Eco Library Eco Lab

The Cocktail Theory

Individually, each chemical or product we use every day is harmless if in a minute quantity. The big concern comes from the combined effect of chemicals as they accumulate in the body - a cocktail of more that 100 000 man-made chemicals used in our food, clothing, personal and home care products.

Only a small number of these chemicals is adequately tested for chemicals!

Aricles and Research Papers
Greenpeace OUR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND CHEMICAL EXPOSURE: a review of the evidence for links between declines in human reproductive health and our exposure to hazardous chemicals.
WWF WWF campaigned between 2001-2006 to ensure that hazardous chemicals are substituted with safer alternatives wherever possible through the new EU chemicals legislation, known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals).
Womens Environmental Network (WEN) We are exposed to chemicals in every aspect of daily life: in products like paints, cosmetics, and cleaning materials and in articles like cars, computers, furniture and clothes. Many of these chemicals are hazardous and are polluting the our bodies and the environment. Yet current laws are failing to adequately control or restrict their use.
WEN's Household Cleaning Factsheet 30,000 synthetic chemicals are in everyday use in our homes, workplaces and public spaces. Yet few have been adequately tested for their impact on human and environmental heath. Find out what lurks in everyday products, what's behind the label and what you can do about it.
The Guardian In a three-part series, Guardian writers explore the chemical world we inhabit. They're everywhere. In the cosmetics we use, the food we eat and the homes in which we live. Our daily lives are awash with chemicals. Every year, up to 400 million tonnes are produced and a thousand new substances concocted. Individually, each chemical, used in a minute quantity, may be harmless, but there's growing concern about the combined effect as they accumulate in our bodies.

CHEMtrust

The new charity, with a mission to protect humans and wildlife from harmful chemicals. www.chemtrust.org.uk

Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) is an EU legislation, which came into force in June 2007 to demand hazardous chemicals to be substituted with safer alternatives.

Unfortunately REACH cannot stop dangerous chemicals being used in consumer products.

So...

If more of us use safer and healthier products the more companies will try to satisfy the demand, the cheaper and better these products will get. Ultimately this is good health and greener planet!
Your choice is power.
And we are here to help you apply it!