No person is an island, and neither are hazardous chemicals. We are all being exposed to a virtual “cocktail” of hundreds – if not thousands – of potentially harmful substances every day. The cocktail effect needs to be considered when regulating substances of concern and calculating limit values.
There is one thing in the discussions on effects and regulation of chemicals that makes you want to put your hands over your ears, shut your eyes, and maybe even go “LA-LA-LA-LA-LA!” for a while. Being reminded of the cocktail effect can feel overwhelming – just when you thought you were starting to get a grip on the chemical issue.