Top European leaders, including former vice presidents like Frans Timmermans and the current environment commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, have tested positive for a toxic chemical disease caused by emissions, according to a campaign advocating for a European Union-wide ban.
The campaign is urging the European Union to ban harmful chemicals that can lead to serious health issues such as cancer, infertility, birth defects, and immune system disruptions.
As part of the campaign, the blood of EU officials was tested for per and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS or forever chemicals), revealing that all tested individuals had these toxic substances in their blood. Notably, five politicians exceeded the safe levels of these chemicals.
“They invade our environment, home-grown vegetables, fish, and our bodies, where they persist forever,” Timmermans said in a statement. “We must stop all emissions of this legalized garbage — we call on Europe to fully ban the use of these chemicals.”
For a long time, the fashion industry has relied on PFAS to make things like raincoats, boots, and backpacks resistant to water and stains. The labels on these products have been unclear, making it difficult for consumers to understand what they’re actually purchasing.
Leena Ylä-Mononen, the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency said, “Chemical pollution is a widespread problem in Europe but there are also significant opportunities to improve the situation.”
“We should manage the risks of chemicals in groups, promote chemicals that are safe and sustainable by design, and phase out the most harmful substances,” Ylä-Mononen added.
“The only way to deal with this crisis is to regulate these chemicals as a group, which should happen with the current EU restriction proposal,” said ChemSec executive director Anne-Sofie Bäckar.
“Luckily, there are safer alternatives already available for most PFAS uses.”
