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Ottawa Ban on Chemicals

This summer, the Canadian government took a leading role in environmental health by announcing plans to ban two chemicals found in so many household products you’d be hard-pressed to find a home in North America without them.

Canada will ban PBDE and PFOS, chemicals used to make stain-resistant products and flame-resistant materials found in such common household items as mattresses, computers, televisions, furniture and clothing. PFOS was a major ingredient in Scotchgard, until removed voluntarily by manufacturer 3M Corp in 2000. PBDEs, also known as brominated flame retardants, are widely used in the manufacture of such items as children’s pajamas and home computers.

PFOS and PBDE have been linked in laboratory studies to a wide range of adverse health effects, including symptoms similar to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, thyroid hormone problems, lower sperm counts and cancer. They have not been banned in the United States but PBDE has been banned in Europe.

The chemicals, which have been in use for decades, made it to the Canadian toxics list after turning up in the bodies of nearly every Canadian tested. Studies have also found high levels in fish and other wildlife.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org