The online tool CheckED can help you learn about how you might be at risk of exposure to EDCs in your home, from food storage containers, to carpets and curtains.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals, or EDCs, are chemicals that disrupt the normal functioning of the hormone system. They have been linked to adverse health impacts such as certain hormonal cancers, reduced fertility, and obesity.

Examples of EDCs include certain bisphenols (such as BPA and BPB), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, or the ‘forever chemicals’), and phthalates. There could be over 1,000 EDCs, and more chemicals are being listed as EDCs every year. We can be exposed to EDCs through many different routes, including everyday products such as some food packaging, cosmetics, and furniture.

CheckED, which was launched last year (see CHEM Trust’s news story here), is an online platform created to help you map harmful chemicals in your home. The online tool asks you questions about your home, including the furnishings and the products you use, and provides information on your risk of exposure to harmful chemicals. It then offers advice on how to lower your risk, helping you make informed decisions about products and lifestyle choices.

The creators of the tool are calling for more people to use it, as participation will help to boost understanding of consumer demand for toxic-free products. If you have used it previously to measure your risk of exposure in your home, consider doing so again to track the progress you’ve made!

CheckED is completely free to use and is available in 12 European languages. Try it out here!

CHEM Trust, alongside other NGOs, is calling on EU authorities and the UK government to protect people from harmful chemicals by introducing robust legislation to effectively identify and ban EDCs in consumer products.

Learn more about EDCs here.

You can find more advice on reducing your risk of exposure to harmful chemicals on our Reduce Your Risk webpage.

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