eral government and industry to take
measures to reduce Canadians' exposure
to toxic chemicals
born pre-polluted. The new report, "Pre-
Polluted: A Report on Toxic Substances in
the Umbilical Cord Blood of Canadian
Newborns," found that Canadian babies
are being exposed to a slew of chemicals
while in the womb because the chemicals
are so pervasive in the environment and in
the products we use. Some of the chemi-
cals tested for are linked to serious health
issues such as cancer and developmental
and reproductive problems.
burdened with a toxic chemical load be-
fore they are born," said Maggie Mac-
Donald, toxics program manager with
Environmental Defence. "Expectant moth-
ers can't protect themselves and their chil-
dren from toxic chemicals that are perva-
sive in our environment. That's why this
should be a wake-up call that strong action
from the government and industry is
needed."
newborns in the Greater Toronto Area and
Hamilton for PBDEs (flame retardants),
PCBs (a banned chemical), PFCs (found in
non-stick coatings), Organochlorine pesti-
cides, dioxins and furans, mercury, and
lead, which are chemicals that are known
to be pervasive in the environment.
in test results. This is a serious concern
because it shows that these chemicals
remain in the environment decades after
being phased out," said MacDonald.
The tests found the following:
tested were detected in the cord blood
samples from the three babies, with a
range of between 55 and 121 for each
child
confirms agreement among most
climate scientists that we are alter-
ing the Earth's climate, mainly by
ests, backed by climate change deniers,
pull out every trick to sow doubt and con-
fusion. What will it take for us to start
seriously tackling the problem?
examined abstracts of 12,000 peer-
reviewed papers on climate science. They
also received comments from 1,200 scien-
tists, who rated more than 2,100 full stud-
ies. In both cases, more than 97 per cent of
studies that took a position on the causes of
global warming said human activity is a
primary factor. Less than one per cent re-
jected the consensus position. The results
are consistent with previous research.
to those who reject science. Medical scien-
tists Pascal Diethelm and Martin McKee
examined these tactics in the European
Journal of Public Health: cherry picking,
making reference to fake experts, misrep-
resentation and logical fallacies, impossi-
ble expectations of what research can de-
liver, and conspiracy theories. Deniers
often rely on talking points spread by a
handful of usual suspects, including Chris-
topher Monckton in the UK, the Heartland
Institute and Anthony Watts in the US, and
Friends of Science and Tom Harris in Can-
ada.
mostly from fossil fuel companies
through a "Science Education Fund" at the
University of Calgary. It was used to create
a disinformation campaign and video with
Harris, who then worked with PR firm
APCO Worldwide and now heads up an
organization called (ironically) the Interna-
tional Climate Science Coalition, which
rejects the scientific consensus on human-
caused climate change. According to Des-
mog Blog, Friends of Science has misrep-
resented the recent survey, calling it
"careless incitement of a misinformed and
frightened public, when in fact the sun is
the main driver of climate change; not hu-
man activity or carbon dioxide."
which deniers falsely claim shows the
Earth hasn't warmed for 17 years.
our place in the cosmos. When people
around the world apply rigorous scientific
method to study our actions and their im-
pacts on the things that keep us alive and
David
Suzuki
biodiverse plants and animals we must
listen, not just about climate, but about a
range of issues.
solutions. A recent statement, "Scientists'
Consensus on Maintaining Humanity's Life
Support Systems in the 21st Century," lists
five major challenges: climate disruption,
extinctions, loss of ecosystem diversity,
pollution, and human population growth
and resource consumption.
of people with the rest of the biosphere
using a wide range of approaches, we agree
that the evidence that humans are damaging
their ecological life-support systems is
overwhelming."
goes on: "For humanity's continued health
and prosperity, we all individuals, busi-
nesses, political leaders, religious leaders,
scientists, and people in every walk of life
must work hard to solve these five global
problems starting today."
science, the environment, and even busi-
ness: conserving energy and reducing fossil
fuel use; better ecosystem management
through processes like natural capital
evaluation; improved food production and
distribution and waste reduction; regulating
and preventing pollution; and stabilizing
population growth through better education,
health care, family-planning services, eco-
nomic opportunities, and women's rights.
Humanity has changed direction before.
countries, we no longer rely on slavery to
maintain economies, we can all vote re-
gardless of race or sex, and we enjoy longer
and healthier lives than before. Many sys-
tems we've invented don't apply to current
circumstances. We can and must change the
way we act. That requires listening to sci-
entists and those who are working on solu-
tions, and not to the naysayers and deniers
who would keep us stalled in a doomed
spiral.
Written with contributions from David Su-
zuki Foundation communications manager
Ian Hanington.
Learn more at
to cause cancer in humans or animals
toxic to the brain and nervous system
mental and reproductive problems in
mammals
chemicals, since it's growing rapidly and
lacks systems to process waste and flush
out toxins. Studies have shown that the
endocrine system (which regulates the
body's hormones) is more sensitive to the
effects of toxic exposures during certain
"windows of vulnerability" in human de-
velopment especially gestation, infancy,
and puberty. In addition, very little is
known about the effects of these chemicals
in human bodies and the environment.
"Our findings are only the tip of the iceberg
when it comes to toxins in our children and
the
happen, and the results be made public, to
understand the scope of this issue."
ning of Bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles
and phthalates in toys, is urging Health
Canada and industry to remove harmful
chemicals from products. It is also asking
the government to establish clear, strict
timelines for removing chemicals for which
phase-outs have been announced from the
marketplace, and to test chemicals used in
consumer products for toxic effects before
they can be sold to Canadians.
stances in the Umbilical Cord Blood of
Canadian Newborns," can be downloaded
at
zation. We challenge and inspire change in
government, business, and people to ensure
a greener, healthier, and prosperous life for
all.
labelled `antibacterial, such as antiper-
siperants/deodorants, cleansers, and
hand sanitizers.
ARTIFICAL MUSKS - (Nitromusks
such as musk xylene, musk ketone)
Found in: Some products that contain
fragrance or parfum, various hair prod-
ucts, moisturizers, cosmetics, even
those labelled "unscented".
PARABE S - (Ethylparaben, Methyl-
paraben, Butylparaben, or Propylpara-
ben) Found in: Various cosmetics and
moisturizers.
PHTHALATES - Found in: Nail prod-
ucts, and scented products.
PETROLATUM - (Pertoleum Jelly)
Found in: various lip, skin, and hair
products.
FORMALDEHYDE RELEASI G
AGE TS - (Quaternium-15, 1,4-
iny l Urea, Im idazo lid iny l Ure a,
Methenamine, and Sodium Hydro-
methyiglycinate.) Found in: Various
hair products, moisturizers, and cosmet-
ics.
SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE &
SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE -
Found in: Products that lather like
shampoo, toothpaste, and body wash.
S I L I C O
Cyclopentaslloxane, Cyclohexasllox-
ane. Found in: Various hair products,
moisturizers, and cosmetics.
COAL TAR DERIVED COLOURS -
(P-Phenylenediamine PPD) Found in:
Hair dye.
BHA & BHT - Found in: Moisturizers,
makeup, and some fragrances.