WEN welcomes this public recognition by the Royal Commission that chemicals in products pose risks to human and environmental health.

We all carry a body burden of hazardous chemicals – our bodies are polluted by chemicals we are exposed to every day from a whole host of products - and women and children are most vulnerable to many of their effects. Links between chemicals in products and rising rates of breast cancer, asthma and allergies, fertility problems and other health trends must now be taken seriously and the health of women and children should be used as an indicator of environmental sustainability.

We hope this leads to precautionary action on risky chemicals, without waiting until the damage is done. The very presence of a chemical in breast milk, for instance, should be enough to trigger action.

We agree that the draft European legislation on chemicals is not tight enough although it is a start. Fundamental principles in it we hope will remain are:

• shifting the burden of proof onto the producer or importer to show chemicals are safe


• using the precautionary principle as a fundamental approach to managing chemicals, and


• restricting the use of the most hazardous chemicals first.

• require that potential effects on women’s and children’s health, and on future generations be considered when assessing safety of chemicals and their uses


• enshrine a full right to know, for both consumers and businesses, which chemicals are in products

Media contacts:
Helen Lynn, Health coordinator, ++ 44 (0)7957 408 303
Liz Sutton, Press & Information Coordinator, ++ 44 (0)7973 323789

WEN is a national membership charity that campaigns on environmental and health issues from a women’s perspective. It educates, informs and empowers women and men who care about the environment.