Continuous debate about microplastics, Spaceship Earth, Mid-term review and video documented FRAM seminars.
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| | THE FRAM CENTRE
FOR FUTURE CHEMICAL RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIESwww.fram.gu.se
| | | Plastics in the environmentEnvironmental pollution with plastic is an issue that concerns scientists, decision makers and the general public alike. FRAM, as a part of university-wide activities, is contributing to research and policy advice in particular related to microplastics and marine litter. Read more
| How can Spaceship Earth be steered to maintain human wellbeing within the
planetary boundaries?
The threats to the "Spaceship Earth" and its planetary boundaries are global, long-run, uncertain and interconnected. Global environmental problems can be addressed by means of policy instruments such as carbon dioxide taxes, building and technology standards and support for new technology, but the issues are complex and several environmental problems must be addressed simultaneously in order to achieve optimal effect. Therefore, different research areas must work together to find solutions. This is evident from an article called "Policy design for the Anthropocene", published in the journal Nature Sustainability.
Thomas Sterner, professor in Environmental Economics and a member of the FRAM steering committee is the head author. Jessica Coria, senior lecturer at the Department of Economics, is one of the co-authors.
Read the interview with Thomas Sterner | |
| | | Good results in the mid-term reviewThe FRAM Centre is a result of the UGOT Challenges, a six-year investment in multi-disciplinary research centres that the University of Gothenburg started in 2016. The centres recently went through a mid-term review and we are happy to have received good results. Read more.
For further information, contact the center director Thomas Backhaus or the coordinator Åsa Arrhenius. | | | Management of uncertainty and evidence in risk analysisHow certain are you that what you are saying is correct? Dr Ullrika Sahlin from Lund University and the Centre for Environmental and Climate Research, says that she is proud of being uncertain and explains why in this FRAM seminar. See the video
| Towards an environmentally sound management of chemicals
According to the Sustainable Development Goal number 12, one of the targets is to achieve an environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle by the year of 2020.
"That is in a year!" as Dr Xenia Trier from the European Environment Agency points out in her FRAM seminar called 'EU research and policies on combined exposure to mixtures of chemicals', held on December 13. Could a pragmatic use of factors to adress risks with increasing margin of safety be one way forward towards an environmentally sound management of chemicals? Learn more in this video.
Read more See the video
| Lead affects brain developmentLead paint has been identified as one of the most widespread sources of childhood lead exposure. In her FRAM seminar on November 29, Dr Sara Brosché, a science advisor from IPEN, talked about their work to eliminate lead paint globally. But why focus on lead? Learn more in this video from the seminar called 'No safe limits for lead exposure'.
Read more See the video
| Upcoming eventsFRAM seminar: The effects of risk based pesticide taxation in Denmark March 4, 2019, 12.00-13.00. Anders Branth Pedersen, Aarhus university, Venue: School of Business. Economics and law, Vasagatan 1, Gothenburg. Read more The International Science Festival Gothenburg, Seminar: Chemicals, a forgotten sustainable development goal? Chemicals are crucial. They enable healthcare, food production, consumer products & infrastructure. However, this is not only a story about benefits. Chemicals also pollute humans and nature alike.
April 5, 15:30 - 16:30. Location: Artisten, Fågelsången 1 (just behind Götaplatsen). Read more. FRAM seminar: Title to be confirmed. May 2, 2019, 13:15-14:30. Gudrun Bremle from the Swedish center for chemical substitution at RISE. Venue: Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development, Aschebergsgatan 44, Gothenburg. Read more.
SETAC Europe 29th Annual Meeting in Helsinki, Finland. May 26-30, 2019: One Environment. One health. Sustainable Societies. Highlighting track 4 “Ecological risk assessment and human health risk assessment of chemicals, mixtures and stressors with risk mitigation strategies” with the session on “Human health and environmental risk assessment of chemical mixtures: moving towards the non-toxic environment” (Co-chairs: Thomas Backhaus, Rolf Altenburger). Late poster applications possible. Read more.
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Texts that caught our eye Here we highlight texts, from newspaper articles to scientific publications, that we find important for the debate on chemical impacts on human health and the environment.
1. Current EU research activities on combined exposure to multiple chemicals in Environment international 120:544-562 · August 2018 Giving an overview of EU funded research projects to different aspects of mixture assessment including overview of current status and methodological developments. Highlights data and knowledge gaps in several chemical sectors.
2. SICKER FATTER POORER Lurking in our homes, hiding in our offices, and polluting the air we breathe is something sinister. Something we’ve turned a blind eye to for far too long. Dr. Leonardo Trasande, a pediatrician, professor, and world-renowned researcher, tells the story of how our everyday surroundings are making us sicker, fatter, and poorer.
3. Glyphosate, carcinogenicity in Environmental sciences Europe – the paper How did the US EPA and IARC reach diametrically opposed conclusions on the genotoxicity of glyphosate-based herbicides? In Environmental Sciences Europe including the comments from the editors Some food for thought: a short comment on Charles Benbrook´s paper “How did the US EPA and IARC reach diametrically opposed conclusions on the genotoxicity of glyphosate-based herbicides?” and its implications
4. Towards a holistic and solution-oriented monitoring of chemical status of European water bodies: how to support the EU strategy for a non-toxic environment? The papers highlight the new opportunities towards a solution-oriented assessment of an advanced chemicals status that offers links to the ecological status and supports management
5. More action needed to tackle mixtures of chemicals in Europe's waters – report from European Environment Agency gives an overview of information about pollutants used in the assessment of water quality.
6. Saving Costs in Chemicals Management - How the OECD Ensures Benefits to Society This report provides an overview of the benefits and estimates the total savings from OECD work to be more than EUR 309 million per year.
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