A new OECD survey has found that 82% of respondents across 16 countries want stronger government action to reduce the presence of harmful chemicals in everyday products, and 84% want increased action from business and industry.

Harmful chemicals are now ubiquitous in our environment. They can be found in our clothes, furniture, food, and water. Multiple studies have also found toxic chemicals in the hair, blood, and urine of people worldwide.

Exposure to certain harmful chemicals has been linked to serious health problems. For instance, exposure to some PFAS has been associated with reproductive issues, the development of certain cancers, and immune system harm.

A new project by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), titled ‘Surveys on Willingness-to-Pay to Avoid Negative Chemicals-Related Health Impacts’, asked participants across 16 countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Italy, a series of questions on their attitudes towards harmful chemical exposure.

62% of participants agreed that they were aware of how they were exposed to harmful chemicals, and almost 75% said they knew of the associated health impacts.

Survey participants also expressed greater concern about exposure to products and packaging outside the home than those within. The worry was higher among younger individuals.

Over two-thirds of respondents said they took daily action to reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals. Older participants acted more frequently and felt obligated to do so for future generations.

An overwhelming majority of participants (82%) felt that their government should do more to reduce the presence of harmful chemicals in everyday life. Almost 85% of UK respondents and almost 90% of German respondents agreed with this statement.

There was support from 84% of participants for business and industry to take stronger action. Over 85% of participants in the United Kingdom supported this statement, while in Germany, support was almost 90%.

Current chemical regulations are not strong enough, and this project has shown that a large majority of citizens agree when asked about this issue.

CHEM Trust is calling on the EU authorities and the UK government to protect their citizens from harmful chemicals by introducing robust legislation to phase out the most harmful chemicals from consumer products by 2030.

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