Brominated flame retardants (BFRs)
This is a group of chemicals, some of which are suspected hormone disrupters, used as flame retardants in numerous consumer products such as plastics, textiles, furniture and electrical appliances.

They are contaminating humans and wildlife throughout the world (for example they have been found to accumulate in breast milk) and the levels of contamination are increasing.

Phthalates
Phthalates are chemicals widely used as additives in many plastics, toiletries, perfumes, aftershaves and cosmetics. They are added to plastics, particularly PVC, to make them flexible, are used to make nail varnishes "non-chip" and as solvents for fragrances in perfumes.

Because of the large number of uses, phthalates are very common environmental contaminants, and people are frequently exposed to them.

They can escape into indoor air and dust from plastics and PVC flooring and be inhaled, or can be absorbed through the skin from the various personal care products in which they are used. Phthalates can also leach from plastic packaging into fatty foods (meat and dairy products). They have been regularly found in human blood and breast milk, and phthalate metabolites have been detected in the urine of adults and children.

There is concern that some phthalates can interfere with male hormones and disrupt the development of baby boys while they are still in their mother's womb. This is particularly worrying given people's constant exposure to phthalates in their everyday lives.

Perfluorinated chemicals
Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) remain stable at great heat, can repell water and oil and are extremely resistant to being broken down in the environment.. It is these properties that are exploited in their various applications, which range from the manufacture of non-stick pans, stain and water repellents for clothing and furniture to floor waxes, paper coatings and even fast food packaging.

PFCs are accumulating in the environment and have been found in a wide range of wildlife, as well as in humans. There is evidence to suggest that exposure to perfluorinated chemicals such as PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) may cause birth defects, adversely affect the immune system and disrupt thyroid function, which during pregnancy, can lead to many developmental problems.

The US Environmental Protection Agency also considers both PFOS and PFOA to be carcinogenic and occupational exposure to PFOS has been correlated with increased incidence of bladder cancer.

Artificial musks
Artificial musks are a large group of man-made chemicals used to make fragrances in a wide variety of toiletries, cosmetics and cleaning products. Artificial musks are simply covered under the terms "parfum" or "fragrance" on product labels.

They are persistent and bioaccumulative, and are common contaminants in the environment. They bioaccumulate in aquatic ecosystems, and have been detected in a wide range of wildlife species including otters, porpoises, sharks, fish, crustaceans and shellfish. Artificial musks have been found in human adipose (fat) tissue, blood and breast milk. It has been suggested that they can trigger allergies and asthma, and recent research has shown that they can inhibit the way cells detoxify themselves.

Bisphenol-A
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is used to manufacture polycarbonate plastic, which is found in baby feeding bottles, refillable water bottles, food containers, CDs and DVDs, and electronic and electrical appliances. Another use of polycarbonate is as a dental sealant to prevent cavities. BPA is also used to make epoxy resins, which coat the inside of metal food cans (to ensure the contents of the can don't spoil by coming into contact with the metal).

BPA is a hormone disrupting chemical. It can mimic the action of the hormone oestrogen in the body and has been linked with various adverse effects on the reproductive systems of animals and humans. There are therefore serious concerns over the use of BPA in applications that can lead to human exposure (such as food containers and baby bottles) as it can leach from the plastic or resin into the contents of the container.

Triclosan
Triclosan is an antibacterial chemical and is widely incorporated into everyday products where there is a perceived need for such properties - for example in soaps, detergents, toothpastes, mouthwashes and plastic kitchenware.

Research shows that triclosan is very toxic to aquatic life and can also form persistent and bioaccumulative breakdown products in the environment (these have been found to be building up in fish in freshwater lakes). It has also been detected in human breast milk.

Recent research has highlighted other undesirable properties; for example, triclosan in soaps and dishwashing detergents has been shown to react with chlorinated tap water to produce chloroform, while sunlight can convert triclosan in sewage effluents to dioxins (which are extremely toxic chemical compounds).