3.5 Chemical pollution and human health

People are exposed to complex mixtures of chemicals in their daily lives by consuming contaminated food and drinking water, breathing in polluted air and dust and using consumer goods. Human exposure to hazardous chemicals is linked to a wide range of health impacts, amongst others skin sensitization, reproductive toxicity, neurological disorders, endocrine disruption and carcinogenicity.

This briefing assesses the past trends around and outlook for human exposure to harmful chemicals in Europe, as well as the associated health impacts.

Key policies

The zero pollution action plan and the chemicals strategy for sustainability are the main EU strategies addressing the impacts of chemical pollution on human health. The policy targets for 2030 include a 50% reduction in:

• the use of chemical pesticides and the risks they pose;
• the use of more hazardous pesticides; and
• sales of antimicrobials for farmed animals and in aquaculture.

The 2050 vision is to reduce pollution to levels no longer harmful to health, thus creating a toxic-free environment. Indicators (zero pollution dashboards) have been developed to track progress.

Past trends (10-15 years)

Deteriorating trends/developments dominate

While a small decrease has been noted in the production of chemicals hazardous to health in Europe, it is difficult to identify clear trends in the substitution of substances of concern with safer and more sustainable alternatives. The use of some of the most harmful chemicals is still increasing, although use volumes of substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction – together known as CMR – grew less compared to those of less hazardous substances (Figure 1).

Emissions of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have fallen, some progress has been made in reducing the use of chemical pesticides and veterinary antimicrobials, and more industrial chemicals have come under scrutiny by EU authorities. However, available human biomonitoring data indicate that European bodies are contaminated by a range of chemicals. This is especially concerning due to the combined effect (mixture toxicity) of these chemicals. In addition, some of them (e.g. bisphenol A and per- and polyfluoroalkyls (PFAS)) exceed safe indicator levels in a significant part of the European population and thus pose a potential risk to health (Figure 2). Some restricted chemicals also persist in existing materials or in the environment, perpetuating human exposure. These include, among others, some heavy metals (e.g. mercury) and POPs (e.g. DDT, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and dioxins).

Outlook (10-15 years)

Trends/developments expected to show a mixed picture

Regulatory measures have been taken to reduce the use of and emissions from certain hazardous chemicals in the EU-27. Policy responses have been initiated under the European Green Deal with the aim of increasing protection against them.

However, the impact of these policies will take time to materialise and depends on their efficient implementation. Overall, it is unlikely that human exposure to complex mixtures of chemicals in the EU will decrease sufficiently enough to mitigate their impacts, which are mainly due to accumulated legacy chemicals, continuing emissions of hazardous substances and novel substances. Increased product imports may also increase exposure due to less stringent chemical regulations in the countries of origin. However, recent efforts to re-establish manufacturing capacity in Europe could affect this outlook if supported by the widespread uptake of safe and sustainable by design criteria.

Prospects of meeting policy targets 2030/2050

2030 Partially on track to meet targets/highly uncertain

If current positive trends in pesticide and veterinary antimicrobial reduction continue, it is possible that the related zero-pollution targets will be met by 2030.

2050 Largely not on track to meet targets

Based on expert judgement, the EU is not on track to meet the 2050 zero-pollution vision of a toxic-free environment. While there is likely to be further progress in restricting harmful chemical uses in Europe, the expected increase in import, production and consumption of chemicals will continue to cause impacts and exceed our capacity to assess and mitigate their risks.

Robustness

In the EU, more data about human exposure to a number of hazardous chemicals have become available. Although ongoing research and innovation projects will help provide further data on the exposure to chemicals, their effects, and the associated risks, several data and knowledge gaps remain. These include a lack of overarching EU-wide data flows, as well as knowledge gaps on some toxicological effects of chemicals, including the effects from chemical mixtures. Consequently, the assessment relies on existing human biomonitoring and chemical production data alongside expert judgment.

Charts/maps

Figure 1. Growth of use volumes of REACH-registered substances of different levels of concern, 2010-2022, relative to use volumes in 2010

Figure 2. Percentage of monitored persons with concentrations of selected chemicals above indicative guidance values