'Toxic' politicians found in Brussels

'Toxic' MEPs contain pesticides, flame retardants and other dangerous chemicals, according to test results out on Wednesday.

In December last year green group WWF and the Co-operative bank tested 39 MEPs for 101 chemicals, in a publicity stunt intended to highlight new EU chemical laws.

Pesticides and flame retardants were among 76 substances found.

Greens claim that the chemicals, though measured in tiny quantities, can combine to cause toxic effects.

“The number, types and concentrations of chemicals found in this survey are unacceptable," WWF spokesman Karl Wagner said

“Continuing exposure to a cocktail of toxic chemicals cannot be considered safe.”

One of WWF’s claims is that they found a hormone disrupting flame retardant known as HBCD – apparently the first time this has ever been discovered in human blood.

But the cumulative effects of such chemicals in the amounts detected are still largely unknown.

All the more reason to ban them, say environmentalists, citing the EU's 'precautionary principle'.

The EU is currently pushing through a rethink of its chemicals policy, known as REACH (the registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals).

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