Evonik Health Care’s Post

🌾The Symposium of Plant Health of Sevilla has started! I look forward to discussing with industry and authorities on current interesting topics such us sustainable use of plant protection products or faster market access for biological control. #symposium #coitand #Sevilla #sanidadvegetal #planthealth #biocontrol #biopesticides #fitosanitarios

🌿Tomorrow the EU will vote on extending approval of the pesticide glyphosate. Scientists from all over Europe, affiliated with Scientists4Future & Scientist Rebellion, sent an open letter to the European Commission : glyphosate should be banned if the EU fulfils its Aarhus commitments. 🐝Glyphosate, the most widely used pesticide in Europe, was approved by the EU in 2002. In 2015, the IARC - International Agency for Research on Cancer / World Health Organization classified it as possibly carcinogenic to humans. The European Commission proposed to renew approval again, without meeting standards of scientific scrutiny & due-diligence. 🐛The letter writers argue that the EU's scientific process for assessing glyphosate is seriously flawed. It overlooks the risk of carcinogenicity, the risk of neurotoxicity & effects on the microbiome, biodiversity & long term impacts. This research must be taken into account. ----- Update, 16 November ----- We express frustration over the European Commission's 10-year approval of glyphosate. Despite peer-reviewed journals documenting its harm to people and the environment; and in violation of the Aarhus Convention, which protects our rights to live in a healthy environment. EU members remain heavily divided on this approval, and individual countries can still ban glyphosate. We will actively remind the Dutch government, backed by scientific data, that glyphosate should be prohibited.

#lawyers' Petition for a global ban on glyphosate. Pétition internationale des avocats contre le #glyphosate. * "As such, we are aware of the deleterious effects of #pesticide use on all living beings and the environment. We have therefore pleaded for a ban on their use and for compensation for the damages they cause. At the current time, the European Union (#EU) must decide whether or not to renew the authorization of glyphosate (...) The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), in charge of risk assessment, issued a positive opinion on July 6, while recognizing data gaps and major uncertainties. On the basis of this opinion, the European Commission decided on September 20 in favor of a 10-year renewal. On October 13, the 27 member states will vote on this proposal. In this context, we would like to remind you that there are alternatives to the use of glyphosate, while scientific evidence of the damage resulting from its use is accumulating. For example, in 2015, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified the substance as a probable human #carcinogen. This link between glyphosate and cancer was also demonstrated in 2021 by the French Institute for Health and Medical Research (#INSERM). (...) In addition to its carcinogenic potential, the widespread use of this #herbicide represents a threat to human health due to its genotoxicity, potential #neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and ability to disrupt the endocrine system or the microbiome. (...) We underline a major inconsistency between the extension of glyphosate marketing and the international commitment to reduce the overall risk from pesticides, as stated in 2022 in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. In the face of such evidence, we consider that the marketing of glyphosate contravenes the fundamental texts of our legal systems, according to which the right to a healthy environment, the right of access to information, the application of the precautionary principle, the duty of independence and impartiality of experts, or the fight against climate change, must all be guaranteed by States. We, the signatories of this petition, therefore call on all public authorities to assume their responsibilities with regard to the risks posed by glyphosate to society, and consequently ban its use and support farmers in their transition to an ecologically and economically sustainable model. Always committed to defending the victims of pesticides, we affirm our determination to challenge the marketing authorizations for glyphosate-based pesticides, and to take legal action against the manufacturing companies and the health agencies that authorize them. * If you are a lawyer and would like to sign this petition, you can : Write to us at [email protected] Or fill in this form directly:

The EU Member States did not reach a qualified majority to reapprove the licence for glyphosate in the SCoPAFF meeting today. PAN Europe welcomes the decision. Gergely Simon, Senior Policy Officer at PAN Europe, says: “This is an important signal. It does right to the concerns of a majority of Europeans about the impact of pesticides on health and environment. A wide range of independent scientists have expressed their concerns and their studies show serious negative effects of glyphosate use. Re-approval of glyphosate breaches the EU Pesticide Law, under which health and environment should come first. In case of doubt, the precautionary principle must be invoked.” Member States will be invited to vote again on the Commission’s proposal on the re-authorization in the upcoming weeks in the Appeal Committee. The Commission is expected to adapt the proposal. If again no qualified majority is reached it will be up to the Commission to decide on its own. A recent IPSOS poll spanning six EU countries shows that only a mere 14% of citizens express support for the prolonged use of glyphosate. In stark contrast, almost two-thirds (62%) of respondents advocate for a ban of glyphosate. Also important to note: The first carcinogenicity data from the multi-institutional Global Glyphosate Study will be presented at the international scientific conference “Environment, Work and Health in the 21st Century: Strategies and Solutions to a Global Crisis(link is external)", which will be held in Bologna, Italy on October 25th. The presented data will be from the most comprehensive toxicological study ever on glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides. https://lnkd.in/exMUMeBs

Many challenges in the world can be avoided, reduced or even solved, as scientific solutions or additional insights help us to improve our actions. If only incentive structures would be better aligned. Here is one possible example: Contaminated production waste water is a key contributor for the development of #AMR. The attached study speaks of a measured water concentration of an antibiotic of more than 1.500.000% of the ecotoxicologically relevant threshold. Obviously, some manufacturers do better than other. What I don't know is, who is winning most multilateral tenders. Are there binding environmental criteria along with registration requirements or are tenders still won solely based on price? Umweltbundesamt - German Environment Agency https://lnkd.in/ejrKQD3q

My journey in the realm of ecotoxicology has encompassed a variety of experiences, including extensive work on the impact of pesticides and oil spills on aquatic ecosystems. Recently, I had the privilege of participating in two insightful online seminars that have further deepened my expertise and passion for this field. On May 29, I attended an enlightening online webinar organized by the Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML) focused on "Sea-Based Sources of Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter." This session provided a comprehensive overview of the numerous sources of marine litter originating from sea-based activities. Another pivotal event that I attended in this month, was the online seminar hosted by Kyushu University titled "Best Practices for Microplastic Research." This seminar delved into the methodologies and best practices for studying microplastics. The speakers highlighted cutting-edge techniques for sampling, analyzing, and interpreting data on microplastics, emphasizing the importance of standardization and accuracy in research. These recording of these two events are available on YouTube as well. By staying informed about the latest advancements and best practices, I aim to contribute to the global effort in mitigating the adverse effects of pollution. #Toxicology #Ecotoxicology #PlasticPollution #EnvironmentalScience #Sustainability

WATER FILTERS 4 Three Disinfection By-products, or DBPs, You Want to Avoid… At All Costs Here are some of the more dangerous chlorination by-products and their associated suspected side effects: Trihalomethanes (THMs): • Cause cancer in laboratory animals • Trigger the production of free radicals in your body Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): • Lead to central nervous system depression and drowsiness • Can irritate skin and mucous membranes Haloacetic Acid (HAAs): • Is a Class B2 probable human carcinogen • May cause liver disease in test animals at very high levels Are They in Your Drinking Water? According to a recent New Scientist report, a comprehensive survey of U.S. drinking water reveals that drinking water may contain a host of hormonally active chemicals. Some of the most frequently found substances included: • MTBE (Methyl-tert-butyl Ether) – a chemical added to fuel to raise octane number; a potential human carcinogen at high doses • Atrazine – a U.S. pesticide banned in the European Union; a known endocrine disruptor, it feminizes wildlife and lab animals, is linked to reproductive problems in lab animals, impairs immune function, and is linked to both breast and prostate cancers in humans Granted, the levels detected were low. But let me ask you: do you really want to drink someone’s recklessly discarded fuel boosters and pesticides? I certainly don’t. Incidentally, the U.S. government does not regulate or set rules for pharmaceuticals or any of these other compounds in your drinking water, except for one: the pesticide Atrazine.

Are you working on issues related to #pesticides? Join #UCTs online #Pesticide #Network Discussion Forum on the 25th of April to learn about #RNAi pesticides. What are they? What are the #benefits? What are the #concerns?

📢 🐝 European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published new Guidance on the assessment of risks to bees from the use of biocides 🐝 🐝 This Guidance Document describes how to perform a #RiskAssessment for bees, in accordance with Article 19(1)(b)(iv) of the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (EU BPR, 528/2012). 🐝 It proposes a tiered approach scheme for biocidal active substances for the exposure estimation in different scenarios, hazard characterisation and a risk assessment methodology covering both dietary and contact exposure. 🐝 This document also provides recommendations for higher tier assessment, metabolite risk assessment and biocidal product risk assessment (mixtures). 🦋 For arthropod pollinators other than bees, an overview of the literature and a database search on the ecology and sensitivity of non-bee pollinators are provided together with recommendations for further research and considerations for future development of guidance. https://lnkd.in/dzkpVQdE #EUPollinators #EUBiodiversity #bees #biocides #EU_BPR #BPR #ecotoxicology #saferchemicals #ChemicalsStrategy #ECHA