABFRs, could be next in line for wide-ranging restrictions after the ‘forever chemicals’ known as PFAS also raised health concerns.

Europe News

Dangerous chemicals used in EU with 'sense of impunity', lawyers warn

Carcinogens, endocrine disruptors and other hazardous chemicals remain in widespread use across Europe due in part to lax enforcement of EU regulations by national authorities, according to a new report from the legal charity ClientEarth.

Health news

New parents in Paris could be offered anti-pollution baby 'gift bags'

The proposed effort, set to go to a vote on Tuesday, is similar to "baby box" programmes in other European countries and includes non-plastic items.

Europeans' Stories

Pesticides: a health hazard for Europeans?

In Charente-Maritime, France, rising child cancer cases are suspected to be linked to pesticide exposure. Local residents are pushing for stricter national and EU regulations on pesticide use.

Health news

'Forever chemicals' linked to gut and kidney damage in young adults

A new study found that “forever chemicals” could lead to kidney damage in young adults through dysregulations of their gut microbiome.

Health news

Hazardous chemicals found in hundreds of European cosmetics

Hundreds of cosmetic products tested by the European Chemicals Agency contained banned substances.