Advocates highlight new polling that shows 4 out of 5 people living in Canada want action on PFAS

Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – Yesterday, environmentalists, firefighters, and Northern Indigenous health experts met with federal decision makers to demand action on toxic per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, or “forever chemicals.” The advocates came to Parliament Hill with new polling showing that 4 out of 5 people living in Canada want action on PFAS. The response was supportive: decision makers were concerned to learn more about the health and environmental impacts of this toxic class of chemicals.

For years, PFAS have been added to hundreds if not thousands of products, including cookware, textiles, cosmetics, firefighting gear and foam, and intimate personal care products, like menstrual products and diapers. But the toxic exposure doesn’t end there. These forever chemicals go on to contaminate our water and environment.

PFAS have been linked to a range of adverse health outcomes, including: asthma, low/high infant birth weight, early menopause, immune suppression, thyroid disease, adult cancers (including testicular and kidney) and childhood leukemia, high cholesterol, prediabetes and fatty liver.

Firefighters, scientists and environmentalists agree: the federal government must list the entire class of PFAS as toxic under Canada’s Environmental Protection Act, and strengthen proposed regulations to ban PFAS in products.

Cassie Barker, Senior Program Manager, Toxics at Environmental Defence said:

“More than 98 per cent of us already have PFAS in our blood—substances with known ties to thyroid disease, asthma and an array of cancers. But PFAS lobbyists show callous disregard for our health by continuing to stand in the way of necessary regulations. People living in Canada cannot afford more delays. The longer we wait to phase out PFAS, the larger this toxic legacy becomes.”

Dr. Elaine MacDonald, Program Director, Healthy Communities Program at Ecojustice said:

“The world’s leading scientists on PFAS recommend a class-based approach to regulating PFAS. Canada must ensure all PFAS are included in the class and regulated under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Without a comprehensive regulatory approach, Canada will continue to be a dumping ground for unregulated chemicals, and our communities, workers and healthcare system will pay the price.”

Lucy Grey, Public Health Inuit Research Advisor said:

“Accessing safe and uncontaminated country food is a matter of Inuit rights. We are disproportionately impacted by PFAS by consuming country food, which are central to our culture and nutrition. Wildlife health is directly connected to Inuit health and well-being. Our communities should be chemical free. The government must take every precautionary measure to protect the exceptional quality of country food and protect us from the harms of PFAS.”

Quincy Emmons, Firefighter said:

“More firefighters die from PFAS exposure than they do from fighting actual fires. The gear we wear and firefighting foams we use are full of PFAS, meaning we are exposed to these toxic “forever chemicals” even more than other people. Enough is enough. Firefighters choose to risk their lives everyday to protect our communities. Regulating PFAS is the number one way Canada can return the favour.”

Larissa Holman, Director of Science and Policy, Ottawa Riverkeeper said: 

“The evidence of contamination is all around us, PFAS have been found in many watersways, including right here, in the Ottawa River. These chemicals do not break down in the environment and can bioaccumulate in fish and wildlife, raising concerns about the potential long-term consequences that these persistent chemicals may have on aquatic ecosystems and the people who depend on them. We cannot expect municipalities to deal with this growing contamination at water treatment plants. To drive meaningful change Federal regulation needs to provide protection to source water and the ecosystems these waters support.”

Read our backgrounder and polling for more information.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Lauren Thomas, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca