A study by the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, ETH Zurich and the University of Illinois, found that ‘’potentially pathogenic bacteria’’ could be found inside rubber ducks, The Guardian reports. The study points to low quality polymers in the plastic ducks as providing nutrients for the bacteria, of which Legionella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were also found – posing a serious risk to children’s health.

With World Health Day, held under the auspices of the World Health Organisation (WHO) just a few days ago, we can take stock of the multitude of areas in which chemistry is playing a vital role in improving health conditions. EuCheMS took the opportunity to focus once more on the role of Trans Fatty Acids in our diet as well as the continued danger of antibiotic resistance. For more health-related issues, keep an eye out for the EuCheMS-EFMC session at the EFMC congress in Ljubljana (in September) and check out the 7^th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress programme!    

On 22 March, a public hearing organised by the European Parliament’s Environment Committee and the Petitions Committee looked at the impact of endocrine disruptors on public health and the environment. Endocrine disruptors, usually found in pesticides, metals, additives and contaminants in food, are chemicals that can interfere with our endocrine and hormonal systems and which can cause cancerous tumours, birth defects and other disorders (see the World Health Organisation’s info page). A recent high number of petitions on the subject led to the Parliament’s decision to hold the hearing and discuss the EU’s regulatory actions, as well as what scientists are currently saying on the subject. In October 2017, the Parliament had blocked plans proposed by the European Commission to exempt some pesticides from being identified as endocrine disruptors.