Toxic Chemicals
REACH enters into force
After years of debate, new chemical legislation came into force on 1 June within the European Union. This will force producers and importers of chemicals to prove that the substances they put on the market are safe for consumers.
Known as REACH - the new law sets Europe on a modest step towards a new approach to toxic regulation.Ninja Reineke at WWF’s European Policy Office reports on how toxic things really are now that REACH is in place. Listen now (mp3 format, 16.4MB)
The Arctic - the world's toxic sink
Find out how chemicals reach the arctic
How toxic are you?
Are you a pure, a tainted, or a potentially toxic person?
Hazardous man-made chemicals used in every-day products are contaminating people and wildlife.Take the online test and find out how potentially toxic your life is!
Africa Stockpiles Programme
Through the Africa Stockpiles Programme, WWF is working to clean-up and safely dispose of all obsolete pesticide stocks from Africa and help to prevent future accumulations. » Read moreLatest news and publications
29 Oct 2008
First REACH hazardous chemicals list is a drop in the ocean
The first-ever list of 15 hazardous chemicals released today by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is a welcome start, but it is a drop in the ocean when compared to the hundreds of well-known dangerous substances present in products used every day across Europe, said a coalition of environmental, health, consumer and women’s public interest groups.
The problem
As WWF tracks the growing body of scientific research on chemical contamination and the effects of exposure, a sobering picture emerges. Wherever scientists look - the tropics, marine systems, industrial regions, the Arctic - they find the impacts of toxic chemicals.
Read more about the issues
Read more about the issues
Reduce your risks
There are simple actions you can take to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals. And protect wildlife from the toxic threat.
