A World Wildlife Fund report says certain flame-retardants damage human health and the environment

A World Wildlife Fund report says certain flame-retardants damage human health and the environment

Wildlife campaigners have slammed the plastics chemicals industry as damaging human health and the environment. The World Wildlife Fund has called for more stringent testing of chemicals and tighter European Union regulations.

In a report published yesterday, the WWF said certain flame-retardants, plasticisers and phenols posed threats to people and wildlife. Causes for Concern: Chemicals and Wildlife called for precautionary measures against chemicals where their effects on the environment were uncertain. It said the EU Reach proposal should be adopted and strengthened.

The report cited brominated flame-retardants as an area of concern. It said the possible thyroid effects were a “red flag”. It added that the European ban on certain PBDEs, used as flame-retardants in polyurethane foam, did not provide reassurance as they were used in other parts of the world.

It named BPA, used in polycarbonate, as possibly causing endocrine disruption. The EU brought in stricter controls on the chemical last month amid concerns about its use as a lining in food cans. The report said some phthalates, used as PVC softeners, affected the male hormone and were dangerous to pregnant women.