Safeguarding Europe’s soil-sediment-water systems from harmful chemicals

Protecting Europe's soil, sediment, and water systems from harmful chemicals is a crucial aspect of the EU's Green Deal initiative. This includes detailing various policy frameworks, including the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the Zero Pollution Action Plan, which aim to minimise the presence of Persistent, Mobile, and Toxic substances (PMTs) in the environment. This report highlights the severe health risks these chemicals pose to humans and ecosystems, stressing the need for better detection, regulation, and remediation strategies.

Several EU-funded Green Deal projects, such as ALTERNATIVE, LIFESAVER, and PANORAMIX, are working on innovative solutions to tackle chemical pollution in these systems. These projects focus on improving chemical detection methods, assessing health risks, developing remediation techniques, and finding safer alternatives to harmful chemicals. The report emphasises the importance of coordinated policy efforts and technological innovations in achieving the EU's goal of net-zero pollution by 2050.

ISSN
ISBN 978-92-68-18746-3    
DOI 10.2777/58589  
Catalogue number KI-02-24-718-EN-N

Download the full report here.

Find out more about the projects:

• Learn about the projects from the Food and health working group
• Get inspired by our collection of project success stories
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• 10 Green Deal-funded projects to highlight for World Soil Day 2025