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On Wednesday, Canada proposed “eternal chemicals” in stages in many consumer products after it was found to be toxic and harmful at the current high levels seen in people and the environment.
It will occur over several years after consultations, from 2027.
At the Montreal fire department, Environment Minister Stephen Gilby said firefighters containing these chemicals would be banned at the first stage, followed by products such as cosmetics, food packaging materials and textiles.
The ban ultimately targets PFAs in prescription drugs and medical devices.
Guilbeault called it “an important step forward to better protecting all Canadians from everlasting chemicals.”
Following the announcement of the PFA guidelines for Canadian drinking water and fertilizer in 2024.
The US, the European Union and Australia are beginning to restrict the use of PFA amid health and environmental concerns.
Government documents show that PFAs have been discovered in Canadian settings, including the Arctic, wildlife, such as “nearly 100% of Canada’s population” of blood and brain.
PFA has been used since the late 1940s to mass-produce nonstick, waterproof and infectious resistant treatments that coat everything from frying pans to umbrellas, carpets, dental floss and ski waxes.
PFA takes so long to break down that they earn the nickname “forever.” They penetrate the soil and groundwater, from which they permeate the food chain and drinking water.
Chronic exposure to low levels of chemicals is associated with liver damage, high cholesterol, reduced immune response, low birth weight, and several types of cancer.
The new rules aim to “achieve the lowest levels of environmental and human exposure to technically feasible PFA,” a senior official told the briefing.
However, this ban will continue to be evaluated, excluding fluoropolymers, heat-resistant plastics used in aerospace, automobiles and electronics.
Other exemptions may be considered depending on available alternatives, socioeconomic factors, and what the other world is doing, officials said.
©2025 AFP
Quote: Canada is proposing to phase out “eternal chemicals” of consumer products (March 5, 2025) obtained on March 5, 2025 from https://phys.org/news/2025-03-canada-chemicals-chemicals-chemials-chsumer-products.html on March 5, 2025.
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