According to a report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA), increase in cancers and fertility problems may be caused by household chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The EEA Executive Director highlights that it would be prudent to take a precautionary approach to many of these chemicals until their effects are more fully understood.

The Weybridge +15 (1996-2011) report on endocrine disruptors launched at Brunel University and presented by the European Environment Agency (EEA) stressed that there is strong evidence of harm from 'Endocrine disrupting chemicals' (EDCs) in some wildlife species and in laboratory studies using rodent models for human health. However, the effects of EDCs on humans may be more difficult to demonstrate, due to the length, cost and methodological difficulties with these types of studies. Already in 2009, the Council called for a stronger protection against chemicals.

Among the possible effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals reported, there is the link between some diseases and EDCs is now accepted. For example, breast cancer rates are increasing in almost all industrialised countries. The majority of these cases are due to lifestyles and environmental exposures, rather than specific genetic factors, and some EDCs may also cause low quality semen. EEA Executive Director Jacqueline McGlade underlined that this scientific research gathered over the last few decades shows that endocrine disruption is a real problem, with serious effects on wildlife, and possibly people. She added that it would therefore be prudent to take a precautionary approach to many of these chemicals until their effects are more fully understood.

The report stresses that there is a large body of evidence linking chemical exposure to thyroid, immune, reproductive and neurological problems in animals, and many of the same or similar diseases and disorders have been observed to be rising in human populations. Both animals and humans may be exposed to these chemicals in the environment, or via water or the food chain where the chemicals can build up.