Archived press release

Urgent action needed on dangerous chemicals

9 November 2001

A study in this week's issue of the Lancet, published today, suggests that both prenatal and postnatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) -from maternal blood and breastmilk,respectively-can hinder early childhood cognitive development.

Mike Childs, Senior pollution Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

“This disturbing evidence is further proof that we need to take a more precautionary approach to tackling health threatening pollution. There is much concern about contamination of breast milk, both from chemicals in the products we buy and from pollution. Everyone agrees that breast feeding is best. The government must take urgent action to reduce the release of chemicals which build-up in our body or in the environment.

We must stop factories releasing dangerous chemicals which build-up in people's bodies. Factories across the country release thousands of tonnes of health threatening pollution, but the Environment Agency - the official regulator - has said time and again that it doesn't have expertise on health issues. This must be rectified as a matter of urgency.”

For further information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

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Archived press release

Urgent action needed on dangerous chemicals

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