Pesticides in our bodies

I hope so, anyway, but one can never tell.  I receive an informative newsletter every now and then from HEAL.  Don't ask me what that stands for - it's got to be something to do with the environment and the nasty chemicals polluting it, otherwise I wouldn't have put my name down for the newsletter.  It looks like good news, so I'll  copy all of it straight so that you will know the good news too.  Pass it on to whoever...

Editorial: Political developments accelerate on the effect of chemicals on
our health

On 1 June 2008, a new regulatory body on chemical safety opens its doors. The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki will play a significant role in both the approval and the banning of chemicals on the European market. NGOs responsible for monitoring the implementation of the EU’s chemical safety legislation, REACH will be paying close attention to the opportunities and challenges presented for public health and environmental protection by the Agency’s work (read the NGO media advisory:
http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/MEDIA_ADVISORY_European_Chemicals_Agency.pdf).

This important event comes at a time of two other key developments in
chemical safety policy. One is the recent Canadian government decision to declare bisphenol A “dangerous” foreshadowing regulatory action. This is probably the first regulatory body anywhere in the world to take such a
decision. The reverberations have been widespread both in North America and in Europe.

In the UK, the largest parenting organisation, the National Child Birth Trust, stated that Bisphenol A represents a risk from baby
feeding bottles and highlighted actions to eliminate or reduce baby
exposure. At the EU level, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has announced a review of advice on safe levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging. In Washington DC, a key Democratic senator has strongly criticised the US Food and Drug Agency (FDA) for its approval of bisphenol A, and introduced a bill to ban the substance (read HEAL related article:http://www.env-health.org/spip_redirect.php3?id_article=2909).

Equally significant is a decision on another chemical against which NGOs
have been campaigning for a long time. The outcome of a legal dispute
between the European Commission and several Member States, Norway and the European Parliament, has been the reinstatement of a ban against deca-BDE, a brominated flame retardant. From 1 July 2008, it will be illegal to place on the EU market electronic goods containing deca-BDE under the EU restriction of hazardous substances (ROHS) directive. The European Commission has stated that it will not dispute the decision (read HEAL related article:

http://www.env-health.org/spip_redirect.php3?id_article=2867

Concurrently, NGOs across the world are promoting a safer approach to
international chemicals management via the SAICM Global Outreach campaign of the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN). Join HEAL and others by endorsing and helping promote the Common Statement at

http://www.env-health.org/spip_redirect.php3?id_article=2904 

Good health to you!   Bettineolive@AOL.com

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