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Polluted Children, Toxic Nation: A Report on Pollution in Canadian Families
Polluted Children, Toxic Nation documents the chemical contamination of children, parents and grandparents from five Canadian families. It is the first study in Canada to assess pollution levels in youth. The study identifies and quantifies chemicals of concern that are polluting the bodies of Canadians and examines a) what differences, if any, there are between the body burdens of adults and their children, and b) if there are any chemical concentrations detected that indicate an emerging concern for children's health.
We are increasingly aware of the health costs due to rising pollution, in our air, water, and food supply. A new report from Environmental Defence, a national environmental advocacy group based in Toronto, identifies the chemicals contamination currently experienced by Canadian families across the country. The results are alarming, but there are effective solutions. The first step is learning about the risk, as outlined in this brief overview of the study, then following the recommendations for further learning and involvement.
Many people don't realize chemical toxins can produce spinal misalignments and interfere with your body's ability to heal. Chiropractic adjustments restore spinal alignment and release the healing power of your own nervous system. Please feel comfortable sharing any concerns you may have about your toxic exposure during your next adjustment.
For the study, children, parents and grandparents from five Canadian families provided blood and urine samples that were tested for 68 toxic chemicals, 46 of which were detected. The presence of these chemicals in children as young as 10 raises concerns about what impact they may have on the health of Canadian families today and in the future.
Key Findings
- Laboratory tests detected 46 of the 68 chemicals tested for in 13 family members (six adults and seven children.) These 46 chemicals include PCBS (polychlorinated biphenyls), PFCs (perfluorinated chemicals), organochlorine pesticides, organophosphate insecticides, and heavy metals.
- On average, 32 chemicals were detected in each parent volunteer, and 23 chemicals were detected in each child volunteer.
- In total, 38 carcinogens, 23 hormone disruptors, 12 respiratory toxins, 38 reproductive/developmental toxins, and 19 neurotoxins were detected in the study volunteers.
- Although PCBs and many pesticides were banned before the children in the study were born, these chemicals were detected in all of the children and all of the parents. However, in general, the child volunteers had lower numbers and concentrations of PCBs and pesticides than their parents, which suggests that when governments take action to eliminate toxic chemicals, people's toxic load decreases, even if it takes several generations.
- There were several cases where the children were more contaminated than their parents by chemicals that are still in use.
Recommendations for
Canadians expect their country to be a leader in the protection of human health and the environment. Despite the Canadian government's efforts to control toxic chemicals, the volume of harmful chemicals released into the environment and making their way into Canadian's bodies continues to increase. And now the findings presented in this reports reveal in some cases children are even more polluted than their parents.
Environmental Defences urges Canadians to make efforts to reduce their personal exposure to toxic chemical wherever possible and to pay particular attention to the protection of children. Parents, childcare professionals, school teachers and others who work with children have an important role to play in protecting children from exposure to harmful chemicals. The four more important things parents and other childcare providers can do to protect children from exposure to chemicals are:
- Learn more about chemicals of concern
- Reduce the use of products that contain toxic chemicals
- Control dust in childrens' indoor environments
- Get involved in achieving a toxic-free future
The first step in childproofing for pollutants is to learn about chemicals of concern; what they are, how they affect health, where they may be found in the home or school, and how children can become exposed. If you know the hazards you will be better equipped to evaluate risks and identify measures you can take to avoid exposures. These websites provide information on reduction strategies:
Share the information you find with family, friends and colleagues about the importance of reducing our daily exposure to toxic chemicals.
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