Tackling toxics (page 2 of 2)

Hazel Macbeth, WWF-Scotland's Support Coordinator was one of these volunteers; and she was shocked to discover that her body is contaminated by at least 30 man-made chemicals - including several that were banned in the UK when she was a child!

The survey aimed to raise awareness of the widespread prevalence of hazardous industrial chemicals in everyday products, and how we are all contaminated by them. It was the first UK study in 10 years to test for such a range of chemicals and the first to consider the link between chemicals and lifestyle.

Reduce your own Risks
Individuals can take simple actions to reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals and protect wildlife from the toxic threat. Among these, the top 10 tips that WWF gives are:

1. Buy organic produce whenever possible

2. Wash and peal fruit and vegetables before eating

3. Avoid the use of pesticides in the home or garden by going organic

4. Avoid canned food: choose fresh, frozen or dried foods instead

5. Avoid food coming into contact with PVC cling film. (PVC is Poly Vinyl Chloride, a plastic polymer - large molecule - with many different uses. Its physical characteristics are altered - e.g., made flexible - by adding different chemical additives. PVC also releases very hazardous chemicals called dioxins when burnt)

6. Use non - polycarbonate (PC) baby feeding bottles or, better still, breast feed babies (PC is the kind of plastic that contains bisphenol A, which is a hormone disrupting chemical. Polycarbonate plastics can often be identified by looking at the packaging for the term "PC 7" or looking for the recycling triangle with the number 7 inside it)

7. Open your windows, instead of using air fresheners

8. When in Europe, buy products with the European Union ecolabel

9. Buy naturally scented soaps, shampoos and cosmetics; not ones that contain synthetic fragrances

10. Use paints, varnishes and glues labelled "Low VOC Content or those that are water based (VOC are Volatile Organic Chemicals. Often used as solvents in paints, varnishes and cleaning agents etc. They contribute to air pollution, which is linked to asthma and other breathing problems)