January 3, 2007

Politicians tested for pollution

Andrew Mayeda

Ottawa Citizen
CanWest News Service

OTTAWA - For those who believe that Parliament Hill is a toxic environment, here’s some food for thought: abnormally high levels of harmful pollutants have been found in the bodies of four federal MPs who volunteered to have their blood and urine tested for toxins.

Environment Minister Rona Ambrose, Health Minister Tony Clement, NDP Leader Jack Layton and Liberal environment critic John Godfrey were tested for 103 pollutants for a study by Environmental Defence, a group that campaigns against the use of toxic chemicals.

All four politicians had pollutant levels higher than the child and adult volunteers who participated in a similar study released in June.

In fact, the politicians had higher total concentrations in every comparable chemical group, from strain repellents and non-stick chemicals to PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), metals and pesticides.

Godfrey registered the highest number of total pollutants, at 55, followed by Clement and Layton, at 54, and Ambrose, at 49.

Clement had the most elevated concentration of PCBs, non-stick chemicals and organochlorine pesticides.

Layton posted the highest concentration of flame retardants and PAHs, while Godfrey had the highest level of organophosphate insecticide metabolites and Ambrose the highest level of arsenic.

Labs in Quebec and British Columbia tested the blood samples for pollutants in seven broad groups: PCBs; stain repellents and non-stick chemicals (known as PFCs, or perfluorinated chemicals); organochlorine pesticides (such as DDT); organophosphate insecticide metabolites; heavy metals (such as mercury and lead); air pollutants called PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons); and flame retardants (PBDEs, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers).

Many of the pollutants discovered in the politicians’ bodies are associated with cancer, developmental problems, respiratory illnesses, damage to the nervous system and hormone disruption, noted Environment Defence.

“Our tests show that pollution affects everyone. From Parliament Hill to kids in Vancouver and Saint John, harmful pollutants are contaminating the bodies of Canadians no matter where they live, how old they are or where they work, play or go to school,” Environmental Defence executive director Rick Smith said in a statement.

A total of 61 pollutants were detected in the four MPs, including 18 PBDEs, 13 PCBs, 10 organochlorine pesticides, seven PAHs, five PFCs, five metals and three organophosphate insecticide metabolites.

The Conservative government last month announced an ambitious toxin-reduction plan that could lead to a number of chemicals being banned or restricted.

Environmental Defence urged the government to go even further by reducing pollution in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin, among other measures.

The group has been conducting a series of studies to show how toxic chemicals have permeated the everyday lives of Canadians. A study released last summer found a range of harmful chemicals in the blood of five families living across the country.

The full report on the four politicians, called Toxic Nation on Parliament Hill, is at www.toxicnation.ca.