Hidden health threats at home

Chemicals used in household products from televisions to plastic flooring are putting people's health at risk, it is claimed today.

The findings come from a Royal Commission, set up by the Government to investigate potential hazards of chemicals used in everyday products.

It found that many substances have not undergone adequate safety tests and is calling on the Government to tighten the controls on which chemicals can be used.

Many of the chemicals, which are used in the production of almost every household object, are thought to break down over time and find their way into the human body.

The commission's report calls for a system to be imposed which would test 30,000 chemicals for their safety within three years.

Sir Tom Blundell, the commission's chairman and a leading biochemist, said that there were huge risks both for consumers and the environment: "You could say we are running a gigantic experiment with humans and all other living things as the subject. We think that's unacceptable.

"Under present regulations, any chemicals which were created for use before 1982 did not have to undergo rigorous testing. Most of these are still in widespread use, but concerns over their effects is growing."

The commission claims that scientists know almost nothing about what risks many common chemicals pose. And rather than manufacturers having to prove they are safe, the responsibility has fallen on regulators to do the research.

It believes that most of the 30,000 chemicals in use will be cleared of risk. But "hundreds or thousands" would be found to be of concern and require analysis to discover any threat.

The European Commission has begun to assess many of these chemicals but warns that it will take until 2009 or beyond before results are available. Professor Jim Bridges, a toxicology expert from the University of Surrey who is also chair of the EC's Scientific Committee on Toxicity and the Environment, believes that consumers need urgent protection.

"It is not only man-made chemicals but also ' natural' chemicals which are not necessarily safe," he said. "We need to find out how much exposure people get. It is one thing to sell people a bottle of solvent which they know is toxic. But to add solvents to products which they use and not warn them is incredible."

Both Canada and Sweden have a dossier of every chemical, what products it is in and what risks there could be to health. This is available for consumers on a website. The Royal Commission wants to employ a similar system in the UK.