Chemicals and health

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assesses the risk of human exposure to a range of chemicals via diet. These include environmental pollutants such as brominated flame retardants, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals such as arsenic, methylmercury, lead, nickel and cadmium. The EFSA publishes opinions on its findings. These opinions are periodically updated as needed to reflect the latest scientific knowledge. For example, the EFSA reduced the tolerable daily intake for dioxins/PCBs by a factor of seven in 2018.

Human biomonitoring is a methodology used for measuring the levels of these chemicals in our bodies and the risks they pose. Examples of biomonitoring data are presented below for two relevant chemicals, bisphenols and phthalates.

Bisphenols are synthetic chemicals used to manufacture plastics and resins. Bisphenol A (BPA) acts as an endocrine disruptor and is toxic to reproduction, with early evidence suggesting that BPF and BPS have similar effects (Haverinen et al., 2021). Bisphenols may migrate into food or drinks from food contact materials, such as epoxy resins used in food cans and polycarbonate plastics used in containers. In the EU, the use of BPA is permitted in food contact materials. In 2011, the use of BPA in polycarbonate infant bottles was banned, and this ban was extended to children’s drinking bottles in 2018.

HBM4EU detected BPA in 92% of all adult participants in a sample population from across 10 European countries, while the substitutes BPS and BPF were detected in 67% and 62% of adult participants, respectively (HBM4EU, 2022a). Figure 18 shows the shares of the populations of 10 European countries with BPS levels exceeding the established health-based human biomonitoring guidance value (Ougier et al., 2021a). HBM4EU monitoring results for BPS over the period 2014-2021 show significantly higher concentrations than data from the period 2010-2012 (HBM4EU, 2022b). These increasing levels of BPA substitutes such as BPS are concerning, given the known health risks associated with bisphenols.

Figure 18. Shares of adults in 10 European countries with BPS levels exceeding the guideline value of 1µg/l (2014 – 2021)

Source: HBM4EU (2022b).

Another group of chemicals that humans are exposed to through diet are phthalates, which are widely used to soften plastics, including those used in food contact materials. Certain phthalates can have an impact on reproduction and development (Eales et al., 2022). HBM4EU monitored phthalates in children and teenagers from 11 European countries and found that 4% of children exceeded the human biomonitoring guidance value for di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), while at least 4% of the children and 1% of the teenagers exceeded the guidance value for di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP). Phthalates act cumulatively, so 17% of European children and adolescents are at risk from combined exposure to mixtures of phthalates (HBM4EU, 2022c).

Consumer exposure to chemicals in products

People are exposed to a wide range of chemicals in consumer products, some of which are hazardous, through direct contact with products or by breathing in chemicals released to air, or dust containing chemicals. Indoor dust in homes has been found to contain a range of chemicals, including phthalates (Demirtepe et al., 2021). The shift towards a circular economy could potentially create new exposure pathways, namely when materials are recycled at the end of a product’s life.

The European Rapid Alert System for Dangerous Products (RAPEX) is the EU’s system for exchanging information on unsafe consumer products for consumer protection, established under the General Product Safety Directive. National authorities in the EU Member States can rapidly share information on measures taken in relation to dangerous products, including products that pose chemical risks. In 2021, 25% of safety alerts signalled a chemical risk, second in frequency to only injuries in terms of the type of alert. Typically, only 25% of alerts relate to products originating within the EU or European Economic Area. Examples of chemical risk alerts have included phthalates detected in plastic and lead detected in metal products (EC, 2022b).

Consumer exposure can also change as a result of occurrences such as the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, exposure to chemicals from cleaning and disinfection products increased (Soave et al., 2021).

Occupational exposure to chemicals

In certain occupational settings, workers may be exposed to hazardous chemicals across a range of economic sectors, including agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing and services (ILO, 2021). Current efforts to establish a circular economy may generate new risks for workers in the waste management sector, with particular concerns regarding workers who recycle waste electrical and electronic equipment. For example, exposure to flame-retardant chemicals contained in such equipment is an issue (HBM4EU, 2022d).

One historical and very significant example of occupational exposure relates to the use of asbestos. It is estimated that, in the EU in 2019, more than 70,000 premature deaths were the result of historical exposure to asbestos, as outlined in the zero pollution ‘Signal’ on asbestos.

Antimicrobial resistance — reduced sales of antimicrobials for farmed animals and aquaculture

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of microorganisms, such as bacteria, to become resistant to an antimicrobial to which they were previously susceptible. AMR is a consequence of natural selection and genetic mutation. This natural selection process is exacerbated by human factors such as the inappropriate use of antimicrobials in human and veterinary medicine, and poor hygiene conditions and practices in healthcare settings and the food chain. This facilitates the transmission of resistant microorganisms and, over time, makes antimicrobials less effective and ultimately useless in treating infections. The topic of AMR is considered in more detail in the zero pollution 'Signal' on antimicrobial resistance.

The zero pollution action plan includes a specific target to reduce sales of antimicrobials for farmed animals and aquaculture by 50% by 2030 (compared with 2018 levels). This aims to ensure that antimicrobials are used only when necessary and to reduce the risk of AMR development and the transfer of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms through the food chain.

Figure 19 shows the progress made in reducing sales of antimicrobials in recent years. Since 2018, sales have reduced by approximately 18.3%. Although it is still too early to properly assess the trend, progressing at this downwards rate would result in the target 50% reduction being achieved by 2030. Information on antimicrobial sales on a country-by-country basis can be found in the European Medicines Agency European Database of Sales of Veterinary Antimicrobial Agents (ESVAC database).

Figure 19. Annual sales of veterinary antimicrobials

Note: PCU, population correction unit. In order to normalise the sales data for the animal population that can be subjected to treatment with antimicrobial agents, a population correction unit (PCU) is used as a proxy for the size of the animal population, taking into account the population and relative weight of animals.

Source: Data provided to the EEA by the European Medicines Agency, September 2022.

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Indicator analysis — chemicals and health

No specific, regularly updated indicators relate to chemicals and health and therefore none were included in this assessment. This means that a regularly updated knowledge base needs to be developed on this topic. The monitoring framework being developed under the European Commission’s chemicals strategy for sustainability will eventually provide indicators that will also support reporting under the zero pollution action plan.

Indicators related to chemicals are presented elsewhere in this assessment — including indicators on the production and consumption of hazardous chemicals and on the risk and use of chemical pesticides.