Toxic chemicals such as stain repellents, flame retardants, lead and PCBs are showing up in the bodies of Canadians as young as 10, a new study suggests.

The group Environmental Defence tested the blood and urine of six adults and seven children. The families lived in Vancouver, Toronto, Sarnia, Montreal and Quispamsis, N.B.

Rick Smith is the executive director of Environmental Defence.
(CBC)

There are few studies that show what, if any, damage is caused by chronic low-level exposure to the pollutants, but environmentalists say many of the chemicals are neurotoxins, hormone disrupters or are associated with cancer.

The levels found by the testing are low, and were not detectable until recently because of advances in technology. 

In some cases, the children had higher levels of contaminants than their parents, the group said in its report, "Polluted Children, Toxic Nation: A Report on Pollution in Canadian Families," released Thursday.

"Our children are being poisoned every day by toxic chemicals that surround them at home, school and play," said Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defence, in a release.

Adults showed higher levels of older chemicals such as DDT and PCBs that are no longer in use.

But children tended to test higher for newer chemicals such as brominated flame retardants (PBDEs) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), used in stain repellents and non-stick coatings.

The finding of fewer banned chemicals in children suggest bans can work, though the effects of the chemical can linger for years, the report said.

Environmental Defence said children are more vulnerable because their bodies are still developing, and because their behaviour, such as putting objects in their mouth and playing in the dirt, increases their exposure. 

Vivian Maraghi, a study volunteer from Montreal, said she was astounded to find she had 36 industrial chemicals in her body.

"But when I saw the toxic chemicals in my son's body, I was angry. Our children deserve better protection."

Something can be done

The group is calling on the federal government to:

• Establish timelines to eliminate toxic chemicals, starting with PBDEs and PFOA.
• Make industry accountable for its chemicals.
• Regulate chemicals in consumer products.
• Reduce pollution in the Great Lakes Basin.

Health Canada looks at all new chemicals and reviews older chemicals used in the country, said Paul Glover, head of the department's environment program. Glover said the results shouldn't cause parents to panic. 

"Yes, there is something in their blood, but it's in exceedingly small levels," said Glover. "For the PBDEs we would have to see at least a 300-fold increase before there would be any evidence of even the most minimal harmful effects to humans."

Meanwhile, the federal government has said it will hold a review of the Environmental Protection Act.