Home \|\| About KDR \|\| Weekly Feature Archive
Ottawa to limit non-stick, stain-repellent chemicals CBC News June 29, 2006 he federal government is moving to limit exposure to a persistent class of pollutants used in consumer products ranging from non-stick frying pans to upholstery. Federal regulators will block imports of new products such as water repellents that break down into long-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids, or PFCAs. Products containing the chemical have non-stick, stain-repellent and water-resistant properties. PFCAs are in the environment, and can potentially harm animal and human health. Federal regulators don't recommend that consumers toss out existing products that may contain the chemicals, saying most of the substances are eliminated during manufacturing. "We don't believe, even at the quantities we're finding it in blood of humans for example, that the levels are such that there should be any concern at all from a human health perspective," Charles Ethier of Health Canada told CBC Newsworld on Tuesday. PFOA linked to problems in animals Studies on lab animals have linked one PFCA, called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), to cancer, immune problems and birth defects. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com PFOAs may enter the environment during manufacturing. Research by Scott Mabury, an environmental chemist at the University of Toronto, also suggests PFOAs may break down into a more persistent form that can escape from consumer products. "The decision to prohibit the four substances in particular are more of a precaution, because of the concerns we have about the potential health and environmental risk." DuPont produces two of the four new "fluorotelomer substances" included in an existing ban. "DuPont believes that the decision by Environment Canada to extend its prohibition of four new fluorotelomer substances … is not warranted based on the available science," the company said in a statement. Regulators also want to reduce emissions from residual sources of PFCA from products already on the market by negotiating with industry to cut emissions. It's thought to be the first time a country has tried to prevent exposure to PFCAs by prohibiting new products. Environment Minister Rona Ambrose and Health Minister Tony Clement announced the changes for PFCAs containing nine or more carbons in Saturday's issue of Canada Gazette, the federal government's official newsletter. However, there's no immediate timeline for the changes. Regulators are doing risk assessments to determine the health and environmental impacts of the chemicals, as well as researching what the key sources of exposure in humans are, Ethier said. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
In Depth What Is Wrong With Canada Recent 9-11 News Suppressed by the Media Aspartame: The Sweetest Killer The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave Knowledge Driven Look at Your Favourite Canadian Political Parties
Archive April May June 2006 28 29 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 01 Weekly Features 2006 2005 Read Today's Knowledge Driven News

Home || About KDR || Weekly Feature Archive

Ottawa to limit non-stick, stain-repellent chemicals

CBC News
June 29, 2006

Health he federal government is moving to limit exposure to a persistent class of pollutants used in consumer products ranging from non-stick frying pans to upholstery.

Federal regulators will block imports of new products such as water repellents that break down into long-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids, or PFCAs.

Products containing the chemical have non-stick, stain-repellent and water-resistant properties.

PFCAs are in the environment, and can potentially harm animal and human health.

Federal regulators don't recommend that consumers toss out existing products that may contain the chemicals, saying most of the substances are eliminated during manufacturing.

"We don't believe, even at the quantities we're finding it in blood of humans for example, that the levels are such that there should be any concern at all from a human health perspective," Charles Ethier of Health Canada told CBC Newsworld on Tuesday.

PFOA linked to problems in animals

Studies on lab animals have linked one PFCA, called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), to cancer, immune problems and birth defects.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

PFOAs may enter the environment during manufacturing.

Research by Scott Mabury, an environmental chemist at the University of Toronto, also suggests PFOAs may break down into a more persistent form that can escape from consumer products.

"The decision to prohibit the four substances in particular are more of a precaution, because of the concerns we have about the potential health and environmental risk."

DuPont produces two of the four new "fluorotelomer substances" included in an existing ban.

"DuPont believes that the decision by Environment Canada to extend its prohibition of four new fluorotelomer substances … is not warranted based on the available science," the company said in a statement.

Regulators also want to reduce emissions from residual sources of PFCA from products already on the market by negotiating with industry to cut emissions.

It's thought to be the first time a country has tried to prevent exposure to PFCAs by prohibiting new products.

Environment Minister Rona Ambrose and Health Minister Tony Clement announced the changes for PFCAs containing nine or more carbons in Saturday's issue of Canada Gazette, the federal government's official newsletter.

However, there's no immediate timeline for the changes.

Regulators are doing risk assessments to determine the health and environmental impacts of the chemicals, as well as researching what the key sources of exposure in humans are, Ethier said.

Maple Leaf Footer
About KDR | | Home | | Weekly Features Archive