Britons are being exposed to harmful chemicals from birth, with even mothers' breast milk containing a high concentration of flame retardants.

The warning comes from the Commons environmental audit committee, in a report which has raised concerns about flame-retardant chemicals used on home furnishings.

Committee chairwoman Mary Creagh said: "Most people assume that they aren't at risk from toxic chemicals but the reality is different.

"Mums in the UK have some of the world's highest concentrations of flame retardants in their breast milk, some of which have now been banned.

"Chemical flame retardants are still being widely used in our furnishings from children's mattresses to sofas.


"Meanwhile, the government is sitting on its hands instead of changing regulations to ensure that the most toxic chemicals are taken out of use."

Image: The committee is concerned about flame-retardant chemicals used on home furnishings

The committee's report said: "The UK and Ireland stand alone in requiring these chemicals in domestic upholstered furniture with a hotly contested debate about whether they reduce fire deaths."

It has called for a new flammability test standard and for the government to introduce a label for all upholstered furniture stating whether it has been treated with chemical flame retardants and which ones were used.

They said the industry should also "acknowledge this practice is no longer sustainable and begin the process of innovating and adopting alternatives to chemical flame retardants".

A government spokesman said UK safety requirements are "the highest in Europe".

"We are committed to improving environmental outcomes and reducing toxicity but need to do so in a clear, well evidenced way which also improves fire safety.

"We are committed to publishing our response to the review of furniture fire safety regulations before recess to ensure the highest levels of safety are both maintained and improved."

Concerns were raised by the committee about the "huge number" of chemicals in plastic and food packaging, some of which had been "identified as harmful to human health and the environment".

"We call on manufacturers to be more transparent about the chemicals used in their packaging to enable consumers to make informed decisions," it said.

Image: Dozens of people died in the fire at Grenfell Tower in London

The committee also said it was "troubled by the lack of urgency" in response to the findings of environmental contamination around Grenfell Tower, which was the scene of a fire in June 2017.

Residents have reported a range of medical symptoms, including vomiting, coughing blood, breathing and skin problems.

Ms Creagh said: "We need to know the extent of people's exposure to chemical contamination which is why we are calling for a biomonitoring programme across the UK, with specific monitoring for residents around Grenfell Tower.

"Officials took more than a year to begin soil testing around the site of the fire after the first evidence of environmental contamination was found."