Toxic chemicals found in four Canadian politicians
{{date|January 4, 2007}}
{{Canadian news}}

Toxic chemicals were found in four [[Canada|Canadian]] politicians after they volunteered to have their blood tested as part of [[w:Environmental Defense|Environmental Defense's]] report titled ''[[w:Toxic Nation|Toxic Nation]] on [[w:Parliament Hill|Parliament Hill]]''.

The federal politicians that were tested are:

*Environment Minister [[w:Rona Ambrose|Rona Ambrose]],
*Health Minister [[w:Tony Clement|Tony Clement]],
*[[w:New Democratic Party|NDP]] Leader [[w:Jack Layton|Jack Layton]], and
*[[w:Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] Environment Critic [[w:John Godfrey|John Godfrey]].

Godfrey at number 55 had the highest total number of pollutants followed by Health
Minister Tony Clement and Jack Layton at 54 and Environment Minister Rona Ambrose at 49.

They were tested for a total of 103 chemicals, which are related to cancer, developmental problems, respiratory illnesses, and nervous system damage. The chemicals found in them were mainly from household items which can cause cancer. In total, 54 carcinogens, 37 hormone disruptors, 16 respiratory toxins, 54 reproductive or developmental toxins, and 33 neurotoxins were found within the four politicians.

According to Dr. Rick Smith, Environmental Defence's executive director, the politicians are more contaminated than the ordinary citizens tested last year.

"Our tests show that pollution affects everyone. From [[w:Parliament of Canada|Parliament Hill]] to kids in [[w:Vancouver|Vancouver]] and [[w:Saint John, New Brunswick|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," said Dr. Rick Smith. "I don't know why that is. Maybe it has to do with their strange lifestyle — eating out a lot and a high-stress existence," he said.

"Maybe its attributable to the unique lifestyles these guys lead," Mr. Smith said. "Politicians have a very strange, very stressful lifestyle that results in them grabbing a bite to eat when they can and eating a lot of junk food."

All four politicians were more polluted than child and adult volunteers that participated in a survey released last June for pollutants in families.

==Pollutants==
[[Image:Cropduster spraying pesticides.jpg|right|thumb|[[w:Cropduster|Cropduster]] spraying pesticides.]]
The blood was tested in [[w:Quebec|Quebec]] and [[w:British Columbia|British Columbia]] for pollutants that fall under seven broad groups which are the following:

*[[w:Polychlorinated biphenyl|PCBs]] (polychlorinated biphenyls),
*Stain repellents and non-stick chemicals (known as [[w:Perfluorocarbon|PFCs]], or perfluorinated chemicals), 
*Organochlorine [[w:Pesticide|pesticides]] (such as [[w:DDT|DDT]]), 
*Organophosphate insecticide metabolites (such as the breakdown products of [[w:Malathion|malathion]]),
*[[w:Heavy metals|Heavy metals]] (such as [[w:Mercury (element)|mercury]] and [[w:Lead|lead]]),
*Air pollutants called PAHs ([[w:Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon|polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons]]),
*Flame retardants (PBDEs, or [[w:PBDE|polybrominated diphenyl ethers]]).

__NOTOC__
==Quotes==

{{Q|"The need to measure what substances are accumulating inside Canadians is why the Chemical Management Plan announced December 8th includes a Biomonitoring component," said Tony Clement. "This first-ever national survey will help determine future trends and allow comparisons to other countries, and will give scientists valuable data in making those determinations and proposing prevention or remedial measures where needed." 

"A growing awareness of the impacts toxic chemicals are having on families and children confirms for us that our government is moving in the right direction with groundbreaking action against harmful pollutants," said Rona Ambrose. "By delivering an aggressive, world-leading approach to chemicals management, we are ensuring the health of our environment and future generations."

"No one is immune from picking up dangerous chemicals, no matter how healthy a lifestyle you lead," said John Godfrey. "These results underline the need for a greater effort to get harmful substances out of the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the products we use and dispose of."

"Like many, I've been concerned about these toxics for decades and worried about them a lot," said NDP Leader Jack Layton. "I've worked for years to have pesticides and other toxics banned or reduced. In light of these recent results, our party will redouble its efforts because this toxic shocker reinforces our commitment to be tough on companies that pollute and governments that don't act. And clearly, this commitment should go beyond party lines."|Environment Minister [[w:Rona Ambrose|Rona Ambrose]], Health Minister [[w:Tony Clement|Tony Clement]], [[w:New Democratic Party|NDP]] Leader [[w:Jack Layton|Jack Layton]], and [[w:Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] Environment Critic [[w:John Godfrey|John Godfrey]].}}

== Sources ==
{{source-pr|url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2007/03/c2981.html
|title=Pollutants Contaminate Blood of Federal Politicians
|pub=Canadian News Wire
|date=January 3, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/01/03/politicians-chemicals.html
|title=Federal politicians contaminated with chemicals, group says
|author=
|pub=CBC
|date=January 3, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070103.wtoxin0103/BNStory/National/home
|title=Canada's politicians carry chemical cocktail
|author=Martin Mittelstaedt
|pub=Globe and Mail
|date=January 3, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Science/2007/01/03/3154365-cp.html
|title=Politicians found to carry toxic chemical soup
|author=Dennis Bueckert
|pub=Canadian Online Explorer
|date=January 3, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070103/toxic_politicians_070103/20070103?hub=TopStories
|title=Politicians found to carry toxic chemical soup
|author=
|pub=CTV
|date=January 3, 2006}}

==External links==
*[http://www.environmentaldefence.ca/toxicnation/home.php Toxic nation.ca]

{{published}}
{{archived}}
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:Health]]
[[Category:Jack Layton]]
[[Category:Environment]]
[[Category:Food]]<!-- 'cause they talk about fast food in article-->
Toxic chemicals were found in four Canadian politicians after they volunteered to have their blood tested as part of Environmental Defense's report titled Toxic Nation on Parliament Hill.

The federal politicians that were tested are:

*Environment Minister Rona Ambrose,
*Health Minister Tony Clement,
*NDP Leader Jack Layton, and
*Liberal Environment Critic John Godfrey.

Godfrey at number 55 had the highest total number of pollutants followed by Health
Minister Tony Clement and Jack Layton at 54 and Environment Minister Rona Ambrose at 49.

They were tested for a total of 103 chemicals, which are related to cancer, developmental problems, respiratory illnesses, and nervous system damage. The chemicals found in them were mainly from household items which can cause cancer. In total, 54 carcinogens, 37 hormone disruptors, 16 respiratory toxins, 54 reproductive or developmental toxins, and 33 neurotoxins were found within the four politicians.

According to Dr. Rick Smith, Environmental Defence's executive director, the politicians are more contaminated than the ordinary citizens tested last year.

"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," said Dr. Rick Smith. "I don't know why that is. Maybe it has to do with their strange lifestyle — eating out a lot and a high-stress existence," he said.

"Maybe its attributable to the unique lifestyles these guys lead," Mr. Smith said. "Politicians have a very strange, very stressful lifestyle that results in them grabbing a bite to eat when they can and eating a lot of junk food."

All four politicians were more polluted than child and adult volunteers that participated in a survey released last June for pollutants in families.

*PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls),
*Stain repellents and non-stick chemicals (known as PFCs, or perfluorinated chemicals), 
*Organochlorine pesticides (such as DDT), 
*Organophosphate insecticide metabolites (such as the breakdown products of malathion),
*Heavy metals (such as mercury and lead),
*Air pollutants called PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons),
*Flame retardants (PBDEs, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers).

__NOTOC__
"A growing awareness of the impacts toxic chemicals are having on families and children confirms for us that our government is moving in the right direction with groundbreaking action against harmful pollutants," said Rona Ambrose. "By delivering an aggressive, world-leading approach to chemicals management, we are ensuring the health of our environment and future generations."

"No one is immune from picking up dangerous chemicals, no matter how healthy a lifestyle you lead," said John Godfrey. "These results underline the need for a greater effort to get harmful substances out of the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the products we use and dispose of."

"Like many, I've been concerned about these toxics for decades and worried about them a lot," said NDP Leader Jack Layton. "I've worked for years to have pesticides and other toxics banned or reduced. In light of these recent results, our party will redouble its efforts because this toxic shocker reinforces our commitment to be tough on companies that pollute and governments that don't act. And clearly, this commitment should go beyond party lines."|Environment Minister Rona Ambrose, Health Minister Tony Clement, NDP Leader Jack Layton, and Liberal Environment Critic John Godfrey.}}
North America Canada Health Jack Layton Environment Food