Health Risks of Everyday Chemical Exposures

Throughout our lives we are exposed to a variety of chemicals, contained in food, water, medicines, the air we breathe, cosmetics and health care products, shoes, clothing and other consumer products. In the natural environment, living organisms are also exposed to a complex cocktail of chemical substances. The European Union Directorate-General for the Environment has commissioned  a report to identify the extent of the health risks associated with such everyday chemical exposures. Observing that: "The number of chemical combinations that the Earth's living organisms are exposed to is enormous," the research team urges that: “We need guidelines on how to manage the chemical cocktail effect so that we can assess the risks to both humans and the environment."