WWF-UK: Chemicals and Health: A Global Experiment ?
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Chemicals and Health: A Global Experiment ?
Monday 29 March 2004
Find out the facts - a WWF/Royal Society of Chemistry debate at the Edinburgh International Science Festival
Could the debate on chemicals that is happening now in Brussels affect our health and well being? The European Parliament is currently debating whether to ban long-lasting chemicals that build up in the environment and in the body fat of humans and wildlife.
According to a UK-wide blood survey commissioned by WWF a cocktail of man-made chemicals was found in every single person tested pointing to widespread contamination of ordinary people by chemicals in everyday products such as soft furnishings, toys, cars, TVs and even cans of food. Environmentalists say that exposure to a wide range of chemicals is threatening our health and fertility. They point to increasing incidences of childhood asthma and allergies and falling sperm counts, and call for man-made chemicals to be properly regulated
On the other hand synthetic chemicals have made a significant contribution to improving the quality of human life and the welfare of animals as well as in developing solutions to environmental problems. Many experts fear that excessive regulation could impede productive lines of scientific enquiry as well as impact negatively on innovation and sustainable economic development.
So what then are the real facts and should we be concerned?
Join the debate with: Professor Malcolm Hooper, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Gulf War Veterans' Association, Professor Peter Tasker of Edinburgh University, Matthew Wilkinson from WWF's Chemicals and Health campaign. Chair – Tricia Henton.
When: Saturday 10 April at 2.00pm, Tickets £6/£4
Where – The Royal Museum and Museum of Scotland
Background InformationWWF's Contamination report tested volunteers, aged from 22 to 80, in 13 locations throughout the UK.
According to a UK-wide blood survey commissioned by WWF a cocktail of man-made chemicals was found in every single person tested pointing to widespread contamination of ordinary people by chemicals in everyday products such as soft furnishings, toys, cars, TVs and even cans of food. Environmentalists say that exposure to a wide range of chemicals is threatening our health and fertility. They point to increasing incidences of childhood asthma and allergies and falling sperm counts, and call for man-made chemicals to be properly regulated
On the other hand synthetic chemicals have made a significant contribution to improving the quality of human life and the welfare of animals as well as in developing solutions to environmental problems. Many experts fear that excessive regulation could impede productive lines of scientific enquiry as well as impact negatively on innovation and sustainable economic development.
So what then are the real facts and should we be concerned?
Join the debate with: Professor Malcolm Hooper, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Gulf War Veterans' Association, Professor Peter Tasker of Edinburgh University, Matthew Wilkinson from WWF's Chemicals and Health campaign. Chair – Tricia Henton.
When: Saturday 10 April at 2.00pm, Tickets £6/£4
Where – The Royal Museum and Museum of Scotland
Background Information