Chemicals and Women- So what is the problem? WOMEN FOR A TOXIC-FREE FUTURE Polish Women´s Seminar & Workshop Monday 6th of December 2004, Warsaw Daniela Rosche Women in Europe for a Common Future International Policy Coordinator

Summary Presentation What kind of chemicals are we talking about Chemicals are everywhere Why this is a problem What kind of health effects many man-made chemicals have Example: Bisphenol A Why women are especially affected Information gap-regulation in EU New EU legislation- REACH Why REACH needs strong support of Women (and Men)

Synthetic Chemicals Synthetic – man-made not natural Manufactured/industrial chemicals as a result of large scale production- 400 Mio t per year Come in contact via food, inhalation, through skin Hazardous chemicals –Persistent: e.g., plastic bags on the alps –Bioaccumulative: accumulates in your body –Toxic: depending on dose – or not? –Carcinogens –Endocrine disrupters

Chemicals in Every Day Life- A chemical world? Chemicals in consumer products: –Cosmetics, perfumes, body care –Household paint –Plastic toys/ other plastic equipment –Non-stick frying pans –Electrical appliances –PCs –Compact disks –Textiles –Food –Cleaning products Silent, invisible pollution Without our consent or knowledge

Health effects linked to synthetic chemicals Disrupt the hormone system & reproductive system Toxic to the immune system Affect the nervous system AllergiesRespiratory diseases Cancer

Example: Bisphenol A Where?: baby feeding bottles, flooring, nail polish, compact disks, adhesives electrical & electronic appliances, lining of tin cans What: damages immune system, nervous system, reproductive system, linked to breast cancer Health effects in animals detected, 2500 times lower than USEPA lowest observed dose effect

Women are especially affected by chemicals Women have a different physiology- "windows of time" Women have more fatty tissue than men, more chemicals can accumulate and be stored in the body Pass on these chemicals to the foetus in utero (through placenta) and via breast milk Some chemicals have the ability to cross the brain barrier of the developing foetus

Two main problems with regulating synthetic chemicals 1) Of certain chemicals, variety of ngeative health effects shown 2) Little or no data on environment and health effects of majority of chemicals in consumer products

Chemicals Regulation in the EU Pesticides Biocides Cosmetics IPPC Workers protection New chemicals law REACH Chemicals marketed in the EU

A New Law in the Making: REACH Registration Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals Aims at protecting human health & environment EU takes the lead internationally on managing chemicals proactively, not only their risk

A New Law in the Making: REACH REACH is important Will close the information gap Burden of Proof on Industry-not governments or individuals Data is kept with the help of an Agency- streamlines information The most dangerous chemicals will need an authorization One step further to ensure protection from negative health & environment effects of hazardous chemicals

REACH out and bring an End to the Chemicals Crisis WECF strongly endorses this initiative Work in a big coalition on EU level and national level in order to strengthen REACH Encourage EU to continue taking the lead globally toward a toxic free future WSSD target to achieve by 2020 that chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment

REACH out and bring an End to the Chemicals Crisis What you can do: –Support us and other NGOs in the Pro- REACH campaign –Lobby your government & MEPs directly –Be smart consumers- buy products that contain natural ingredients –Write to producers to find out what their products are made of

REACH out and bring an End to the Chemicals Crisis What you can do: –Demand responsibility from producers to make sure their products are safe and there is enough information about them –Demand from your governments to do the same –Spread the word and educate others –COME WITH US TO BRUSSELS !