08/09/2005 — The umbilical
cord is more than a prenatal lifeline: it's
also the unborn child's link to the toxic
burden of our planet. According to new research
by Greenpeace and WWF UK, the toxic chemicals
in our cell phones, our computers, our perfumes,
our shaving cream, and our clothes are also
present in our children.
Analysis of maternal and umbilical cord blood
provided by volunteers in the Netherlands,
published in a study entitled A Present for
Life, reveals that known or suspected hazardous
substances, present in everyday household
products, are entering babies' bodies through
the umbilical cord. The chemicals include
some which are known to affect physical and
mental development in animals.
"Our children are being exposed to polluting
chemicals, though we have hardly any information
on the long-term effects."
--Pieter Sauer, Professor of Pediatrics, University
Hospital Groningen
This report, commissioned jointly by Greenpeace
Netherlands and WWF-UK, investigated the presence
of hazardous chemicals in maternal and cord
blood samples. 42 maternal blood serum and
27 cord blood serum samples were taken at
the University Hospital Groningen. Independent
laboratory TNO-MEP analysed the samples for
the following chemicals: brominated flame
retardant TBBP-A, phthalates, artificial musks,
bisphenol-A, alkylphenols,
organochlorine pesticides (DDT), triclosan
and perfluorinated compounds.
Toxic chemicals found in consumer products
are increasingly found in childrens bodies.
The chemicals in question are contained in
countless items ranging from food tins and
electrical goods to pesticides, deodorants
and toothpastes. They include artificial musks,
used to add scent to perfumes and perfumed
products, and perfluorinated compounds, used
in water-repellent coatings and to prepare
non-stick surfaces such as teflon. Also found
were flame-retardants suspected of causing
learning and behavioural problems in animals,
and the antibacterial agent triclosan, used
in antibacterial soap.
The results clearly show the presence of these
chemicals in the blood serum samples from
both mother and child.
Particularly worrying are the hormone-disrupting
chemicals, which may cause most damage during
the vulnerable stages of development, that
is during periods of rapid cell division,
such as in early life and particularly when
in the womb. A small disturbance in early
development can have serious consequences
in later life. PCBs and dioxins have already
illustrated the potential for long-term, irreversible
consequences of exposure to hazardous chemicals.
Chemicals in our world, chemicals in our bodies
The chemical industry has undergone spectacular
growth in the last century.
There are now more than 100,000 different
chemicals available on the market. Chemicals
are incorporated into countless consumer products,
some of which undoubtedly benefit our standard
of living. But they also provide a source
of daily exposure to a cocktail of hazardous
chemicals. Hazardous chemicals can be found
everywhere. They are released into the environment
at several points in their life cycle and
travel in the air and in water to even remote
areas like the Alps and the Arctic.
Some of the most hazardous chemicals do not
break down easily and can accumulate throughout
the food chain. Food has long been thought
to be the primary route of exposure for most
persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals.
Collecting dust samples from homes to test
for the amount of toxic chemicals.
However, in recent years greater attention
has been given to the potential exposure directly
through the use of products containing hazardous
ingredients and indirectly through their contamination
of the indoor environment. Greenpeace has
analysed a range of everyday consumer products
for the presence of a number of (potentially)
hazardous chemicals and looked for these same
chemicals in house dust and rainwater.
Food is not the only path to exposure
The results add weight to the suspicion that
these chemicals can 'leak' from products.
Follow-up investigations by Greenpeace Netherlands
and others have sought to research the extent
to which these chemicals actually end up in
our bodies, by collecting and analysing blood
samples from human volunteers.
The results of recent blood research projects
by Greenpeace and WWF confirm that we all
have hazardous chemicals in our blood, including
chemicals that are contained in normal consumer
products. Of particular concern is the impact
of exposure to these substances on (unborn)
children. The unprotected foetus is extremely
vulnerable to hazardous chemicals. Mothers
can unwittingly pass on these substances to
their child during pregnancy and through breast
feeding (which should not deter mothers from
breast feeding, as the benefits of breast
feeding are still widely acknowledged).
Phthalates, one of the most omnipresent groups
of chemicals and used mainly as softeners
in Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), as well as in
cosmetics and perfumes, were found in many
of the maternal and cord blood samples. DEHP,
the most commonly used plasticizer, was detected
in 29 maternal and 24 cord blood samples.
Some phthalates can be particularly damaging
to the male reproductive tract, and are toxic
to reproduction.
Many companies have take action unilaterally
against toxics in their products, demonstrating
that the substitution of hazardous chemicals
is possible. Sony and Sony Ericsson, for example,
are phasing out brominated flame retardants.
Clothing companies H&M and Marks and Spencer
have substitution policies and ask their suppliers
to use alternatives to a range of chemicals
that can build up and persist in our bodies.
(Have a look at our report, Substituting with
Style, for more information about companies
that are helping create a toxic-free future.)
Some companies such as the cleaning products
manufacturer, Ecover, avoid persistent and
bioaccumulative chemicals as part of their
core business. Unfortunately not all companies
want to shut the door on substances that can
contaminate our bodies. Greenpeace testing,
for example, found that some Disney children's
pyjamas carried toxic-laden PVC prints, and
the company has not stopped. That's why we
need laws -- voluntary compliance simply isn't
good enough.
We can stop this
PVC toy purses containing heavy metals.
How then can we better protect our children
from exposure to such potentially harmful
chemicals? The only answer is for governments
to put in place mechanisms that will drive
industry to replace these chemicals with safer
alternatives.
Proposed new EU legislation on chemicals,
'REACH' (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation
of Chemicals), gives Europe a crucial opportunity
to take the necessary action to protect humans
and the environment from the effects of harmful
chemicals and to make producers responsible
for the impacts of their
products.
REACH is intended to protect people and environment.
But a powerful industry lobby threatens to
weaken this legislation.
Greenpeace and WWF are calling on legislators
to put the interests of public health and
the environment first, by ensuring that the
worst chemicals are identified and phased
out, and by making it obligatory to substitute
toxic chemicals with safer alternatives.
What we want:
• An obligation to phase out the production
and use of chemicals that accumulate in wildlife,
humans or the environment, and those that
disrupt hormones.
• An obligation to substitute hazardous chemicals
with safer alternatives.
• Complete disclosure of substances used in
manufacturing processes and the composition
of products, including the effects and properties
of chemicals.
• Make industry accountable for the impacts
of their products.
• Make importers meet the same standards as
manufacturers in the EU.
In the next few months European politicians
will decide whether or not to protect the
people and environment or to allow industry
to continue contaminating our bodies. Help
us close the door on toxic chemical contamination.
