Our test tells you which everyday chemicals you've recently come into contact with, and easy steps you can follow to reduce your exposure to them.
19th January 2026
Pesticides detected in playgrounds
Pesticides and herbicides have been detected in 60% of the children’s playgrounds tested in a new study by PAN UK.
A total of 13 sets of samples were taken from playgrounds, and 8 of them showed detectable levels of a range of pesticides and herbicides. This includes glyphosate and AMPA, found when glyphosate breaks down. Samples of soil and plants were tested in play areas across three counties and two London boroughs. The only area where no glyphosate was detected was in the London borough of Hackney who stopped using it in 2018.
Whilst this study was based on small numbers, PAN suggests it could be indicative of pesticides and herbicides levels across the country, and suggest there might be a positive link between the decision by local councils to stop usage and non-detection in their areas.
Glyphosate is widely used to control weeds, despite serious concerns about its safety. It is classed by the World Health Organization as “probably carcinogenic” and has been linked to a higher risk of cancer and other serious illnesses. A study of people living close to a golf course found that exposure to pesticides may increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Are children at a higher health risk from exposure to glyphosate?
This new PAN research raises serious safety questions about chemicals used in children’s play areas – PAN don’t hold back when they title their paper, ‘Playing with poison’.
Children are more at risk than adults from exposure to chemicals because their body organs, including those which control detoxification such as the liver are immature and still developing.
Younger children are also more likely to handle, chew, and suck the things they come into contact with during play, and put their fingers into their mouths, increasing the risk of ingestion and shortening the exposure chain.
Creating an environment for children with fewer pollutants
It’s hard to protect children from exposure to environmental chemicals entirely in their daily lives, but there are some easy ways to boost their immune system and reduce their overall exposure to chemicals in daily life.
- Spending time outdoors exercising exposes children safely to sunshine, and boosts their levels of Vitamin D, important for healthy immune system functions.
- Choose sunscreens carefully to reduce skin exposure to unnecessary chemicals.
- Choose organic foods free from pesticides and herbicides, it will lessen the chemical load on children’s bodies.
- Boosting intake of leafy greens and broccoli will help raise natural glutathione levels which supports liver function.
- Avoid foods that appear on the Dirty Dozen Food list.
- Filter water for drinking, cooking and bathing using a gravity fed system if possible.
- Cook using alternatives to non-stick cookware such as cast iron, stainless steel and glass.
- Remove food from packaging before heating in the microwave, it speeds up the release of microplastic particles.
- Swap plastic drinking bottles and food storage to steel or glass containers to limit exposure to microplastics.
- Clothes made with organic cotton grown without using pesticides and herbicides reduce the risk of skin contact with chemicals.
- Many children’s nightwear items made with artificial fibres are treated with flame retardants, so choose organic cotton alternatives instead.
- The same can apply to outdoor clothing which use PFAS chemicals to provide water and stain resistance.
- At bath time, throw a handful of Epsom salts into their bath because it might boost their liver function.
- And finally, check if your local council are using glyphosate with PAN’s list of pesticide free towns.
The NEW Everyday Chemicals Test can screen for exposure to 5 types of pesticides and herbicides including glyphosate.
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