At symposium on Human Biomonitoring (HBM) in September 2010 in Berlin Federal Environment Minister Röttgen and Federal Environment Agency president Flasbarth stressed the important role of HBM as early warning system and policy monitoring device. HBM surveys investigate public exposure to chemicals and other harmful environmental impacts detrimental to public health. more

The Federal Environment Ministry (BMU) and the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) have achieved first positive results in their joint project to increase knowledge on substances that are taken up by the human body. Scientists working on the project succeeded for the first time in developing analytical methods for the substances DINCH, DPHP and MDI. The new methods will now be applied in relevant studies in the general public. more

Germany has prepared the ground for the national enforcement of the EU CLP regulation with the amendment of the Chemicals Act which has entered into force on 8 November 2011. The regulation lays down new provisions for the classification and labelling of hazardous substances on the basis of a UN-wide agreed system. more

Again and again consumer and environmental protection organisations detect carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a wide range of consumer products. A German initiative now aims to ban the health hazard to consumers presented by these substances. more