Toronto, Ont. –The findings of Health Canada’s Fifth Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada, part of the Canadian Health Measures Survey published today, are clear evidence that Canadians urgently need stronger laws to protect them from exposure to toxic chemicals.
The
main takeaway from the report is that Canadians continue to be exposed
to a soup of harmful chemicals including hormone disruptors and
chemicals that adversely impact the development of children.
The
results demonstrate that virtually all Canadians are exposed to several
phthalates, a group of chemicals linked to reproductive health impacts
and other adverse outcomes. These chemicals are widely used as fragrance
ingredients and softeners in plastic materials. It is particularly
disconcerting that for some phthalates, exposure in children seems
considerably higher than in adults.