In 2005, Environmental Defence Canada released a report called Toxic Nation, which summarized the results of ‘body burden’ tests on 11 Canadians from coast to coast, including renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman. Each had blood and urine tested for 88 toxic chemicals, many of them carcinogens. Sixty chemicals showed up in the combined results, including 41 known or suspected cancer-causing substances such as benzene, PVC, formaldehyde and some pesticides.
No one deliberately chooses to be exposed to man-made carcinogens, except perhaps for smokers. Yet even smoking is hardly a choice, since nearly all smokers become addicted during their teenage years, later discover that quitting is a major feat – virtually impossible for some.
The chemicals that end up in our bodies are a by-product of many industrial processes, released from facilities such as pulp & paper and chemical plants into the surrounding air, water and soil, where they eventually move up the food chain and into US. Agricultural chemicals and emissions from nuclear facilities also contribute to our toxic load.
The use of ‘ordinary’, everyday products also adds to our body burden, Toxic Nation points out: “Canadians are exposed to toxic chemicals every day through commonly used products in the home, such as perfumes, shampoos, air fresheners, cleaning products, furniture and appliances, frying pans and food and beverage containers.
Even our food can contain chemicals that are harmful to human health, through pesticide sprays on fruits and vegetables, or by being grown and processed in ways that prevent cancer-fighting compounds such as resveratrol from being created.
The full report is available at www.toxicnation.ca .
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