New EEA-ECHA Report: safer and more sustainable chemicals? There is still much to do
Chemical substances are present in every aspect of our lives but they can represent sources of important problems both for human health and for the planet. From the results of a recent European study "EU Indicator Framework for Chemicals" conducted for the first time jointly by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) it emerges that there is still a lot of work to be done do to reduce the impact of dangerous substances on humans and the environment.
The transition towards safer and more sustainable chemicals, identified as a priority by the EU, is progressing in some areas while in others it has yet to begin. Overall, the use of the most harmful chemical substances (carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic) grows slowly while the overall growth of the relevant market advances rapidly. To better understand the degree of exposure of humans and the environment to the most harmful substances and their impacts, more data and more information are needed.
The Report together with the current Chemicals Indicator Framework developed by EEA, ECHA and EC represents an important reference in support of the objectives of the “EU Chemicals Strategy for a sustainable and toxic-free environment” which are essentially those to prevent harm to humans and the planet and to support European industry in the production of safe and sustainable chemicals. Indicators show that the transition to safer and more sustainable chemicals must continue but should even accelerate.
ISPRA plays an important role in the transition covered by this Report, contributing to the main hierarchical elements in which the indicator framework is organized (Safe and Sustainable Substances: Minimize and control risks to the minimum possible: Eliminate and clean up chemical pollution). For environmental aspects, ISPRA supports the national authorities for the application of the relevant European regulations, in particular the REACH Regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of chemical substances and the CLP Regulation on the classification, labeling and packaging of chemical substances and mixtures as well as for the application of environmental protection and monitoring legislation