Hiding in Plain Sight: 7 out of 10 of Brits not aware of the invisible and potentially harmful chemicals in their everyday items

The poll also found that around two-thirds of Brits believe that businesses (66%) and the UK government (61%) have a responsibility to protect them from EDCs. That’s why this Prevention Week (18th-24th May), the charity is calling on the public to add their voice to the campaign. 

EDCs are chemicals present in everyday products that may interfere with our hormones, some of which have been linked to serious health issues including infertility, obesity and breast cancer. However, despite encountering products that may potentially contain EDCs at least 60 times per week, seven in ten Brits weren’t even aware of their existence. 

This is more problematic when we consider that the list of potential EDC sources* mentioned in the poll is far from exhaustive; in fact, the ubiquity of EDCs means this is likely a huge underestimate. According to Breast Cancer UK CEO Thalie Martini, our inability to accurately measure our potential exposure is precisely the problem:  

“If the amount of EDCs in our body remains invisible, how can consumers make informed decisions about their health?” 

Until the risks are fully understood, Breast Cancer UK believes that the only way to keep the public truly safe is to exercise the precautionary principle, and the public themselves are in agreement: two thirds believe that businesses shouldn’t take risks with chemicals when they don’t know the long-term consequences (65%) and furthermore that the government should also take a lead by restricting chemicals which have not been thoroughly tested (67%).  

Environmental chemist and Breast Cancer UK ambassador Professor Stuart Harrad, who sits on DEFRA’s Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee, is keen to highlight the importance of regulatory measures. He cites previous success in Ireland, where “research shows that regulatory restrictions on the use of EDCs used as flame retardants are effective in lowering concentrations of such chemicals in human milk.” 

But it’s not as simple as identifying and restricting individual sources; it’s also about the product of our products. Dr Hannah Moody, Director of Research and Engagement at Breast Cancer UK, stresses the importance of recognising the mixing of “chemical cocktails”:  

“Failing to account for how the separate chemicals in our regular routine interact and build on each other is a huge oversight. We wouldn’t calculate how healthy our diet is by viewing each ingredient independently, so why would we do the same with chemicals?” 

This is reflected in public opinion, with over half of Brits concerned about the cumulative or collective impact of products on their health, the extent of which is not fully understood. 

It seems the public are not just fearful of how much we are being exposed, but how early, with just under half of Brits concerned about the impact of EDCs on the health of their children, who, due to periods of intense growth and development, may be more susceptible.  

Children aren’t the only ones at higher risk. The poll also identified gender as a significant factor, with women’s potential EDC exposure 20% higher than the male average, and their likelihood of encountering cosmetics and scented products over 20 times a week triple that of men. According to Dr Jasmine McDonald, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Columbia University, women are also more vulnerable to EDCs during certain life stages: 

“EDC exposures are widespread, but the burden of risk is not shared equally. Critical windows of susceptibility — including change to development in the womb, puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopausal transitions — are times of rapid biological change that may increase vulnerability to adverse health outcomes.” 

However, cutting down on these chemicals may prove challenging, seeing as 60% of Brits find it difficult to identify whether their products contain EDCs. And while Breast Cancer UK’s comprehensive list of A – Z chemicals of concern is a useful tool, it can’t help us scan for what’s not even on our labels. Although more than two thirds of Brits believe they have the right to know exactly what is in their products, by lumping chemicals together under terms like “parfum” or “fragrance”, brands can avoid full disclosure. 

Katie Hill, co-founder of sustainable lifestyle magazine My Green Pod, stresses the importance of clarity and transparency for consumers:  

“You shouldn’t need a PhD in chemistry to choose everyday products that won’t pose a health risk to you or your family. The precautionary principle exists for a reason, yet companies exploit loopholes and substitute one banned ingredient for another that’s equally dangerous or has unknown consequences - all in pursuit of profit.” 

We don’t need to wait for a change in law to start protecting ourselves, which is why Breast Cancer UK will continue to empower people to understand and reduce their exposure by offering free educational resources such as their Guide to EDCs in the home. However, safer alternatives can be expensive or hard to find, and fundamentally it shouldn’t fall on individuals to protect our health – governments and companies need to step up too. This is why the charity is urging supporters to help them tackle the problem at the source and making the message clear: we didn’t ask for EDCs, and we don’t have to put up with them. 

Sign our Ban EDCs Pledge here, of find our more by visiting our campaign page here.