Chemicals Out of Control

It now seems that no part of the planet is free of chemical contamination. Research shows that fish and whales caught hundreds of miles offshore, and remote areas such as Alpine lakes and the polar regions, despite being far away from industry, are no longer pristine. Toxic chemicals have even been found in the fat of polar bears.

In our homes:

Even the dust in your home contains some of the most dangerous chemicals we know about. They're accumulating in house dust because they're added to a whole range of ordinary household products. They are rarely labelled and you probably don't realise they're there. We bring them in to the home, and are exposed to them, unwittingly and involuntarily.

In our bodies:

No one knows how many chemicals contaminate our bodies but more that 100 is a conservative estimate. Their combined effect on health and the environment is largely unknown.

For years the chemical industry has persuaded governments that the risks posed by chemicals are too small to worry about and governments have assured us that existing legislation provides adequate protection. But growing evidence suggests otherwise.

So great is the number of chemicals all around us that we're constantly exposed to multiple doses - the combined effect of which could be affecting our health. There's particular concern about the risks to children and babies since they are the most vulnerable, and because some of these hazardous chemicals are known to affect the development of babies - even inside the womb. Chemicals released into our environment now will go on having an impact for future generations

Greenpeace wants to eliminate hazardous chemicals and to see companies substitute them with safer alternatives.

So far Governments have allowed chemicals to get out of control, but now in Europe - the world's largest chemical producer - there is a chance for change.