03 May 2023

Despite progress in some EU Member States to reduce their use, pesticide pollution still poses significant risks to human health and the environment, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published today. To reverse this, much more needs to be done to achieve the EU’s zero pollution targets to reduce by 50% the use and risk […]

03 May 2023

The Guardian reports that a chemicals company is releasing large quantities of a “forever chemical” described as being “very persistent, mobile and toxic” into the River Wyre in Lancashire each year, and is not breaking any rules. Earlier this year, the Guardian and Watershed Investigations revealed that effluent coming from the site of AGC Chemicals Europe in Thornton-Cleveleys could […]

26 Apr 2023

New report from ClientEarth and European Environmental Bureau Also see the press release Exactly a year ago, the European Commission announced it would rapidly ban thousands of the most notorious chemicals still found in consumer products and contributing to growing human infertility, serious illnesses and environmental harms. Media coverage was extensive. It published a roadmap promising bans of the most […]

15 Mar 2023

Article in the Guardian All toilet paper from across the globe checked for toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” contained the compounds, and the waste flushed down toilets and sent to sewage treatment plants likely creates a significant source of water pollution, new research has found. Once in the wastewater plant, the chemicals can be packed in […]

15 Mar 2023

Growing number of studies detect antibiotics, medicines and caffeine in groundwater (europa.eu) Production and use of medicines, antimicrobial and pharmaceutical products, is increasing globally – along with the risk of their ingredients and breakdown products reaching the environment. The effects of such contamination may carry both human and ecosystem health risks. Antibiotics in soil and […]

17 Feb 2022

Pharmaceuticals in rivers threaten world health – study BBC ‘Pollution of the world’s rivers from medicines and pharmaceutical products poses a “threat to environmental and global health”, a report says (see link below). Paracetamol, nicotine, caffeine and epilepsy and diabetes drugs were widely detected in a University of York study. The research is among the […]

07 Sep 2021

The Environment Agency will allow water companies to discharge untreated effluent to surface water in event of “supply chain failures” to obtain treatment chemicals Water and sewerage company effluent discharges – supply chain failure: RPS B2 How to manage effluent discharge treatment when you cannot get the chemicals you need because of unavoidable supply chain […]

30 Mar 2021

Guardian: UK ‘flying blind’ on levels of toxic chemicals in tap water.  Guardian ‘Government is not testing drinking water for PFAS, which studies have linked to numerous health issues. The UK government is not testing drinking water for a group of toxic manmade chemicals linked to a range of diseases including cancers, while across the […]