Brussels, 05/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 4 September 2008, the European Parliament adopted an own initiative report by Belgian ALDE MEP Frédérique Ries (by 522 to 16 with 7 abstentions) on a mid-term review of the 2004-2010 health and environment action plan. The report focusses on the absence of a clear and detailed target and the need to take account of the risks connected with climate change. While recognising the efforts of the European Commission since 2004, the MEPs regret that the action plan is not based on prevention to reduce illnesses connected with environmental factors. Ries said that the vote had enabled the European Parliament to relay the concerns of ordinary people about the cocktails of environmental pollutants that they are exposed to daily and on which there is usually no independent expertise. She said this usually led to delays in taking action in the areas where prevention is most required.
The MEPs believe the action plan should focus on new health challenges and examine environmental factors that impact on human health such as indoor and outdoor air quality, electromagnetic waves, nanoparticulates, chemicals and risks arising from climate change. They pay particular attention to climate change and how it can play a huge role in terms of the severity and incidence of certain diseases. In other words, they believe that the frequency of heatwaves, floods, forest fires and natural catastrophes in the EU could lead to increased illness.
Among other concerns expressed in the report, the MEPs call on the European Commission not to water down existing legislation in its review of legislation under pressure from lobby groups and regional or international organisations. The MEPs also express concern at the lack of specific legal measures to ensure the safety of food products containing nanoparticulates and the Commission's lack of concern at the need to revise legislation on the use of nanoparticulates in food products. They explain that the electromagnetic field exposure limits set for the public are out-of-date and clearly take no account of changes in information and communications technology, the recommendations of the European Environment Agency or the stricter emissions rules of countries like Belgium, Italy and Austria. In relation to low frequency electromagnetic waves in wide circulation in wireless equipment like mobile phones, bluetooth and WIFI, the public exposure limits of which date back to 1999 (which do not cover the most recent technology), Ries has been commissioned by the EP's Environment Committee to draw up a special report on the health impact of electromagnetic waves. She commented that when technology changes, as is regularly the case with high power wireless equipment, the electromagnetic wave exposure limits also need to change. Failing which, consumers will be exposed to unnecessary dangers. A raft of scientific studies indicate that chronic exposure or too high an exposure to electromagnetic waves can cause the risk of cancer, leukaemia in children in particular, along with Alzheimer's disease, nervous problems and sleep disturbances. The only good solution would be for the European Union and member states to decide as a matter of urgency to reduce exposure levels, she added. Reading the European Commission's recent report on implementing the recommendation on public exposure to electromagnetic waves, however (see EUROPE 9733), this does not appear to be on the agenda at the moment. (O.L/transl.fl)