Environmental NGOs have detected toxic substances in the blood of senior Brussels politicians. The medical examinations became part of a campaign to promote an EU-wide ban on the chemicals, Politico reported.
Sixteen politicians and public figures, including EU competition head Margrethe Vestager, former Green Deal chief Frans Timmermans and EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, had at least seven types of toxic PFAS chemicals in their blood. In five cases, the concentrations “exceeded existing safety threshold levels” for the chemicals.
PFAS chemicals, which are widely used in everyday household items, such as non-stick pans and raincoats, as well as in the manufacture of semiconductors and batteries, can cause a host of serious health problems, including cancer and infertility. Also known as “forever chemicals” as they do not decompose naturally in the environment, they have been found in everything from rainwater and soil to breast milk.
Vestager stated that for the past 30 years, she has been careful to avoid toxic chemicals in cosmetics for the sake of her health and that of her children.
What I have learned from this experience is that you can do a number of things yourself, but it is not enough. PFAS are pretty much everywhere. The blood tests confirmed what I have thought for a long time. Europe must continue to invest in research to find substitutes, and eventually get rid of them.
The blood tests, conducted by the European Environmental Bureau and ChemSec, are part of an awareness-raising campaign led by non-governmental organisations, as the EU discusses a potential ban on the chemicals. The European Commission has pledged to phase out PFAS chemicals due to concerns over their environmental and health impacts. Exceptions are made in cases where they have been proven to be irreplaceable or “essential” to society.
Timmermans, who left his post in Brussels to return to national politics in the Netherlands, declared via the NGO:
Citizens must be protected from [forever chemicals]. We must stop all emissions of this legalised garbage.
Despite the high risks posed by chemicals, the ban proposal has drawn fierce opposition from a wide range of chemical-dependent sectors. The five European countries that submitted the proposal warn that the new measures would undermine EU competitiveness.
However, the European Chemicals Agency must first submit its thoughts on the proposed ban to the Commission. There is currently no clear timetable for when this will happen.
