Serious risks of toxic substances require more vigilance
Ottawa, 3 November 2009—Environment Canada and Health Canada lack a systematic process for periodically assessing their management of risks related to toxic substances, says the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Scott Vaughan, in his Report tabled today in the House of Commons. As a result, the government does not have a comprehensive picture of how well the risks are being managed and whether progress in protecting Canadians and the environment from adverse effects is reasonable and timely.
“It is critical that the government take stock of how well its actions are working and also consider new research and the results of monitoring in order to protect human health and the environment from the risks of toxic substances,” said Mr. Vaughan.
Lead and mercury continue to pose risks to Canadians and the environment. The audit found that there are no consolidated risk management strategies that outline what the government wants to achieve in managing the risks from these substances, how it plans to achieve it, and on what timeline. In the case of lead, new research indicates that levels of exposure currently considered safe may in fact be too high, underscoring the need for an overall risk management strategy.
Substances examined in the audit can be found in a variety of consumer products such as thermometers (mercury), plastic toys (DEHP), paint removers (dichloromethane), batteries (lead) and electronic equipment (PBDEs). Consumer product labels carry warnings about acute hazards such as poisoning from chemicals. However, there is no requirement to inform consumers about chronic health effects such as cancer that may result from long-term use of these or other consumer products.
“Current product labelling does not fully disclose the chronic risks posed by toxic substances in some common household products. As a result, Canadians are not fully informed about these risks and may not be taking appropriate precautions to protect themselves,” said Mr. Vaughan.
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The chapter “Risks of Toxic Substances” is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.
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