Calls for more control of ‘cancer’ chemicals

Date: 22/05/03

By Karen Carstens

EXPOSURE to chemicals is leading to an increase in testicular cancer and lower sperm counts among men across Europe, according to environmental campaign group World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

It has launched a declaration signed by 68 top European scientists which calls for tougher measures to reduce the level of dangerous chemicals in the atmosphere.

In particular, they are targeting very persistent and very bioaccumulating substances (vPvBs) and endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which have been linked to defects in the genitals of baby boys, and low sperm counts and testicular cancer in later life.

The WWF cited the scientific findings to coincide with the long-awaited final online consultation on the European Commission's REACH proposal for stricter rules on the registration, evaluation and authorisation of thousands of chemicals.

REACH "presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ensure a safer future for wildlife and people", but in its current draft form "is weak and will not meet [the scientists'] demands," said the NGO.

It referred to a recent study in Denmark which showed that 40 of young men have subnormal sperm counts.

Another study, in Scotland, found that men born in the 1970s are producing around 20 less sperm than their fathers.

It also cited rises in hormone-related cancers, including a 50 increase in breast cancer and a near doubling of prostate and testicular cancer between 1971 and 1997 in England and Wales.

The WWF, which admits that part - but not all - of these increases may be due to better diagnosis and people living longer, claims it is not uncommon to find traces of 300 chemicals in the human body.

Most people are contaminated with 'persistent' industrial chemicals, it argues.

"It makes no sense to permit the use of chemicals that can build up in our bodies, or chemicals that can disrupt our hormones when safer alternatives are available," said WWF chemicals policy officer Michael Warhurst.

"Yet that is exactly what the new draft European legislation is seeking to do," he warned.

But Commissioners Margot Wallström, environment, and Erkki Liikanen, enterprise, whose directorates were tasked with the overhaul of EU chemicals policy, beg to differ.

They stress that the Commission has done its best to strike the right balance by addressing industry concerns while, at the same time,striving to protect human health and the environment.