chemicals

Chemicals

International Chemicals Management

International chemicals management aims to achieve the sustainable use of chemicals worldwide

When it comes to managing chemicals, the primary concern is to minimise negative environmental and health impacts and conserve resources while maximising the benefits of using chemicals for sustainable development. To achieve this goal, a wide range of stakeholders must work together internationally and make concerted use of effective tools for global chemicals management. read more

Health

Reference and HBM Values

Urine and blood specimen in tubes on a questionaire for laboratory analysis

The reference value allows the comparison of the exposure of individuals or population groups with the background exposure. Since environmental conditions are changing reference values are checked continuously and are updated if new information becomes available.The reference value for a chemical substance in human biological material (e.g. blood, urine) is derived according to a defined statistic... read more

Chemicals

The Rotterdam Convention

a container-ship

The Rotterdam Convention regulates international trade with certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides. According to it, such substances may only be imported into a country if that country has been informed of the hazards in advance and has given its consent ("Prior Informed Consent"). Over 160 countries have ratified the Rotterdam Convention to date. read more

Chemicals

Chemicals in articles: EU LIFE Project AskREACH

Ein Barcode auf einem Produkt wir mit einem Smartphone gescannt

The AskREACH project aims at raising awareness on Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) in articles among the European population, retailers and industry. AskREACH developed the smartphone app Scan4Chem which can be used to readily receive information on SVHCs in consumer articles or send information requests to suppliers. The European Chemicals Regulation REACH provides the legal framework. read more

News on Chemicals

Towards a sustainable chemical intensity

So far, economic development causes chemical intensification, still too often disproportionate high

The Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030 are only achievable if chemicals are used in the right extent, says the German Environment Agency (UBA). The risks for health and the environment need to be globally minimized. At the same time, the opportunities for the societies by chemicals need to be maximized worldwide. Read more in our Thought Starter. read more

Water

Chemicals

The group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exceeds the values of the environmental quality standards for chemicals regulated in the German Ordinance on Surface Waters. read more

The Umweltbundesamt

For our environment