The average person’s ignorance about the manmade chemicals in his own body was highlighted a few years ago when the WWF conducted a blood test of several European leaders. They included 39 members of the European Parliament, four observers from the then accession states of Central and Eastern Europe, and EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom.

“The debate about EU chemical law can get very technical, but what really matters is the health of people and the environment,” Wallstrom had said. “I am very curious to know how many of these chemicals are in my — and other people’s — bodies.” She got plenty of data. The analysis found 76 persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic industrial chemicals in the volunteers’ bodies. Zita Gurmai, a Hungarian observer in the test, said, “It was surprising to me the number and amounts of chemicals that were identified in my blood, too. Regardless of the country of origin, every person examined had harmful chemicals in his or her blood. In addition, we do not know the long-term impacts on our and our children’s health and the biosphere.”

Chemicals found in the blood of every volunteer included DDE (a variant of DDT), HCB (organic, chlorinated pesticide), BDE 153 (a component of flame retardants), PCB 52 and PCB 74 (polychlorinated biphenyls), seven different chemicals with high fluoride content, and DEHP (phthalic acid).

Computer's fault

A study found that PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers, brominated flame retardants) were present in the blood of office workers who use computers, and also in hospital cleaners and workers at an electronics dismantling plant. The highest levels were in the last group, pointing to electronic goods as a principal source.

PBDEs have also been found to contaminate human breast milk in Sweden. Young mice exposed to low levels of PBDEs exhibited permanent disturbances in their behaviour, memory and learning abilities. PBDEs have also been shown to disrupt the thyroid glands of rats and mice; these systems play a crucial role in the development of the brain and body.

Need to know

Among substances produced in the greatest volumes, we have sufficient information on only about 5 percent. We have even less knowledge about chemicals produced in smaller volumes. This lack of knowledge stems from an administrative Catch 22.

As EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom put it: “Public authorities are expected to assess the risks of existing substances on the basis of information submitted by industry. We know that this information is inadequate. But authorities can only request test data if they can prove that there is a risk.”