Toxic Nation | Pollution. It's In You.

Another headline, another recall.

"High Levels of Lead Found in Toys” or “Hormone Disruptors Leach from Products”.

We all hear about it and we wonder how the most innocent of products, such as bath toys, or jewelry, have come to pose a health risk to our kids. Most of the toys that contain toxic chemicals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, chlorine, and mercury are made in Asia, but we cannot assume that products made in Canada and the U.S. do not contain harmful chemicals.

When a leading team of scientists is concerned that science is not being used correctly by decision-makers, you better be paying attention.

A letter released in early October signed by 85 researchers, points out examples of how the federal government has distorted, suppressed and undermined scientific research.

When you go to your dentist for a filling, a syrupy substance will be inserted into the crevices of your molars. This coating will harden and will prevent bacteria from decaying your teeth. There is evidence that dental sealants provide a great deal of protection against cavities, along with regular brushing and good dental hygiene.

On October 17, the federal government announced a ban on the importation, sale and advertisement of baby bottles containing bisphenol A (BPA). A huge step forward, as Canada becomes the first national jurisdiction to take regulatory action against BPA. The announcement was posted online in the Canada Gazette, the official newspaper of the Government of Canada.

The latest article by Martin Mittelstaedt published in the Globe and Mail outlines how males are being affected by levels of synthetic hormones in our products and our environment. Painting a frightening picture of decreasing male birth rates, lower virility, smaller reproductive organs in baby boys, and higher rates of testicular cancer, the article includes statements from some of the leading researchers in the area of endocrine disruptors.

A news study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has linked, for the first time, ‘normal’ levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in a large human population with heart disease and diabetes. The researchers found that people with higher concentrations of BPA have close to three times the odds of having heart disease, compared with those with lower levels of BPA. The highest BPA concentrations are also linked to increased chance of diabetes.

When it comes to developments in green technology, most of us are in the dark. Private corporations have traditionally been very secretive about sharing the details of their technologies and they tend to keep patents close to their chests. A new initiative created by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development has given us a window into that knowledge.

A recent publication by the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) discusses the many ways that climate change can directly impact human chemical exposures.

Efforts to eliminate bisphenol A from products we use everyday are continuing around to world. If you are just recently coming upon this issue I urge you to check out all our resources on the Toxic Nation website:

BPA Q & A

Toxic Nation Guide to Toxic Baby Bottles: How to avoid bisphenol A

Toxic Nation Guide to Bisphenol A

Another voice has been added to the increasing number of sectors and people calling for stricter regulations and controls of toxic chemicals: railroads.

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) asked that chemicals manufacturers voluntarily cease production of highly toxic chemicals, especially when safer alternatives exist for substitution. The reason is simple. Toxic chemicals are dangerous to transport!