Did you know you are exposed to harmful chemicals like endocrine disruptors in your house or working environment? A new EU-funded project called LIFE ChemBee, involving several EDC-Free Europe partners, will analyse European households in nine countries and provide advice on how to reduce people’s exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. 

In our daily lives, we are exposed to harmful chemicals through everyday items, like cleaning products, clothes, furniture, cooking utensils, personal care products and other consumer products. Many of these substances are known or suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Exposure to EDCs is linked to a range of adverse effects on human health, including increased risk in certain cancers, developmental disorders, reduced fertility, diabetes and obesity. 

Supported by the EU through the LIFE programme, the LIFE ChemBee initiative involves 11 partner organisations across Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Poland, Portugal and Sweden. The project kicked off in September 2023 and will run until March 2026, with two main goals:

  • Raising awareness: Empowering European citizens to recognise hazardous chemicals in their houses, workplaces and leisure activities. This will guide them towards minimising their exposure.
  • Promoting change: Encouraging shifts in people’s consumption practices and in their use of products, in order to contribute to a toxic-free environment.

What sets this project apart is its approach of training volunteers to become “Eco-ambassadors” or “Eco-supporters”. By signing up to become an ambassador, volunteers will help conduct community visits and offer guidance on how to reduce the level of exposure to harmful chemicals in homes, offices and schools.

Find out more about the LIFE ChemBee project here, or subscribe to get updates from the project partners:

If you are concerned about your exposure to harmful chemicals in everyday products, check out the following tools and resources from our EDC-Free Europe partners: 

  • The CheckED app helps you assess the risk of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals and shows ways to reduce exposure. 
  • The Scan4Chem app applies the concept of consumers’ ‘right to know’ under the EU REACH regulation. The app enables consumers to scan a product barcode and send it to manufacturers or retailers to obtain information about the presence of substances of very high concern (SVHCs). 
  • BUND - Friends of the Earth Germany’s ToxFox app detects harmful substances in everyday products, including cosmetics, toys, furniture, carpets, sports shoes, textiles and electronic devices.
  • The Under the Label guide from the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and Tegengif/Erase all Toxins offers a checklist of chemicals to avoid, to help consumers when shopping for cosmetics.
  • Breast Cancer UK’s Prevention Hub provides advice on what steps each person can take to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals linked to breast cancer and other health problems.