At The Health Insider, we strive to keep Canadians informed about important developments in healthcare—both immediate concerns and long-term challenges that could impact public well-being. One such issue is the Government of Canada’s recent decision to classify PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) as toxic under the Environmental Protection Act. Because this topic has significant implications for public health, we want to bring this issue to our readers’ attention and explore what it means for Canadians moving forward.
Every single day you interact with PFAS; you eat it, wear it, breathe it, even put it on your face. First created in the 1940s, it is now a widely used substance due to its ability to resist oil, stains, water, and heat.
Not only is it harmful to humans, but also accumulates in animals and the environment. Meat eaters beware: certain PFAS can build up in animals and magnify along the food chain.
What is PFAS? It’s a class of substances that do not break down easily and remain in the environment for a long time. They accumulate, are mobile, and travel well, making them common in the environment and humans. Known to have detrimental health effects, many countries are banning their use.
Know The Risks
Coined a ‘forever chemical’ due to how long it takes to break down – up to 1,000 years – these chemicals can harm your kidneys, liver, thyroid, immune/nervous system, reproductive system, metabolism, body weight, and overall development.
Studies suggest that high levels of PFAS in your system can also raise your risk of several cancers including kidney, testicular, thyroid, prostate, breast, bladder, and ovarian.
The high concentration of chemicals being found in the population is concerning. Babies are now being born with PFAS already in their system, passed down to them in utero.
Managing PFAS is exceedingly difficult. The class covers more than 15,000 different human-made substances. Many of these substances are still unstudied; research to date has focused on a few widely used versions.
The government of Canada said in their report that they will continue to study known and emerging PFAS chemicals for safety.
What contains PFAS?
Very little on this earth isn’t contaminated by PFAS. Some of the most popularly used items with high concentrations are take away containers for food, cleaning products, and makeup.
The Government of Canada has listed contaminated items as:
- Food packaging materials
- Textiles (such as carpets, furniture, and clothing)
- Cosmetics
- Drugs (including natural health products and non-prescription drugs)
- Medical devices
- Electronics
- Surfactants*
- Lubricants
- Pesticides
- Repellents (for dirt, water and grease)
- Environment
- Drinking water
- Air
- Dust
*Surfactants are chemicals that lower surface tension. Used in detergents, dyes, emulsifiers, foaming agents, etc.
Note that not all forms of PFAS are being banned – currently, Canada is banning three long-chain PFAS and is proposing shifting to using short-chain PFAS instead. The longer the chain is, the harder it is to break down. The proposed banned substances are:
- Perfluorooctane sulfonate and its salts and precursors (PFOS) (EC 2006, HC 2006);
- Perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts and precursors (PFOA) (EC, HC 2012); and
- Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids and their salts and precursors (LC-PFCAs) (EC 2012).
The Timeline
PFAS will be slowly removed from products in three stages. Keep in mind that these stages are subject to change based on feasible alternatives, socio-economic factors, and comments from Canadians.
One: Firefighting foams
Two:
- cosmetics
- natural health products and non-prescription drugs
- food packaging materials, food additives, non-industrial food contact products such as paper plates, cups and bowls
- paint and coating, adhesive and sealant and other building materials available to consumers
- consumer mixtures such as cleaning products, waxes and polishes
- textile uses (including personal protective equipment such as firefighting turnout gear)
- ski waxes
Three:
- fluorinated gas applications such as spray-foam insulation and refrigeration
- prescription drugs (human and veterinary)
- medical devices
- industrial food contact materials
- industrial sectors such as mining and petroleum
- transport and military applications
Alternatives
The government has suggested multiple alternatives to using PFAS, though they clearly state that these options have not yet been tested for efficacy or safety.
While I cannot recommend the continued use of PFAS, it’s important to be skeptical of alternatives. Much like the mass replacement of BPAs in 2008, many of the alternatives proved to be worse for health.
Share Your Thoughts
Want to add your two cents? Canadians can comment on the Risk Management Approach and Proposed Order until May 7, 2025.
“Given the thousands of substances in the class of PFAS and their evolving uses, it is imperative that we continue engaging Canadians and the scientific community as we deliver new tools to secure a cleaner environment for all,” Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, said in a statement.
Online
Login or create an account at: Le guichet unique d’ECCC / ECCC’s Single Window. Navigate to Chemical Management then click the initiative Chemical Management – General. You can try your luck here; initially, I was unable to create an account due to repeated internal server errors. Once I finally made my account a couple hours later, I tried to find the Chemical Management Plan for about an hour before I gave up. Alternatively, you can contact the program through the ECCC programs page here: Contact Single Window partner programs – Canada.ca
Send a message to substances@ec.gc.ca with your thoughts. Include “Consultation – SOPR and RMS” in the subject line of your email or letter.
Send a letter to this mailing address: Program Development and Engagement Division, Science and Risk Assessment, Science and Technology Branch
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau QC K1A 0H3
Include “Consultation – SOPR and RMS” in the subject line of your email or letter.
PFAS are everywhere – try as you might it’s impossible to avoid them completely. While some of the worst offenders are being phased out, many replacements haven’t been properly tested, leaving us with more questions than answers.
For now, the best thing you can do is stay informed. Being aware of where PFAS hide – in food packaging, makeup, and even clothing – can help you make smarter choices. If you’re concerned about Canada’s approach, now is the time to speak up.
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The information provided on TheHealthInsider.ca is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. TheHealthInsider.ca advises consulting a medical professional or healthcare provider when seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.