The questions in this questionnaire are designed to determine a person's exposure to specific kinds of man-made chemicals, encountered during everyday life. The particular groups of chemicals which relate to the questionnaire are of particular concern to WWF because of their persistent, bioaccumulative and/or endocrine disrupting properties. In WWF's opinion, these chemicals pose a potential risk to human and wildlife health and threaten to undermine our important conservation efforts. The groups included are phthalates, flame retardants and perfluorinated "non-stick"chemicals as well as older, banned chemicals such as PCBs and DDT (see below).

Unfortunately, due to lack of space and time (and the sheer number of questions that would be required) this questionnaire does not cover all chemicals that a person might be exposed to. There are many, many chemicals that humans come into contact with, such as dioxins, modern pesticides, heavy metals e.g. lead, cadmium, mercury, food additives and constituents of car exhaust to name but a few. It is just not possible to cover them all here, so the questions are limited to the chemicals listed below.

Use the links below to find out more about the specific chemicals:


Artificial musks
Bisphenol-A
Brominated flame retardants
Organochlorine pesticides
Organotins (including TBT)
PCBs
Perfluorinated chemicals
Phthalates
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)


Artificial musks
Artificial musks are a large group of man-made chemicals used to fragrance a wide variety of toiletries, cosmetics and cleaning products. They are simply covered under the terms "parfum" or "fragrance" on product labels. The most commonly used musks are now the polycyclic musks which include compounds such as galoxolide (HHCB) and tonalide (AHTN). The nitromsuks, such as musk xylene and musk ketone, are no longer used but can still be found in the environment (see below).

Artificial musks are persistent and bioaccumulative and common contaminants in the environment. They can build up in aquatic ecosystems, and have been detected in a wide range of wildlife species (otters, porpoises, sharks, fish, crustaceans, 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 they can inhibit the way cells detoxify themselves.

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Bisphenol-A
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is used to manufacture polycarbonate plastic, used for 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, that can mimic the action of the hormone oestrogen in the body and it 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 which 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.

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Brominated flame retardants
This is a group of chemicals used to flame retard plastic and textiles in numerous consumer products such as electrical/electronic appliances (e.g. TVs, computers), wiring, car interiors, furniture, soft furnishings and carpets. They are contaminating wildlife and humans throughout the world (for example, they have been found in human blood and breast milk) and levels of contamination are increasing in places like the Arctic.

Brominated flame retardants can be divided into three main types. The polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBP-A). The PBDEs exist in numerous different forms (congeners), most of which have now been banned due to their persistent and bioaccumulative nature. Before they were banned, these chemicals (called penta- and octa-BDE) were used in furniture, electrical appliances and carpets. The only PBDE still in use is called decaBDE, and it is used in products ranging from TVs and mobile phones to sofas and office chairs. HBCD is used in building materials (e.g. thermal insulation) and upholstery textiles. TBBP-A is used in electrical and electronic appliances, such as computers and and TVs, mainly in the components and printed circuit boards.

The main ways in which people are exposed to brominated flame retardants is through indoor air and the diet. Flame retardants can escape from products in the home and office and enter air and dust, which can then be inhaled. Flame retardants have also contaminated the food chain, so people can ingest them in their food (in particular, oily fish and foods with high fat content). Health concerns over flame retardants are mainly due to their persistent and bioaccumulative properties and their potential to disrupt hormone systems in the body and the development of the brain (neurodevelopment) during pregnancy.

WWF are not advocating stopping the use of flame retardants and recognise theit value in saving lives. We simply want to create a playing field if a less hazardous flame retardants was created industry would be forced to use it instead.

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Organochlorine pesticides
This is a group of chlorine-containing chemicals, including DDT, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), chlordane and lindane, which were widely used as pesticides, but which are now banned except for use in some developing countries for controlling disease carrying insects, such as malarial mosquitoes.

Organochlorines are persistent and bioaccumulative - DDT, chlordane and HCB are classified as POPs (persistent organic pollutants) under the Stockholm Convention of 2001 and lindane is currently being considered as a new POP.

The use of organochlorines has led to the contamination of the environment and the food chain and organochlorines have accumulated in the bodies of humans and wildlife all over the globe. Exposure to organochlorine pesticides can occur in several ways, such as via contaminated air and water or more directly in countries where they are still used. However, the main exposure route to people is through the diet: i.e. from contaminated food. The most important dietary routes are through consumption of oily fish, shellfish, fatty meats and dairy products.

Once in the body, organochlorines tend to accumulates in fatty tissues and can remain there for years. Organochlorines can also be found in the blood serum. Organochlorine residues can be transferred to the developing foetus during pregnancy and to babies via breast milk. Organochlorines are thought to health in different ways such as affecting the immune system, reproductive systems and hormone (endocrine) systems and some are considered carcinogenic. Recent research has suggested organochlorines might be associated with incidence of diabetes.

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Organotins (including TBT)
Organotins are a group of chemicals that include TBT (tributyltin) which was widely used in antifoulant paints for the hulls of ships. Organotins have many other applications, such as stabilizers in plastics (particularly PVC), as antifungals in carpets, shoe insoles and clothing, and biocides in wood preservatives.

Organotins can be found in air and dust (after escaping from PVC flooring, for example) so exposure can therefore occur by inhalation. Organotins can accumulate in the food chain, particularly in shellfish, so the diet is also an exposure route. The organotin TBT is most notorious for its hormone disrupting effects in marine molluscs (snails), which led to huge population crashes. Organotins have also been shown to be toxic to the immune system, and can have developmental effects in mammals.

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PCBs
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) are persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals and are classified as POPs (persistent organic pollutants) under the Stockholm Convention of 2001. PCBs are now banned, but were used widely as coolants and lubricants in electrical equipment such as transformers and capacitors, as heat exchange fluids and as flame retardants. Other uses included in building materials and as paint additives. PCBs are not readily broken down, so persist in the environment for very long periods of time. PCBs have contaminated ecosystems all over the world and can be found in air, water, river and marine sediments, soils, and humans and wildlife. Once in the body, PCBs accumulate in fat and can be found in blood and breast milk.

Although PCBs are no longer made or used in the UK, people can still be exposed to them via the diet, as they are common contaminants in the food chain. The major dietary sources of PCBs are fish, in particular oily fish (e.g. salmon, herring, sardines, fresh tuna, anchovies, swordfish) and those caught in contaminated lakes or rivers, fish oils, meat and dairy products. People can also be exposed to PCBs by breathing contaminated indoor air (PCBs were used in building materials, lighting and electrical appliances). The developing foetus can be exposed to PCBs in the womb and newborn babies can ingest them from contaminated breastmilk.

PCBs have been shown to adversely affect neurological development of the foetus if exposure occurs in the womb during pregnancy and can also affect the developing immune system. PCBs have been associated with diabetes and are also considered as carcinogenic.

Although PCBs are now banned, they provide strong example of how the legislation has failed in the past. We want to avoid repeating these mistakes with other chemicals by having a strong chemicals regulation.

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Perfluorinated chemicals
Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) are very heat stable, extremely resistant to being broken down in the environment and can repel both water and oil. It is these properties that are exploited in their various applications, ranging from the manufacture of non-stick pans, stain/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, but scientists are still not sure how exactly they get there. PFCs can contaminate the food chain so dietary intake is possible, with fish thought to be important as an exposure route.

There is evidence to suggest that exposure to perfluourinated chemicals such as PFOS and PFOA 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.

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Phthalates
Phthalates are a group of chemicals widely used as additives in many consumer products such as plastics, toiletries, perfumes and cosmetics. They are added to plastics, particularly PVC, to make them flexible and are used in cosmetics e.g. in lipsticks and "non-chip" nail varnishes. They are also used as solvents for fragrances in perfumes and aftershaves. Medical devices such as intravenous tubing can be also plasticised by phthalates.

Because of their 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 get inhaled, or can be absorbed through the skin from the various personal care products in which they are used. 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 regarding the hormone disrupting properties of some phthalates. It is thought they might interfere with male hormones and disrupt the development of baby boys whilst still in the womb. This is particularly worrying given people's constant exposure to phthalates in their everyday lives. Phthalates have also been linked to asthma.

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VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
VOCs are carbon-based compounds that easily evaporate into air. VOCs are used as solvents in paints, varnishes, inks and adhesives, and can also be found in aerosols (air fresheners, polishes, hairsprays). They are commonly used in industry for processes such as, degreasing, thinning and dissolving. Inhalation is the primary route of exposure in indoor air.

VOCs can cause eye and throat irritation, dizziness and drowsiness. They have also been associated with headaches and depression and some are recognised carcinogens. The frequent use of aerosols in the home has been linked with increased incidence of certain illnesses (diarrhoea, earache) in children and some people may also be more sensitive to VOCs if they already have existing chronic diseases or allergies. Symptoms may worsen or allergic reactions may occur.

It has also been suggested that exposure to higher levels of VOCs in homes may increase the risk of children developing asthma.

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