Archived press release

Chemicals in the Home: A parents' guide

31 January 2001

A free information pack explaining how parents can reduce their children's exposure to risky chemicals is being launched by Friends of the Earth with the support of the National Childbirth Trust.

The pack, which includes a colourful children's height chart, explains that:

• 85 per cent of commonly-used chemicals have not even had minimum safety testing.
• we are exposed to chemicals that may interfere with our hormonal systems. At the same time rates of testicular, breast and prostrate cancer are increasing, sperm counts are falling and early puberty in girls is increasing.
• more than 300 man made chemicals have been found contaminating our bodies

Dr Michael Warhurst, Safer Chemicals Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

“Babies and young children are very sensitive to the effects of chemicals as their bodies are still developing. If there are concerns about the effects of certain chemicals, such as their impact on the hormonal system, then they should be phased out of use.”

A report from the eminent Royal Society's working group on hormone-disrupting chemicals said: “Despite the uncertainty, it is prudent to minimise exposure of humans, especially pregnant women, to endocrine [hormone]disrupting chemicals.”

Friends of the Earth (FOE) are focussing on this issue now because the European Union is reviewing its policies on chemical safety. Dr Warhurst added:
“We want the EU to bring in tough regulations to get rid of chemicals that contaminate our bodies, and to force industry to use the safest chemicals.Sweden is already bringing in such policies, but our big worry is that the UK Government will block such strong regulation in both the UK and EU."

Both the NCT and FOE want parents to ask their MP to push for tough

regulation. In the meantime, there are suggestions in the pack on how to reduce children's exposure to risky chemicals, for example, by decorating with water-based paints and reducing the use of perfumed products.

Belinda Phipps, NCT chief executive, said:
“The NCT believes that parents have a right and a desire to know about the possible effects of products that they buy on their fertility, their own health and their children's health.”

FOE has also been putting pressure on retailers, demanding that they face up to their responsibilities to protect young children.

They demand that stores pledge to:

• stop using chemicals that build up in our bodies with unknown long-term effects;
• give customers clear information on which chemicals are in their products - amazingly the right to know does not exist;
• use the safest chemicals and avoid those which have not been properly assessed for safety.

With each pack sent out, an update on the responses of major retailers and manufacturers will be included. These range from the producers of prams to the makers of toiletries and baby food.

Finally the pack includes a colourful illustrated height chart for you to use to record your child's growth.

It is available free from:

Friends of the Earth's Freephone information line on 0808 800 1111 or use the contact page.

(Please state that you want the Safer Chemicals Parent's Guide and don't forget to include your name and address.)

NOTES
The media office can put journalists in touch with parents of young children who are concerned about these issues and are willing to be interviewed.

FOE's visual resources officer has images available for this story, including a colour 'thumbnail'of the illustrated height chart (a colour version of illustration on reverse). Contact Ben Rogers on 020 7566 1656, or benr@foe.co.uk.

Friends of the Earth's Safer Chemicals Campaign web site:
http://www.foe.co.uk/safer_chemicals

[NB: This address will go live in February]

National Childbirth Trust press office: Janice Muir Partnership (0207 407 3313 muir.partnership@btinternet.com).

General information about the NCT can be obtained by calling 0870 444 8707 or by looking at the trust's website:
http:// www.nct-online.org/

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust