sobelsThe late professor Frits H Sobels took the initiative which led to the foundation in 1970 of the European Environmental Mutagen Society (EEMS) as an organization that promotes both fundamental and applied research in the fields of environmental mutagenesis and genetic toxicology. 

The foundation of the Society was the result of discussions between a small group of geneticists and toxicologists who were seriously concerned about possible long-term adverse biological effects of chemicals in the human environment. 

The main goal of the new Society was to study and evaluate potential genetic and carcinogenic hazards to man due to exposure to the increasing number and variety of chemicals in our environment.