Food & Drink
19 May 2026
This article first appeared in our World Environment Day 2026 issue of My Green Pod Magazine, published 05 June 2026. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox
Breast Cancer UK is calling on the UK Government to ban Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), warning they are ‘hiding in plain sight’ and placing ‘an invisible burden’ on the body.
Research from the charity also reveals this burden is not shouldered equally; women – and women of colour – are at higher risk of exposure, and therefore also of the health risks.
‘EDCs can affect our hormone system, sometimes copying or increasing the production of our natural hormones, such as the sex hormone oestrogen’, said Dr Hannah Moody, Breast Cancer UK’s Director of Research & Engagement. ‘This is particularly concerning for Breast Cancer UK, as high levels of oestrogen are associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer.’
EDCs are used for their practical properties; they provide everything from preservatives to waterproof coatings, durable perfumes and pesticides.
The most well-known EDCs are PFAS, a group of over 10,000 manmade ‘forever chemicals’ known to persist in the environment and the human body.
First developed back in the 1930s, PFAS are now widely used in items such as non-stick pans, fire-retardant foams and stain-resistant fabrics.
‘EDCs, which can be inhaled, ingested or absorbed through the skin, may be lurking in every part of our daily routine: from our perfume and makeup in the morning to our food and cookware, clothes, carpets and furniture – even children’s toys’, Hannah tells us. ‘They are invisible and yet hiding in plain sight’, adds Thalie Martini, CEO of Breast Cancer UK.
A recent Breast Cancer UK poll revealed that women are at higher risk of daily exposure to EDCs through contact with everyday items such as cosmetics, scented products and detergents.
Women of colour could be even more vulnerable due to the prevalence of EDCs in specific hair products. We may also be more susceptible to EDCs during certain developmental stages, such as in the womb, from childhood to adolescence and during pregnancy and menopause.
We’re exposed to products that may contain EDCs at least 60 times per week, yet we know very little about these chemical interactions. ‘We may be exposed to unique mixtures of many different EDCs and not to one chemical at a time’, explains Hannah. ‘These chemical cocktails are very hard to measure, and yet failing to account for how the separate chemicals can interact and build up in our daily routines is like calculating how healthy our diet is by viewing each ingredient independently: it’s only a tiny part of a much larger picture.’
Click here to sign the pledge to ban EDCs.
A recent poll by Breast Cancer UK revealed that seven in 10 Brits aren’t even aware of the existence of EDCs. This is not helped by confusing labelling, which lacks clarity and transparency.
‘Forward-thinking companies are already paving the way for safer alternatives – for example, it’s possible to seek out PFAS-free activewear, to replace non-stick pans with cast iron and stainless steel or substitute plastic food containers for glass and wood varieties’, said Thalie. ‘However, safer alternatives can be expensive or hard to find, and it shouldn’t fall on individuals to protect our health – governments and companies need to step up.’
The case against EDCs
Growing scientific evidence, alongside commentary from trusted sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO), shows that exposure to these harmful chemicals is a public health priority due to their effects on health – from fertility issues and obesity to contributing to increased risk of breast cancer.
Alarmingly, many of these chemicals haven’t been tested for their effects on human health, yet they still make their way into our products. ‘This is why Breast Cancer UK wants to avoid putting public health at risk by taking a precautionary, evidence-based approach to chemicals, and calling for their restriction’, Hannah tells us.
The ‘precautionary principle’ is an approach to decision-making that puts measures in place to protect human or environmental health where there is a plausible threat and the stakes are high, even when evidence is incomplete or inconclusive. The stakes in this case, as Breast Cancer UK points out, couldn’t be higher, which is why the charity is urging a precautionary approach to regulation.
‘We believe the government isn’t acting fast enough to translate scientific knowledge into meaningful policy change’, warns Thalie. ‘We know there is enough evidence to justify taking this risk management approach, so we believe the government should act now to avoid future harms.’
We don’t need to wait for a change in the law to start protecting ourselves; Breast Cancer UK has put together some easy, everyday swaps and free educational resources, such as its guide to EDCs in the home, to help everyone understand more about EDCs and reduce their exposure.
‘It’s hard to read the ingredient lists on labels – in fact, our poll found that 60% of Brits find it difficult to identify whether their products contain EDCs’, acknowledges Hannah. ‘However, Breast Cancer UK has produced some tools to help, such as our ‘A to Z Chemicals of Concern’. Where possible, we recommend avoiding scented and stain-repellant products, which are more likely to contain EDCs.’
Through its campaign, Breast Cancer UK is calling on the public to sign the pledge to ban EDCs, and will be providing multiple opportunities to speak directly to the government and industry with one unified message: we didn’t ask for EDCs, and we don’t have to put up with them.
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