wildcardenvironmentalist

May 19, 2017October 14, 2018 wildcardenvironmentalist Blog, Diesel Fumes, Occupational Health

New report on why GE workers paying price for decades of exposure to toxic chemicals

A comprehensive study of chemical exposures at GE’s Peterborough plant shows workers routinely handled more than 3,000 highly toxic substances in decades past. GE has said protective measures were appropriate for the time and that health and safety of workers has always been ‘No. 1 priority.’

“For many years, workers and their family members were forced to provide proof as to their working conditions, only to be told this is anecdotal,” said Sue James, whose father Gord worked at the plant for 30 years and died of lung and spinal cancer, diseases his family believes were caused by his exposure to workplace chemicals.

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February 8, 2017October 14, 2018 wildcardenvironmentalist Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, letters

NGOs express concern about lack of decisions on endocrine disruptors and nanotechnology

2/8/17

31 NGOs including the Alliance for Cancer Prevention have written a letter to the EU REACH Committee in lieu of crucial decisions to be made at next weeks meeting on the identification of endocrine disrupting chemicals and the delayed inclusion of nanoforms in REACH.

We are concerned about the identification of certain phthalates which are substances of very high concern and can be found in a variety of consumer products including cosmetics and plastics. The Alliance is particularly worried about those working with these chemicals and products on a daily basis where exposure can be continual. Delays on addressing nanoforms in REACH will also potentially impact on health of workers and consumers.

Letter can be seen here.

January 10, 2017October 13, 2018 wildcardenvironmentalist CETA

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals — One more way CETA endangers public health and the environment.

The Alliance joined with 34 other public interest organisations lead by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), to write to the EU Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee to urge them to vote in favour of the draft ENVI Committee opinion which calls for the rejection of the EU Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) at their meeting on the 12/1/17. The organisations believe that CETA will prioritise trade and monetary interests over public health and environment, and so the decision to conclude CETA by February 2017 should be rejected.

The European Commission is already on course to lower EU standards to protect against harmful and toxic Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs). EDCs are harmful chemicals that have been linked to a wide range of diseases, including cancer, birth defects and other developmental disorders which conservative estimates estimate to cost Europeans more than € 160 billion each year in additional health expenses. If CETA is allowed to enter into force it will considerable weaken any regulations on EDCs. Trade must not be allowed to take priority over our health, the health of our environment and wildlife.

You can support the call by sending the letter to your MEP copy can be downloaded here.