WRITTEN QUESTION E-1090/00 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Ingress and retention of benzene from the outside air in homes; public health measures.
C 53 E/70 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 2. 2001 Joint answer to Written Questions E-1088/00, E-1209/00 and E-1251/00 given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (24 May 2000) The Commission follows closely the issue of human rights in Iran. In the comprehensive dialogue between the Union and Iran, questions regarding human rights have an important place and are always raised by the Union. Concerning the 13 Iranian Jews and 8 Muslims detained in Shiraz on charges of espionage, a number of demarches have been made by the Union as well as by individual Member States in the last year. Iranian representatives have pledged that the detainees will receive a fair and open trial and the Iranian authorities are undoubtedly aware of the strong international reaction that would follow a negative outcome of the trial. Three of the detained Jews were recently released on bail. The Union has repeatedly addressed with the Iranian authorities the importance of ensuring a fair and open trial including the issue of legal representation of the detainees. It is regrettable that earlier promises of an open trial have not been met. While the Iranian regime remains sensitive to international pressure, it is necessary to avoid creating an impression of foreign interference, which would not serve the best interest of the detainees. This being said, it is clear that the outcome of this trial, and the international assessment of how it has been conducted, will be a determining factor in the perspectives for any further improvement in relations with Iran. (2001/C 53 E/085) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1090/00 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (7 April 2000) Subject: Ingress and retention of benzene from the outside air in homes; public health measures Is the Commission aware of the recently published findings from research into benzene levels in the 1. air, as reported, inter alia, in the American scientific journal Natureí on 9 March 2000 and the New York Timesí on 14 March 2000, in all six European cities studied ü Antwerp, Athens, Copenhagen, Rouen, Padua and Murcia ü benzene levels were higher in the home than out of doors? indicating that 2. Can the Commission confirm that it has hitherto generally been assumed that excessive levels of benzene occurred only in the open air and in car repair workshops, due to direct emissions from motor vehicles, while levels of benzene in the home were substantially lower, the sole or principal explanation for its presence being the proximity of road junctions and poor insulation of dwellings? 3. What view does the Commission take of the hypothesis arising from the research that home furnishings in Northern European countries, which include relatively large amounts of linoleum, wood and carpeting, attract, absorb and retain more benzene from outside the home than dwellings in Southern Europe, where much use is made of bare stone or brick in floors, internal walls and roofs? 4. Does the Commission agree that excessive levels of benzene in the air ü especially inside the home ü are a hazard to public health and that, for example, the risk of developing leukaemia is significantly increased by excessive levels of this gas? 5. Does the Commission further agree that, if the reported findings are correct, people are exposed to far higher concentrations of benzene in everyday life than has previously been assumed, so that the maximum permitted levels of benzene in the open air (which have been assumed to be safe) are actually too high and should therefore be amended? 20. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 53 E/71 Drawing on the reported findings, will the Commission propose public-health measures to reduce 6. emissions of benzene into the open air and prevent the gasís ingress into homes in so far as possible? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (8 June 2000) 1. Yes. Yes, the exposure to excessive levels of benzene has generally, but not exclusively, been associated 2. with outdoor factors. It is too early to draw conclusions on the basis of this report, especially with regard to the ability of 3. home furnishings to absorb benzene. It has to be noted, in this respect, that this is a hypothesis. 4. Yes, excessive levels of benzene, a known carcinogen, are recognised as an important risk factor in relation to cancer. This is reflected in the Community legislation in the matter in the environmental and worker protection areas. Again, it is too early to draw conclusions on whether people are being exposed to far higher levels of 5. benzene than previously assumed. 6. The Commission awaits any further research and any views of Member States, which are in the best position to assess any potential dangers, before taking a position on the scope of any further Community action. It should be noted, however, that the public health provisions of the EC Treaty, outlined in Article 152 (ex Article 129), do not provide for harmonising measures in the field of environmental safety. The Community worker protection and environmental provisions on benzene are, however, under regular review. Any new evidence of the nature raised in the Honourable Memberís question will be taken into account in this respect. (2001/C 53 E/086) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1092/00 by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission (7 April 2000) Subject: Aids in Africa Aids is killing between 30 % and 50 % of Africaís teachers and the whole education system throughout Africa is in danger of collapse, thus endangering the future prosperity of the continent. Children in Africa are not receiving as much basic education as they did twenty years ago. In view of this calamitous situation, what funding is being made available by the Commission for education in general and for teacher-training in particular in Africa in order to try and compensate for the loss of so many teachers due to the Aids epidemic? Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (11 May 2000) The Commission is very concerned about the crisis caused by the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic and is particularly aware of the fact that HIV/AIDS affects people, households, communities and countries in a devastating manner. Teachers are becoming scarcer, and children are taken out of school to care for themselves or their families