News - Hidden Poisons in Household Goods

Dozens of chemicals in everyday use are invading the human body and threatening the health of future generations, it was claimed today.

Results of a survey of toxic contamination show the danger lurks in everyday goods from televisions and sofas, computer screen casings and plastic car trim to carpets, sofas, cosmetics, detergents and deodorants.

Even the non-stick surface in a cooking pan could be a risk, according to Malcolm Hooper, Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Sunderland.

Unveiling the findings in Strasbourg, he said that risk could be avoided simply by switching to cast-iron pans.

Consumers should also pay attention to what shampoo or nail varnish they use, avoiding those containing pesticides and antiseptic compounds.

The survey involved testing human blood for the presence of 101 man-made chemicals which could cause toxic contamination.

The “guinea-pigs” were 47 people from 17 European countries, including 39 Euro-MPs.

Four laboratories conducted the trials, including Lancaster University’s Department of Environmental Sciences, where EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom’s blood was tested last year.

Her results, published last December, revealing 28 of the potentially-dangerous chemicals in her system, including DDT and other pesticides and chemicals found in flame-retardants used in curtains, cushions, mattresses, and plastics.

Today’s more detailed survey confirmed a risk from a range of chemicals never subjected to detailed testing in Europe.

A total of 76 of the 101 chemicals analysed were detected during the tests. The highest number in any individual was 54, and the average was 41.

North West Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies, whose test showed 49 chemicals, said the results showed the need for stronger controls on potentially-harmful products.

“It has got to be a matter of concern that you have 45 or 50 chemicals in your body, but the real problem is that we don’t know what the consequences will be.

“Maybe they will prolong my life – after all, life expectancy is increasing – but I would simply prefer them not to be in my body.

“They weren’t there when the world was created. They have been created by mankind. I would prefer them to remain in the industrial products for which they were intended, not to transfer themselves to human bodies”.

Environmental group WWF, which launched the “DetoX” campaign, said it was “frightening” that every person in the survey displayed a cocktail of “persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic” chemicals.

The findings demonstrated the need for tighter controls on potentially-harmful products.

Prof Hooper, brought in as an independent expert, said: “My concerns are to do with the future and the growth and development of children and of our babies, male fertility, and the health of the elderly.

“There is evidence in the survey which sends warning bells about these things.”

The European Commission has already acknowledged that the current EU testing regime for man-made chemicals must be updated to safeguard human health and the environment.

Current standards are more than 20 years old, and only about 10% of the chemical ingredients currently used in household products go through sufficiently rigorous checking.

The survey offers household tips on avoiding many of the chemicals and compounds in use today: wash fruit and vegetables before eating, to remove DDT; avoid buying upholstered furniture or textiles fire-proofed with the flame retardant HBCD, or treated with flame retardant PBDEs; avoid fatty foods, which contain higher levels of the pesticide HCB than non-fatty foods; avoid shampoos and lotions containing Lindane, once widely used as an insecticide.

It was banned across the EU for all farming uses in 2003, but can still be found in creams and shampoos used to control head lice and the skin disease scabies; buy children’s teething toys made of phthalate-free PVC.

Six phthaltes used in toys for the under-threes are already banned, but the survey recommends avoiding them altogether; keep rooms containing computer and electronic equipment well-ventilated to minimise inhalation of the flame-retardant TBBP-A, particles of which can escape into the air from products containing printed circuit boards.