1. Pathways towards a strategy for a non-toxic environment
Dr Hans Bruyninckx I 24 November 2016 I Towards a non-toxic future, Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark
Pathways towards a strategy for a non-toxic environment

2. EEA: a network organisation with a direct link to policy
The European Environment Agency is an EU body that operates at the interface of science and policy.
With a network of more than institutions in 39 European countries, the EEA provides timely, reliable and relevant information to support sustainable development.
The EEA’s work is targeted at EU institutions, EEA member countries, civil society and the general public.

3. Policy framework – 7th EAP
‘In 2050, we live well, within the planet's ecological limits.
Our prosperity and healthy environment stem from an innovative, circular economy where nothing is wasted and where natural resources are managed sustainably, and biodiversity is protected, valued and restored in ways that enhance our society's resilience. Our low-carbon growth has long been decoupled from resource use, setting the pace for a global safe and sustainable society.’

4. How much risk from chemicals is society willing to accept?
Risk  Hazard x Exposure
Water
Air
Toxicity
Food and packaging
Consumer products
Risk of chemicals can be expressed as a combination of hazard (harm, toxicity) and exposure (probability of harm occuring, or being in contact with hazardous substances)
Toxicity can be evaluated by testing animals (in-vivo), cells (in-vitro), modelling (in-silico, e.g. QSAR) or associations can be made through epidemiological studies
Exposures can come from many sources – the known chemicals (blue dots) are those that we have monitored for years; the emerging contaminants (dotted blue) are those we are starting to measure – but there are many more chemicals, natural and synthetic out there which we do not know of or do not measure, and whose toxicity might be unknown – but it would be very unlikely that they should have zero toxicity; so how much space/risk (white area) should be ‘left’ for the risk of these chemicals; and how much risk is society willing to accept?
Human/env. health effects are caused by the sum of exposures to mixtures of chemicals
Personal care products
Pharmaceuticals
Soil
...
Source: GAHP

5. An evolving understanding of chemical risks
single exposure
combined exposure
expansion of harm,
lower thresholds
Examples of the toxicity of lead
Single exposure to multiple exposure – synergistic “cocktail effects”
Harm expansion – mercury, lead, PCBs – lower thresholds considered safe - more diverse set of endpoints
Lead: At high levels of chronic exposure, lead is a neurotoxic substance that attacks the brain and central nervous system, causing coma, convulsions and even death.
At lower levels of exposure that cause no obvious symptoms and that were previously considered safe, lead is now known to produce a spectrum of behavioural disorders
As well as renal impairment, immunotoxicity and toxicity to the reproductive organs.
Methymercury – transfer across the placenta first thought to be impossible – now recognised as a pathway for foetal exposure
REACH has led to the re-classification of substances to include more endpoints
Dose make the poison to low dose effects
Also evidence of non-monotonic dose response curves for some EDCs - separate but related issue
Synergistic effects of multiple stressors – chemical exposure, behavioural patterns, socio-economic factors
e.g. children’s IQ: lead, mercury, PCBs, also socio-economic factors or
Bee colony collapse: neonicotinoids, climate change, viruses
toxic to the
immune system
and reproduction
behavioural
disorders
neuro-toxic

6. Megatrend – increasing dependency on chemicals
Global chemical production is increasing.
How does this affect the environment and human health and resilience?
Risk  Hazard x Exposure
But the production of chemicals keep growing
Source: SOER 2010, Global Megatrends

7. 2014 EU production of toxic chemicals
326 millions tonnes total
63% hazardous to health
37% non-hazardous
Benign by design
Source: Eurostat, 2016

8. Chemical pollution and disease
Source:

9. 7th EAP: Strategy for a non-toxic environment by 2018
Topics considered:
A: Substitution, including grouping of chemicals & measures to support substitution
B: Non-toxic products and clean material cycles
C: Vulnerable groups
D: Very persistent chemicals
E: Policy means, innovation and competitiveness
F: An R&D Programme on non-toxic substances
G: An early warning system for new and emerging risks
These are some of the topcis that will be investigated in support of a transition to a non-toxic environment
How to combine high degree of recycling/reuse in the CE, with non-toxic material cycles staying clean over time?

10. What is the circular economy?
Chemicals in the circular economy
What is the circular economy?
11.5 tonnes of materials extracted in 2014
3.0 tonnes of material per person imported in 2014
Chemicals play a key role in enabling or disabling
the circular economy:
Producer responsibility
Product longevity
Multiple cycles
Contamination/loss of resources and materials
Optional :
Solutions – the bigger picture
Less input and use of natural resources
minimised and optimised exploitation of raw materials, while delivering more value from fewer materials,
reduced import dependence on natural resources,
efficient use of all natural resources,
minimised overall energy and water use.
Increased share of renewable and recyclable resources and energy
non-renewable resources replaced with renewable ones within sustainable levels of supply,
increased share of recyclable and recycled materials that can replace the use of virgin materials,
closure of material loops,
sustainably sourced raw materials.
Reduced emissions
reduced emissions throughout the full material cycle through the use of less raw material and sustainable sourcing,
less pollution through clean material cycles.
Fewer material losses/residuals
build-up of waste minimised,
incineration and landfill limited to a minimum,
dissipative losses of valuable resources minimised.
Keeping the value of products, components and materials in the economy
extended product lifetime keeping value of products in use,
reuse of components,
value of materials preserved in the economy through high-quality recycling.
0.3 tonnes of waste per person incinerated in 2012
2.2 tonnes of waste per person sent to landfill in 2012

11. NON-TOXIC ENVIRONMENT
Transition towards a non-toxic environment
NON-TOXIC ENVIRONMENT
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
TRANSITIONS
SYSTEMS CHANGE
These are some of the topcis that will be investigated in support of a transition to a non-toxic environment
RISKS

12. Conclusions and opportunities
Integration of policies across thematic areas would support management of risks and effects on human and environmental health.
Combined transition to a circular economy and a non-toxic environment - opportunity to re-design products and processes.
Evidence and narratives on environmental health and human well being; human bio-monitoring; costs and injustice as drivers for the transition.

13. Thank you Hans.Bruyninckx@eea.europa.eu
Sign up to receive EEA news, reports
and alerts on your areas of interest at
eea.europa.eu