WWF-UK: Top ten tips on reducing exposure to hazardous chemicals
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Chemicals and Health
Top tips
Top ten tips on reducing exposure to hazardous chemicals
- Buy organic produce whenever possible.
- Wash and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.
- Avoid the use of pesticides in the home or garden by going organic.
- Avoid canned food: choose fresh, frozen or dried foods instead.
- Avoid food coming into contact with PVC cling film.
- Use non-polycarbonate baby feeding bottles or, better still, breast-feed babies.
- Open your windows instead of using air fresheners.
- Use environmentally friendly cleaning products.
- Buy soap, shampoos and cosmetics that don't contain synthetic fragrances.
- Use paints, varnishes and glues with a low VOC content, or those that are water-based.
Look out for:
The European Union EcolabelThis label is an official award for products which meet a high environmental standard. Manufacturers can apply to show it on a wide range of goods, including kitchen towel, toilet roll, washing powder and paint.
Low VOC content
VOCs are 'volatile organic compounds'. They are found in many paints and cleaning agents and they contribute to air pollution, which is linked to asthma and other breathing problems. Look for labels that show a minimum or low VOC content.
Extra info
Polycarbonate-plastic baby feeding bottles. The vast majority of plastic feeding bottles are made from polycarbonate which contains bisphenol A, a hormone disrupting chemical that can leach into the liquid inside. Polycarbonate bottles can be identified by looking on the packaging for PC 7 or looking inside the recycling triangle for the number 7.
PVC and PC plastics (look on the packaging for either PVC 3 or PC 7, or look inside the recycling triangle for the numbers 3 or 7). PVC wrapping contains man-made chemicals called adipates, known hormone disruptors, which can leach into the wrapped food.
