Health Canada has just released its Third Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada.
This highly technical report provides the results of the biomonitoring component of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS), which is used to assess the prevalence of chemical-related health risks in the lives of Canadians. Biomonitoring initiatives like the CHMS are an important component of the Canadian Government’s dealings with chemicals, including their Chemicals Management Plan.
The CHMS is led by Statistics Canada, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada and consists of an ongoing national survey. This study examines information relevant to the health of Canadians, which is collected through home interviews and direct physical measurements.
The biomonitoring component, which is the focus of this report, involves the gathering and analysis of blood and urine samples to measure concentrations of certain environmental chemicals within the bodies of Canadians. This information—along with that collected in both past and future surveys—will enable scientists to assess whether our exposure to chemicals is changing over time and to determine whether the chemicals we are exposed on a daily basis to are harmful to our health.
For more information on this study, visit Health Canada’s website.
