August 16, 2010
There's been a dramatic drop in the level of lead in Canadians' blood. A Health Canada survey detected lead in the blood of all Canadians surveyed, but found the concentration to be about a third of what it was 30 years ago. Health Canada points to the removal of major sources of lead from the environment as the reason why. Too much exposure to lead can impair neurological development in young children, increase the risk of damage to the nervous system, as well as the kidneys. Meantime, 91 percnt of Canadians have detectable levels of bisphenol A in their blood. This is the chemcial used to make some hard plastic containers, bottles and toys. It's also used in CDs, electronics and car parts. Studies on animals have suggested that low level exposure to BPA early in life can affect brain development and behaviour by imitating estrogen and other hormones.