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These are highlights of recent scientific reports that cover, in a few questions, the essential points of the reports.
Even with the advances of antiretroviral therapy, AIDS is still a leading cause of death.
What is the current state of the epidemic? More...
Latest update: 1 December 2017
A global climate 1.5° Celsius degree warmer: how does the IPCC consider it
will affect the world? (IPCC) 
The earth’s climate has already warmed up by 1.0°C since the beginning of the industrial period. What will happen when this reaches 1.5°C or 2.0°C? How can it be prevented? More...
Latest update: 24 April 2019
Mycotoxins are substances produced by moulds found in food products. What are their effects and how can they be prevented? More...
Latest update: 24 May 2018
A responsible management of supply chains of metals and of mineral extraction
from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas - An OECD Due Diligence Guidance () 
The objective of this OECD Guide is to identify, prevent or mitigate through "due diligence" processes the risks of human rights, but also reputational and legal liability issues for companies related to mineral extraction in high risk of conflict area More...
Latest update: 3 April 2021
Acrylamide can be formed in many fried and baked food products. Is there a risk to health? More...
Latest update: 10 March 2017
Air quality remains an important issue for public health, the economy and the environment. More...
Latest update: 15 May 2014
Evaluating the safety of chemicals most often requires the use of tests on animals.
However, there is a strong push towards the use of alternative methods. What are these alternatives and are they effective? More...
Latest update: 20 May 2018
Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health issue. What are the prospects for the development of new drugs to fight it? More...
Latest update: 3 November 2017
The misuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of resistant bacteria. What has caused it and how can the spread of resistance be limited? More...
Latest update: 30 September 2014
Antimicrobial resistance both in human and veterinary medicine has reached alarming levels in most parts of the world and has now been recognized as a significant emerging threat to global public health and food security. More...
Latest update: 23 June 2018
Aspartame is one of the most widely used artificial sweetener, is it safe? More...
Latest update: 28 March 2017
Water is essential for life, but humanity faces complex challenges related to increasing demand, variability of supply, widespread pollution and water-related disasters. More...
Latest update: 31 March 2021
Biochar can be used as fuel or as a fertilizer, and is particularly relevant to developing countries. More...
Latest update: 4 March 2015
The IPBES has published its first global assessement of biodiversity. What are the conclusions of this evaluation of ecosystems and the services they provide ? More...
Latest update: 20 December 2019
Biosecurity is concerned with animal and plant diseases, invasive species, the transmission of diseases from livestock to humans, and the effect that all of these can have of health and the environment. How can it be ensured through an integrated approach? More...
Latest update: 16 December 2019
This is a synthesis which looks at the evolution of cancer rates and its related mortality, as well as at the main types of cancer and the main known causes and prevention means. More...
Latest update: 27 December 2016
Chlorine and sodium hypochlorite hazards and risks: no need for further risk
reduction measures (WHO) 
Chlorine and sodium hypochlorite are widely used for disinfection and bleaching, among other things to disinfect drinking water. It appears that the usage guidelines recommend since several years are still adequate in 2017. More...
Latest update: 5 May 2017
Climate Change mitigation: practical measures to limit global warming
IPCC report 2014 Working Group III (IPCC) 
The Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the IPCC was prepared by three working groups More...
Latest update: 25 August 2014
Climate change poses a threat to food security; what are the strategies and policies that could help address this problem? More...
Latest update: 28 June 2017
This is a summary of the contribution of the working group II to the IPCC’s fifth assessment, evaluating various aspects of climate change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. More...
Latest update: 25 August 2014
What are the greenhouse gas emissions and climate implications of shale gas exploitation? More...
Latest update: 10 February 2015
Combined estrogen-progestogen for contraception and menopausal therapy: is there a cancer risk? (IARC) 
Combined estrogen-progestogen pills are used both as oral contraceptives and for hormone therapy in menopausal women.
How is their use linked to cancer risks? More...
Latest update: 7 March 2017
Conclusions by EFSA of a critical assessment of the endocrine disrupting properties of a series of pesticides (EFSA) 
The european regulations on pesticides have brought forward a debate on the concepts of risk and hazard in this particular context. More...
Latest update: 28 June 2016
What are the causes and consequences accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant? More...
Latest update: 12 September 2016
Land is an essential resource for human survival, and yet it is being degraded sometimes to the desert state through unsustainable uses. How can land conservation efforts help to reverse the current worrying trends in the state of our land resources? More...
Latest update: 16 November 2018
Currently, nuclear reactors use enriched uranium as a fuel source, but uranium is relatively rare.
What are the challenges and advantages of using thorium as nuclear fuel? More...
Latest update: 15 May 2017
Are teens well informed about the risks associated with cannabis? What are those risks ? More...
Latest update: 1 April 2016
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can influence the functioning of the system of hormones and receptors that regulate the body.
What are the risks associated with those chemicals? More...
Latest update: 1 May 2015
Soil is a vital resource for food security, but in Europe it is being degraded by pollution, overuse, and erosion. How could soil be protected? More...
Latest update: 10 March 2017
Evolution of uses and emissions of fluorinated gases, in particular those of
hydro-fluorocarbon type (H-FC). (EEA) 
Fluorinated gasses have an effect on the ozone layer and on the climate. What are the stakes related to their use in refrigeration or air conditioning? More...
Latest update: 21 November 2019
Exposure to mixture (“cocktails”) of chemical substances: Are the health and environmental risks adequately evaluated? (SCHER) 
There is increasing concern in the general public about the potential toxic effects of chemical substance mixtures (in the media often referred to as “cocktail-effects”). More...
Latest update: 17 June 2014
Exposure to multiple “chemical mixtures”: methods for their human and
ecological risk assessment (EFSA) 
Organisms, including humans, are exposed to mixtures of chemicals rather than to isolated, single compounds. Yet the safety of chemicals is usually assessed compound per compound.
But how to evaluate the risk of multiple possible combinations of chemicals when present in a mixture? More...
Latest update: 21 August 2019
How can an integrated approach to land management help meeting the needs of the world’s growing population? More...
Latest update: 2 February 2018
In 2002, the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a target: reduce the loss of biodiversity by 2010.
That target was missed, and a new set of targets for 2020 were adopted. More...
Latest update: 6 November 2017
It is estimated by the FAO that each year, one-third of produced for all food human consumption in the world is lost or wasted. This has impacts for food security and for the environment. More...
Latest update: 20 February 2015
The Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the planet, and in a region where ice and snow are so present, this has deep impacts. How will environments and populations worldwide adapt to these changes? More...
Latest update: 30 May 2017
What explains such a difference in the classification of glyphosate between the evaluations conducted by IARC and EFSA? More...
Latest update: 24 April 2016
Hazards and risk associated to Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and
PFOA-related substances (ECHA) 
PFOA is a compound used in the production of materials with water- or oil-repellant properties, such as waterproof fabrics and non-stick cookware. Is its presence in finished products a risk? More...
Latest update: 31 March 2017
Hazards and risks of the pesticides chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl: the
European Food safety Agency (EFSA) evaluation and consequences for their future
use in the E.U. (EFSA) 
The approval of chlorpyrifos has recently been suspended by the european commission.
What are the EFSA conclusions that led to that suspension of its approval? More...
Latest update: 13 December 2019
New scientific methods have to be developped since current methods may not be relevant to testing nanomaterials. More...
Latest update: 28 September 2016
What are the health impacts of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident for the workers and for the general population? More...
Latest update: 27 April 2015
The current policies that address climate change are likely to lead to an increase in global temperature of 4°C before the end of this century.
What are the consequences of such a warming? More...
Latest update: 30 September 2013
Impacts of obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption and related chronic diseases on labour practice. (OECD) 
How did India fare in meeting the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals? More...
Latest update: 12 April 2016
International Convention on Biological Biodiversity - Outcome of the 2018
Conference of the Parties (CBD) 
Key decisions adopted in 2018 by the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in preparation for a 2050 Biodiversity Vision for the Global Biodiversity Outlook 5 report published in 2020. More...
Latest update: 5 May 2021
This Technical Report of AR6 summarizes the current understanding of observed climate change impacts on ecosystems and human societies as well as vulnerabilities and future risks More...
Latest update: 31 March 2022
Demand for organic food is growing. How is it regulated in Europe and what are the potential health and environmental benefits? More...
Latest update: 27 December 2017
Managing the potential health risks and protection for workers from
occupational exposure to manufactured nanomaterials (WHO) 
The increased production of new manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) and their use in consumer and industrial products means that workers in those industries are the first to be exposed to these materials.
How are those risks managed? More...
Latest update: 19 November 2018
Some chemicals can interact with the endocrine system and cause health problems. These 'endocrine disruptors' are difficult to evaluate in terms of health risks.
Are current methods adequate? More...
Latest update: 30 August 2013
The rapid development of nanotechnology created some concerns about their possible effects on human health and safety, and environmental burden. More...
Latest update: 31 July 2015
Do neonicotinoid pesticides have an effect on services provided by ecosystems? More...
Latest update: 8 March 2016
No risk of Alzheimer or cancer from aluminium exposure according to various
scientific assessments (EFSA) 
Aluminium is widely used in food packaging, appliances, as part of food additives, cosmetics, etc.
Does it pose a health risk? More...
Latest update: 24 February 2017
Biological diversity (Part 1): the context of the Convention and its objectives More...
Latest update: 11 June 2021
Part 2: Results of past & present action plans, objectives, actions and means required at the horizon 2030 (CBD) 
Biological diversity (Part 2): the results of past & present action plans, objectives, actions and means at the horizon 2030 More...
Latest update: 22 July 2021
Biological diversity (Part 3): challenges and objectives for 2050 More...
Latest update: 29 July 2021
We review the scientific literature regarding the health risks associated with occupational exposure to pesticides. More...
Latest update: 7 June 2016
How can phosphate resources be managed to ensure food security? More...
Latest update: 16 March 2016
Poly brominated flame retardant decaBDE: updated hazards, risks and regulatory
measures adopted. (ECHA) 
Flame retardants are used in the production of many fabrics, plastics and other materials to make them more resistant to catching fire. Among these products, is decaBDE, widely used, safe to use? More...
Latest update: 23 March 2017
Emergency response is, at its most, effective when the organizations and bodies that are involved are adequately prepared.
When it comes to nuclear and radiological emergencies, what are the steps needed for this preparedness? More...
Latest update: 8 August 2018
Various extracts on aspirin from the World Cancer Report 2020 indicate that aspirin may have important preventive effects on various forms of cancer, which are highlighted here. More...
Latest update: 2 April 2021
What are the challenges that are posed by this substitution process ? More...
Latest update: 30 April 2016
Plastic waste is a growing issue: plastic production is projected to double over the next decade, and without a planning for the effective management of waste, the social, economic and environmental impact is also projected to increase.
Latest update: 15 February 2019
Reducing the impact of hazardous chemicals on public health: what is known and
what can be done to reduce it? (WHO) 
What can be done to reduce the effects of exposure to harmful chemicals? More...
Latest update: 15 October 2018
New sources of gas are being increasingly being mobilized in order to meet the demand.
One such important source is shale gas, which needs for extraction a process called « hydraulic fracturing », what are the potential health and environmental risks of it? More...
Latest update: 30 September 2013
Is the AquAdvantage transgenic salmon safe for human consumption and for the environment? More...
Latest update: 23 November 2015
Summary available in [en]
Aspartame is a sweetener that is in use for several decades.
The latest data has recently been reviewed by the European Food Safety Authority in the context of a systematic re-evaluation of all food additives in use in Europe. More...
Latest update: 30 November 2014
In Europe, 12% of the population has tattoos, are they safe? More...
Latest update: 17 November 2017
Zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) are used in sunscreens. Are they safe? More...
Latest update: 29 June 2017
Reusable tableware consistently outperforms single-use tableware in all the studies and across most environmental impact categories More...
Latest update: 20 May 2021
Benzodiazepines are a class of pharmaceutical drugs that are widely prescribed for insomnia, anxiety, depression, and a range of other conditions.How should they be used, considering that dependance and tolerance can develop with continued use? More...
Latest update: 26 June 2017
A comprehensive assessment of Europe’s progress towards achieving environmental sustainability. More...
Latest update: 20 September 2015
The 2019 reassessment of the pesticide sulfoxaflor and, in particular, its
impact on bees and other pollinators (EFSA) 
Sulfoxaflor is a new insecticide active ingredient that was recently registered for approval. It has been developed subsequent to the restrictions of use of neonicotinoids1, partly because of their effects on honey bees. Is this new molecule safe? More...
Latest update: 26 April 2019
Vaccination saves millions of lives each year. How do they work and is there still progress to be made? More...
Latest update: 30 September 2014
The European Union has published, at the end of 2019, a European Green Deal, which covers policy guidance on climate and pollution. These are the essential proposals. More...
Latest update: 7 January 2020
Highlights of the main decisions of the Glasgow Climate Pact adopted at the 26th World Climate Conference (COP26) More...
Latest update: 25 January 2022
The evolution of ozone layer depletion, its impact on climate change, health and the environment. (UNEP) 
Following the implementation of the ban on CFCs, the ozone layer has been slowly recovering. What is its state and how is it linked to climate change? More...
Latest update: 27 April 2017
Solar power has become significantly cheaper in the last few years, and installed capacity has grown substantially in the same period. What are the advances that are needed to reduce the cost further and deploy the technology on a larger scale ? More...
Latest update: 21 November 2015
Cancer burden is rising globally, what can be done to prevent a further increase? What are the strategies that can be used for cancer prevention and early detection? More...
Latest update: 24 March 2020
Electronic cigarettes are growing more and more popular. What is their effect on health?
Can they have an impact on tobacco control? More...
Latest update: 29 April 2015
The biofuel policies in the EU have impacts on developing countries, how can policies take that into account? More...
Latest update: 5 December 2017
Palm oil is one of the most used vegetable oils, in good part because oil palm culture is cost-effective.
What is the impact of oil palm culture for biodiversity and how can it become sustainable? More...
Latest update: 26 April 2019
The most comprehensive, up-to-date science on cancer prevention, including statistics, causes, mechanisms and early prevention. More...
Latest update: 23 March 2020
The extensive use of sand and gravel in the production of concrete is having consequences on the environment.
What exactly is happening ? More...
Latest update: 30 October 2015
Tidal energy is a predictable renewable energy source. What is the potential or this energy source? More...
Latest update: 30 August 2015
The risks of environmental effects of pharmaceutical and medicinal products (DG Health and Consumers) 
The pollution of the various compartments of the environment (water, soil and air) with pharmaceutical residues is an environmental concern More...
Latest update: 26 March 2015
Safety assessment of cosmetic products for human health are now required from different cosmetics regulations worldwide. What do they cover? More...
Latest update: 9 February 2018
The production of fish and seafood continues to grow, year after year, even if capture fisheries have stopped expanding since the late 80s.
Is this sustainable? More...
Latest update: 30 November 2018
Many species that are essential for biodiversity and for agricultural production, such as bees, are currently threatened. Since biodiversity underlies the food system, it is a critical issue for food security and for sustainable development. More...
Latest update: 25 April 2019
Key steps taken by an intercountry meeting organised by the WHO in 2019 to strengthen regional and national capacity to detect, verify and control emerging infectious diseases with epidemic and pandemic potential. More...
Latest update: 20 April 2021
How can we ensure that the sustainable use of the services and resouces that the oceans offer ? More...
Latest update: 29 March 2016
Pollution is everywhere. Contaminants coming from human activity are found in the most remote reaches of the planet.
How can we ensure that the planet doesn’t degrade further? More...
Latest update: 19 December 2017
This report is a comprehensive overview and summary of Europe’s illicit drugs situation.
It provides insights into key trends, responses and policies. More...
Latest update: 28 September 2016
Update on atmospheric pollutants emissions in the European Union, their
decrease and their further evolution (EEA) 
Even if there has been great improvements in air quality and significant decreases of air emissions in the last decades, air pollution is still a problem in Europe.
What is being done to address the issue further and how effective are the measures taken? More...
Latest update: 10 February 2019
Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective health interventions available, saving millions of people from illness, disability and death each year. There are public concerns on the safety and effectiveness of vaccination, are these concerns justified? More...
Latest update: 7 June 2018
More forest is cut down each year in Indonesia than in any other country.
What can be done to preserve Indonesia’s forests ? More...
Latest update: 25 October 2015
How can we better manage our wastewater in order to relieve some of the pressure on water resources? More...
Latest update: 18 March 2016
Water Resources 2018: improving the management of natural water resources through so-called nature-based solutions (UN Water) 
Demand for water in the world is steadily increasing at the same time as the water supply is facing challenges from pollution, climate change, desertification, agriculture. Can these challenges be met with solutions inspired by natural processes? More...
Latest update: 18 July 2018
Worldwide, the fraction of the global burden for both death and disease associated to environmental risks is 22%.
To what extent can environmental management better protect people’s health? More...
Latest update: 5 November 2016
Geothermal energy comes from the natural heat of the earth. It is used in some areas for electricity production and heating. What is the place of geothermal energy in the energy mix? More...
Latest update: 8 April 2015
Wind blows everywhere on the planet, and can be converted to electricity by wind turbines.
How much wind power capacity is there in the world? More...
Latest update: 20 November 2015
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