Jill Evans, MEP for Plaid Cymru and Enid Brown, President of Llanrhaeadr Women's Institute (WI) will both make a keynote speech calling for safer alternatives to hazardous chemicals used in everyday products at a Chemicals and Health Conference in London this Friday. (5 March)

The conference forms part of WWF's Chemicals and Health Campaign, which is supported by the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) and the Co-operative Bank, and is calling for stricter controls on the use of hazardous man-made chemicals used in everyday products.

Ms Evans and Mrs Brown will address over 100 members of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) along with Angela Barker, one of the original 'Calendar Girls' and inspiration for the recent blockbuster film at the conference.

"Before I participated in WWF's campaign I hadn't considered the extent to which toxic chemicals are contaminating us," said Mrs Brown, who was tested as part of WWF's blood survey in the summer, and was found, along with every other volunteer to be contaminated with a cocktail of hazardous man-made chemicals. (1)

"Having lived in rural Wales for most of my life I didn't expect to have lots of chemicals in my body. It angers me that my grandchildren are being exposed to these, especially as there is so little safety information available on them," she added.

Ms Evans, MEP will tell delegates at the conference of her surprise to discover that she had the highest number of chemicals in her blood of those tested in Wales - she had a total of 33.

"I was horrified to find that of all those tested in Wales, I had the highest number of different chemicals found in my blood. People today are walking around with many different hazardous man-made chemicals in their bodies, and we have absolutely no idea as to what the long-term health effects of these might be," she said.

"I want to congratulate WWF on their work in highlighting the need for better regulation of chemicals, in particular their survey of chemical contamination in which I was pleased to participate as it has raised awareness of the widespread use of hazardous chemicals in everyday products, and how we are all contaminated by them," she added.

Delegates attending the conference will be told about the increased production of chemicals and the affect they are having on wildlife and people:

* Chemical production has increased dramatically in the last seven years. Now, there are estimated to be some 30,000 chemicals marketed in the EU.

* Of the chemicals used in the EU only 14 per cent have adequate data to make a basic safety assessment.

* Around 300 different toxic chemicals have been found in humans and wildlife.

* Mammals including humans pass chemicals such as PCBs (industrial chemicals used in electrical equipment, but banned in the 1970s) onto their babies during pregnancy and via mother's milk.

* Of the 155 volunteers who participated in WWF blood survey every single person was contaminated by a cocktail of toxic chemicals. Some volunteers had traces of PCBs, certain types of pesticides used on foods and flame retardants in their blood.

Through the campaign, WWF is working to ensure that a new law proposed in the European Union (EU) will properly regulate chemicals and phase out the most dangerous ones. (3)

"The proposed EU law, called REACH, offers a chance to identify and phase out the worst chemicals," said Morgan Parry, Head of WWF Cymru. "The commitment of a major social organisation like the NFWI proves to the European Union and the UK Government that our campaign is not only for the environment and wildlife but about human health."

"Although the eventual REACH proposal has already been significantly weaker than I and several environmental groups would have liked, it does represent an important step forward in the field of chemicals regulation," added Ms Evans, MEP.

WWF has produced tips on how to reduce exposure to chemicals in the homes which include such points as buying fragrance-free "green" cleaning products; choosing products that are unbleached, or whitened with chlorine-free blanches and avoiding to cook or microwave foods in plastic containers through using glass or ceramic containers instead. (3) These are available at www.wwf.org.uk/chemicals

Diwedd/Ends.

Notes

WWF is now known simply by its initials and the panda logo, in line with the whole international network. WWF, the global environment network, takes action to conserve endangered species, protect endangered spaces and address global threats, by seeking long term solutions. For more details please visit www.wwf.org.uk

Photograph

Enid Brown and Jill Evans will be photographed with Angela Barker, one of the original 'Calendar Girls' at the Chemicals and Health conference, Royal Society of Arts, the Strand, London at 10am on Friday, 5 March.

1. WWF carried out a survey in June and July 2003, in which 155 volunteers from all over the UK including 13 volunteers in Wales who had their blood analyzed for over 70 man-made chemicals. It was the first UK study in 10 years to test for such a range of chemicals and the first to consider the link between chemicals and lifestyle. WWF also took blood samples from 40 members of the European Parliament in December 2003. The results are expected to be released in April this year.

For more information, visit www.wwf.org.uk/chemicals/biotour.asp

2. REACH stands for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals. It is currently a draft EU law that should lead to the identification and phasing out of the most harmful chemicals. If it becomes law it will be enforced in all countries in the European Union.

Under the law, chemicals of very high concern would be phased out, and replaced by safer alternatives, unless industry can show ‘adequate control’ of the risk from their use or that their ‘socio-economic’ value outweighed the risks. Chemicals of 'very high concern' are:

* carcinogens; mutagens; reproductive toxins;

* persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic;

* very persistent and very bio-accumulative;

* of similar concern, e.g endocrine (hormone) disrupters.

However, WWF does not think that the draft law is tough enough. WWF's is working to ensure that a strengthened REACH is adopted that ensures that chemicals of very high concern are phased out except where use is important to society and there is no safer alternative. For further information on REACH, toxic chemicals, and WWF's campaign, visit www.panda.org/detox

3. WWF's Ten spring cleaning tips to reduce people's exposure to hazardous chemicals around their homes:

1. Use environmentally friendly cleaning products. Avoid anti-bacterial cleaning products that contain triclosan – a known environmental contaminant.

2. Open your windows instead of using air fresheners. Or try natural odour eaters such as a bowl of baking soda, or natural fragrances such as pot-pourri.

3. Buy fragrance-free “green” cleaning products, or ones with a natural fragrance. Synthetic fragrances can persist in the environment, and in the bodies of humans and wildlife.

4. Avoid painting, stripping old paint, or using solvents, varnishes, oils and sealants with high levels of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) if someone in the house is pregnant. Choose organic or natural paints made from plant oils.

5. Replace synthetic foams, foam rubber, latex or plastic coverings – found in carpets, underlays and upholstery – as they emit VOCs.

6. Buy carpets made from organic natural fibres such as wool, cotton or rattan, or choose wooden, ceramic or cork flooring.

7. Avoid using pesticides indoors or in the garden – use alternatives and try gardening organically.

8. Don’t use creosote-based preservatives. They are now banned for domestic use.

9. Choose products that are unbleached, or whitened with chlorine-free bleaches.

10. Rather than using chemical pesticides in the pet “flea war”, try natural treatments.