nds76
06-01-2006, 3:57pm
Toxic chemicals such as stain repellents, flame retardants, lead and PCBs are showing up in the bodies of Canadians as young as 10, a new study suggests.
The group Environmental Defence tested the blood and urine of six adults and seven children. The families lived in Vancouver, Toronto, Sarnia, Montreal and Quispamsis, N.B.
Many of the chemicals found are neurotoxins, hormone disrupters or are associated with cancer.
In some cases, the children had higher levels of contaminants than their parents, the group said in its report, "Polluted Children, Toxic Nation: A Report on Pollution in Canadian Families," released Thursday.
"Our children are being poisoned every day by toxic chemicals that surround them at home, school and play," said Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defence in a release.
Adults showed higher levels of older chemicals such as DDT and PCBs that are no longer in use.
But children tended to test higher for newer chemicals such as brominated flame retardants (PBDEs) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), used in stain repellents and non-stick coatings.
The finding of fewer banned chemicals in children suggest bans can work, though the effects of the chemical can linger for years, the report said.
Vivian Maraghi, a study volunteer from Montreal, said she was astounded to find she had 36 industrial chemicals in her body.
"But when I saw the toxic chemicals in my son's body, I was angry. Our children deserve better protection."
The group is calling on the federal government to:
Establish timelines to eliminate toxic chemicals, starting with PBDEs and PFCs.
Make industry accountable for its chemicals.
Regulate chemicals in consumer products.
Reduce pollution in the Great Lakes Basin.
A spokesperson for Health Canada said the department would launch a national study next year to check the levels of toxic chemicals in our bodies.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2006/06/01/toxic-bodies.html
The group Environmental Defence tested the blood and urine of six adults and seven children. The families lived in Vancouver, Toronto, Sarnia, Montreal and Quispamsis, N.B.
Many of the chemicals found are neurotoxins, hormone disrupters or are associated with cancer.
In some cases, the children had higher levels of contaminants than their parents, the group said in its report, "Polluted Children, Toxic Nation: A Report on Pollution in Canadian Families," released Thursday.
"Our children are being poisoned every day by toxic chemicals that surround them at home, school and play," said Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defence in a release.
Adults showed higher levels of older chemicals such as DDT and PCBs that are no longer in use.
But children tended to test higher for newer chemicals such as brominated flame retardants (PBDEs) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), used in stain repellents and non-stick coatings.
The finding of fewer banned chemicals in children suggest bans can work, though the effects of the chemical can linger for years, the report said.
Vivian Maraghi, a study volunteer from Montreal, said she was astounded to find she had 36 industrial chemicals in her body.
"But when I saw the toxic chemicals in my son's body, I was angry. Our children deserve better protection."
The group is calling on the federal government to:
Establish timelines to eliminate toxic chemicals, starting with PBDEs and PFCs.
Make industry accountable for its chemicals.
Regulate chemicals in consumer products.
Reduce pollution in the Great Lakes Basin.
A spokesperson for Health Canada said the department would launch a national study next year to check the levels of toxic chemicals in our bodies.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2006/06/01/toxic-bodies.html