Key actions for a sustainable chemicals policy

Chris Collins; Mike Depledge; Robert Fraser; Andrew Johnson; Gary Hutchison; Peter Matthiessen; Richard Murphy; Susan Owens; John Sumpter

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2020.105463

Key actions for a sustainable chemicals policy

Environ Int. 2020 Apr:137:105463. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105463. Epub 2020 Feb 18.

Authors

Chris Collins¹, Mike Depledge², Robert Fraser³, Andrew Johnson⁴, Gary Hutchison⁵, Peter Matthiessen⁶, Richard Murphy⁷, Susan Owens⁸, John Sumpter⁹

Affiliations

¹ Soil Research Centre, Department Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6DW, UK. Electronic address: c.d.collins@reading.ac.uk.
² European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Heavitree Road, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK.
³ School of Economics, Kennedy Building, Park Wood Road, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7FS, UK.
⁴ UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK.
⁵ School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh EH11 4BN, UK.
⁶ Dolfan Barn, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys LD5 4UE, UK.
⁷ Centre for Environment and Sustainability, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK.
⁸ Newnham College, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge CB3 9DF, UK.
⁹ Institute of Environment, Brunel University, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK.

PMID: 32086074
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105463

Abstract

Chemicals policies have spawned a wide range of regulations aimed at limiting damage to the environment and human health. Most instruments are reactive and fragmented. We propose a simple underpinning philosophy, "Do no harm", to ensure a more sustainable, safe "chemical environment" for the future.

MeSH terms

Data Collection
Environmental Pollutants*
Hazardous Substances*
Humans
Policy Making*

Substances

Environmental Pollutants
Hazardous Substances