The French Ministries of Ecology and Labour have announced a ban on the use of perchloroethylene in dry cleaning laundry facilities.The use of the substance will not be permitted in new facilities. This ban will become effective immediately. Meanwhile, a total ban will be implemented in stages for different facilities, with a total ban effective from 1 January 2022.

Go to: chemicalwatch.com or to the French governemental announcement

The LIFE programme celebrates its 20th anniversary throughout May 2012. To mark this important milestone in the history of the EU’s financial instrument for the environment, the LIFE units warmly invited all LIFE projects to contribute.
SUBSPORT adds four events to the LIFE at 20 calendar at www.life20.eu:

• 19 April, Alternatives Identification & Assessment Training, Denmark
• 23 April, Alternatives Identification & Assessment Training, Romania
• 24 May, SUBSPORT Launch at Helsinki Chemicals Forum, Finland
• 1 June, Alternatives Identification & Assessment Training, Sweden

SAVE THE DATE: In two months time, on 24 May, the SUBSPORT portal will be officially launched, and an important part of the portal, the case story database, will be made public online. The case story database is an interactive tool to search for practical real-case substitution examples provided by companies and other stakeholders as well as examples and information on substitution options found in literature.

The official launch of SUBSPORT will be held as a free of charge side event at the Helsinki
Chemicals Forum (www.helsinkicf.eu).

When: 24 May 17.00-18.00
Where: Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre, Helsinki, Finland

Share your substitution experience

Take the opportunity to contribute to the SUBSPORT case story database under construction by sharing your experience in substituting hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives.
Contact us at info@subsport.eu or use the entry form.

The European Commission (Dg Environment) commissioned a study about the potential for reducing mercury pollution from dental amalgam and from batteries. This report presents the findings of the study carried out by the BIO Intelligence Service and consists of two parts:
Part A an assessment of policy options to reduce environmental impacts from dental amalgam use
Part B an assessment of policy options to reduce environmental impacts from mercury-containing batteries, with particular focus on button cell batteries.

Go to the report: ec.europa.eu

Nestlé, has removed artificial colours, flavours and preservatives from its entire confectionery range. The company, which was responding to consumer demand, says it is the first big UK confectioner to remove all artificial products. Concentrates of fruit, vegetables and edible plants such as carrot, hibiscus, radish, safflower and lemon are among ingredients used to provide colour.

Go to: guardian.co.uk

New research commissioned by Greenpeace International shows that residues of the hazardous chemicals nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) – used in textile manufacturing – remain in many clothing items sold by major international clothing brands and, when washed, a significant percentage of the chemicals in these clothes is released and subsequently discharged into rivers, lakes and seas, where they turn into the even more toxic and hormone disrupting chemical nonylphenol (NPs).

Go to the report or to greenpeace.org

The Paris council vows unanimously to replace the use of perchloroethylene in dry cleaners with alternative technologies. Percloroethylene is used as solvent in 90% of dry cleaners and is suspected of causing cancer, known to be toxic to aquatic organisms, and neurotoxic. With this vow Paris plays a leading role as whistleblower and precursor, as it did also for bisphenol in baby bottles.

Go to: (French) Europe Écologie les Verts (EELVA)

The film “Pesticide mon amour” will be shown as part of the 7th Pesticides Action WEEK on 22 March at Mundo-B , Brussels at 6.30 pm. The film produced by Erik Fretel shows the extensive use and the impact of pesticides. After the film there will be an open discussion on organic gardening. The event has been organized by PAN Europe and the Foundation Baudouin.
The film is in French.

Go to: events information or to the trailer

Researchers tested low-cost children’s and adult jewelry for chemicals – including lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, bromine and chlorine (PVC) – which have been linked to acute allergies and to long-term health impacts such as birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, and cancer. Over half (59%) of the products tested had a “high” level of concern due to the presence of one or more hazardous chemicals detected at high levels.

Go to: www.healthystuff.org

Britax and Orbit Baby are phasing out brominated and chlorinated flame retardants, which are added to plastics for fire resistance, and have been associated with thyroid problems, learning and memory impairment, decreased fertility, and behavioral changes. Although fire retardants in foam are necessary to meet certain fire-safety standards, non-halogenated fire retardants are available, and many have a better safety profile.
Both companies are also phasing out chlorine, associated with the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is widely used in plastics and is of concern to the environment and public health during all phases of its life cycle. PVC contains chemicals called phthalates, which have been associated with decreased fertility, pre-term deliveries, and damage to the liver, testes, thyroid, ovaries, kidneys, and blood.

Go to: www.healthystuff.org