Questions related to electromagnetic hypersensitivity in the Canadian Community Health Survey
Petition: 522
Issue(s): Compliance and enforcement; Governance; Human/environmental health; Science and technology
Petitioner(s): A Canadian resident
Petitioner location(s): Tiny, Ontario
Date received: 20 September 2024
Status: Completed—Response(s) to petition received
Summary: The petition raises concerns about Health Canada’s actions in response to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health’s 2015 report on Safety Code 6. The report recommended that Statistics Canada consider adding questions about electromagnetic hypersensitivity to the Canadian Community Health Survey to improve understanding and management of electromagnetic hypersensitivity. The petition argues that the survey collects information on health status, health care use, and health determinants across Canada and could include questions on electromagnetic hypersensitivity once they meet Statistics Canada’s quality criteria. The petition also notes that Statistics Canada is interested in conditions that last 6 months or more and that are being diagnosed by health care professionals in Canada.
The petition asks Health Canada about the following:
- the measures taken since June 2015 in response to this recommendation
- whether it has consulted medical professionals about their knowledge, experiences, and approaches regarding electromagnetic hypersensitivity in Canada
- whether it will direct Statistics Canada to include electromagnetic hypersensitivity in the survey
The petition states that the 2014 survey included a question on multiple chemical sensitivities, a condition that allegedly shares similarities with and can occur alongside electromagnetic hypersensitivity. The petition asks Health Canada about the following:
- the information it needs to ask Statistics Canada to include both conditions in the survey
- steps taken since the report to gather data on electromagnetic hypersensitivity and multiple chemical sensitivities and on Canadians diagnosed with both conditions
- assessments of cumulative effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and biosolids on soils
Federal departments/organizations responsible for reply: Health Canada