Osmdesát tři procenta Evropanů zajímají toxické látky v těle

23. 6. 2004 - GLAND/BRUSEL [WWF]

Eighty three per cent of Europeans are concerned about the build up of chemicals in the bodies of people and wildlife, according to an opinion poll conducted by the global research firm, IPSOS, on behalf of WWF, and released today in Budapest at the opening of a World Health Organisation Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health.

A total of 6,082 people were interviewed in the European Union’s six most populated countries: Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain, Spain and Poland.

Thirty one per cent of Europeans were ‘very concerned’ about the build-up of chemicals in the bodies of people and wildlife, while fourty four per cent were ‘slighlty concerned’.

The very highest level of concern was in France with 91 per cent (54 per cent were very concerned) while the lowest level was in Great Britain were 78 per cent were concerned.

A separate poll conducted in Hungary, by market research company Cognative for WWF, found 94 per cent concerned (59 per cent very concerned).

"Politicians debating new European Union chemical law cannot wash their hands of such a high level of concern," said Karl Wagner, Director of WWF’s DetoX Campaign. "Its time the debate reflected public concern and not just industry lobbying."

The opinion poll also revealed that 69 per cent of Europeans would be willing to pay one Euro more per year for everyday household products if the chemical industry identified and phased out the most harmful chemicals (25 per cent were not willing and 6 per cent did not know).

One Euro per EU resident per year over eleven years is the cost calculated by the European Commission of implementing the proposed new EU chemical law known as REACH.

"Industry has no reason to complain about the cost of REACH now we know consumers are willing to pay the price," added Wagner.

Julian Scola

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