British children are contaminated with higher levels of industrial chemicals than their parents and grandparents, a report released by the WWF and the Co-operative Bank revealed.

The organisations are calling for EU regulations and restrictions on chemicals such as flame-retardants and non-stick treatments for pans to stop these substances building up in the environment.

Blood tests for 104 man-made chemicals were carried out on 33 people from seven families in the UK. Scientists detected 80 of the chemicals in the bodies of those taking part, 75 in the children, 75 in the parents and 56 in grandparents.

The children were found to be carrying higher concentrations of certain newer chemicals than their parents and grandparents. These substances have previously been detected in wildlife.

"These results are extremely worrying because of the unknown long-term health effects of the majority of industrial chemicals people are exposed to," said Justin Woolford, WWF chemicals and health campaign director.

"This is a wake up call to the UK government and the European Union to stop repeating the mistakes of the past and ensure that these chemicals are banned and replaced with safer alternatives."