WWF-UK: Scots Tested for Chemical Contamination
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Scots Tested for Chemical Contamination
Tuesday 1 July 2003
On Monday 30 June 2003, volunteers from all over Scotland had their blood tested outside Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh for some of the most persistent chemicals ever made.
The testing programme, which launched WWF's Chemicals and Health campaign in Scotland , will look for over 70 chemicals that may have contaminated our bodies.
"The European Union admits that 99 per cent of the volume of man made chemicals in our environment is poorly regulated. Scots are unwilling participants in this uncontrolled global experiment in toxic contamination. It is obvious that we need far tougher regulations to protect the public from this growing risk to human health," said Simon Pepper, Director of WWF Scotland.
The testing programme will take a snapshot of the presence of some of these persistent chemicals in people. Those taking the test include MEP Catherine Stihler, MSP Sarah Boyack, Convenor of the Scottish Parliament Environment Committee, MSP Christine Graham, Convenor of the SP Health Committee, Paul McShane, Branch Manager Co-op Bank in Scotland, Catriona Bruce, Director of Marketing at Dynamic Earth, Simon Pepper, Director of WWF Scotland, and a number of WWF supporters.
Up to 300 man-made chemicals have been found in humans and it is believed that most, if not all, humans are contaminated with persistent industrial chemicals. Scientists are now suggesting that in-womb exposures to chemicals may be linked to birth defects in the genitals of baby boys and low sperm counts and testicular cancer in later life.
A study of Scottish men has shown that those born in the 1970s are producing around 20 per cent less sperm than men born in the 1950s. Data for England and Wales show that between 1971 and 1997, breast cancer increased by more than 50 per cent and prostate and testicular cancer incidence almost doubled. Although part of this increase may be due to better diagnosis and people living longer, this is unlikely to explain all the increase.
An ambulance will be present and fully-qualified medical staff will take blood samples from volunteers at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. The biomonitoring tour will last two weeks, visiting 12 locations across the UK in which 150 people in total will have their blood tested. The results will be made public in the autumn.
Kate Daley, Campaigns Manager, the Co-operative Bank, said,"The Co-operative Bank has been concerned about persistent and bio-accumulative chemicals for a number of years and believes that they should be phased out and replaced with safer alternatives. We don't believe it's sensible to prevaricate with further research and testing could take decades. Future generations should have the peace of mind to know that the environment, wildlife and their bodies are free from a potentially harmful cocktail of contaminants"
"The problem is that many of these chemicals can be found in every-day items such as tinned food, cosmetics, televisions and carpets in our homes and exposure to them is slowly contaminating our bodies. WWF is offering practical advice on how to reduce the risk of exposure to these chemicals as well as campaigning for tough new legislation in Europe," added Simon Pepper.
Additional Information
WWF's Chemicals and Health Campaign is supported in Scotland by the Co-operative Bank.
WWF will be testing for more than 70 chemicals in all. These are split into 3 groups of chemicals. All of them are very persistent and very bioaccumulative:Organo-Chlorine Pesticides (OCPs)
Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Poly Brominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) (used as flame retardant chemicals).
"The European Union admits that 99 per cent of the volume of man made chemicals in our environment is poorly regulated. Scots are unwilling participants in this uncontrolled global experiment in toxic contamination. It is obvious that we need far tougher regulations to protect the public from this growing risk to human health," said Simon Pepper, Director of WWF Scotland.
The testing programme will take a snapshot of the presence of some of these persistent chemicals in people. Those taking the test include MEP Catherine Stihler, MSP Sarah Boyack, Convenor of the Scottish Parliament Environment Committee, MSP Christine Graham, Convenor of the SP Health Committee, Paul McShane, Branch Manager Co-op Bank in Scotland, Catriona Bruce, Director of Marketing at Dynamic Earth, Simon Pepper, Director of WWF Scotland, and a number of WWF supporters.
Up to 300 man-made chemicals have been found in humans and it is believed that most, if not all, humans are contaminated with persistent industrial chemicals. Scientists are now suggesting that in-womb exposures to chemicals may be linked to birth defects in the genitals of baby boys and low sperm counts and testicular cancer in later life.
A study of Scottish men has shown that those born in the 1970s are producing around 20 per cent less sperm than men born in the 1950s. Data for England and Wales show that between 1971 and 1997, breast cancer increased by more than 50 per cent and prostate and testicular cancer incidence almost doubled. Although part of this increase may be due to better diagnosis and people living longer, this is unlikely to explain all the increase.
An ambulance will be present and fully-qualified medical staff will take blood samples from volunteers at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. The biomonitoring tour will last two weeks, visiting 12 locations across the UK in which 150 people in total will have their blood tested. The results will be made public in the autumn.
Kate Daley, Campaigns Manager, the Co-operative Bank, said,"The Co-operative Bank has been concerned about persistent and bio-accumulative chemicals for a number of years and believes that they should be phased out and replaced with safer alternatives. We don't believe it's sensible to prevaricate with further research and testing could take decades. Future generations should have the peace of mind to know that the environment, wildlife and their bodies are free from a potentially harmful cocktail of contaminants"
"The problem is that many of these chemicals can be found in every-day items such as tinned food, cosmetics, televisions and carpets in our homes and exposure to them is slowly contaminating our bodies. WWF is offering practical advice on how to reduce the risk of exposure to these chemicals as well as campaigning for tough new legislation in Europe," added Simon Pepper.
Additional Information
WWF's Chemicals and Health Campaign is supported in Scotland by the Co-operative Bank.
WWF will be testing for more than 70 chemicals in all. These are split into 3 groups of chemicals. All of them are very persistent and very bioaccumulative:
