91997E2364

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2364/97 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE) to the Commission (10 July 1997)

Subject: Carcinogenic effects of chlorinated drinking water

Epidemiological population studies indicate that long-term consumption of chlorinated drinking water increases the risk of contracting certain forms of cancer. In Finland, research into this has been conducted jointly by the Public Health Institute and the cancer register. The findings have demonstrated that the more mutagenic the water was, the greater the risk of cancer.

It is therefore possible that chlorinated drinking water is causing an estimated 50 to 100 additional cases of cancer per annum in Finland. However, cancer is a worldwide problem. Millions of people constantly drink mutagenic water.

What will the Commission do to obtain further information about the effects of consuming chlorinated drinking water, and if justified, what action will it take to ensure that chlorine used in drinking water is replaced with substances which are not carcinogenic?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (19 September 1997)

Council Directive 80/778/EEC of 15 July 1980 relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption ((OJ L 229, 30.8.1980. )) laid down the quality standards with which water intended for human consumption must comply, including the maximum admissible concentration of chloride.

In May 1995 the Commission proposed an amended version ((OJ C 131, 30.5.1995. )) of the said Directive. This text was examined by Parliament on 11 December 1996 and, following the amendments proposed by Parliament, a new amended proposal ((OJ C 213, 15.7.1997. )) was presented by the Commission. In this proposal, and with the continued aim of having a high level of consumer health protection, the scientific basis was based largely on the most recent recommendations (1993) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in this field.

As regards the question concerning the gathering of information, the Commission, within the framework of the 'Europe against Cancer' Programme, subsidises the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (the EPIC network). This network is coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, based in Lyon, and nine Member States are involved (Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom).

The main aim of this network is to collect data on diet, lifestyle and environmental factors in a population of 450 000 Europeans and to correlate these data with the incidence of cancers within the cohort.