Feature story - 25 May, 2005
Bisphenol-A. Doesn't sound very interesting does it? In fact it's a widely used chemical in mobile phones, baby bottles and CD's. Unfortunately it's also a widespread toxic pollutant, even being found in people's blood. We are trying to get the producers and users of such toxic chemicals to change to safer alternatives.
Sampling activists blood outside a Bayer chemical plant. Previous test showed that chemicals produced by companies like Bayer are in his blood. To highlight this issue we attempted to return the contaminated blood to Bayer because it includes types of chemicals that Bayer produces at the plant. It refused to accept the blood sample.
We have visited two of the major producers of toxic chemicals at
theirplants in Belgium to pressure them to produce safer chemicals
andsupport the inclusion of obligatory 'substitution principle' (EU
speakfor swapping toxic chemicals for safer ones) in upcoming
EuropeanChemical Law (REACH).
To highlight just how widespread toxic chemicals like
Bisphenol-A arein the environment we sampled the blood of the
Campaign Director ofGreenpeace in Belgium, Wendel Trio in front of
the Bayer plant thatproduces Bisphenol-A. Previous tests had
revealed his blood iscontaminated with toxic chemicals including
Bisphenol-A.
"I didn't know that my blood contained chemicals which unknown
to mecould affect some of my vital organs. It is the same for many
membersof the public. I can only hope, that a group such as Bayer
which isinvolved in health care would have the decency not to
increase thispollution," said Wendel.
When we tried to give back the blood sample containing the very
samechemical that Bayer produces it refused to accept it. Seems
they arehappy to produce and sell these chemicals but not confront
thepollution this causes?
Hazardous chemicals must urgently be replaced with substances
thatpresent less or no danger, if we are to avoid a possible future
publichealth problem.
"The proposal to make substitution of hazardous chemicals a part
ofREACH is under serious attack by a large part of the chemical
industry,which is trying to weaken the legislation," said Fawaz Al
Bitar,Greenpeace Belgium toxics campaigner. "Groups such as Bayer
and BASFshould stand up and support the obligatory substitution of
problematicchemicals. We are keenly awaiting their commitment.
Companies likeH&M, Sony, Sony Ericsson, which use chemicals in
theirmanufacturing processes, have led the way by committing to
stop usingcertain hazardous chemicals."
Groups such as Bayer and BASF are ignoring this innovative line.
Thecurrent legislative proposal offers the double opportunity of
setting alevel playing field for all industry and encouraging a
climate ofinnovation.
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