Canada to Assess Risks of 4,000 Chemicals

A report by Canadian regulators says 4,000 chemicals generally thought to be safe are potentially hazardous to humans.

Many of the chemicals are industrial compounds but others are used to make everyday products ranging from hair dryers to water bottles, fast-food wrappers, computers and tin cans, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported.

Fe de Leon, a researcher at the Canadian Environmental Law Association, has seen a preliminary copy of the list of chemicals to be reviewed and said it contained around 4,000 substances she characterized as including the baddies of the bad.

They include bisphenol A, the basic building block for polycarbonate plastic. It is used to make water jugs, is a component in dental sealants for children’s teeth, and is found in resins that line tin cans, the newspaper said.

The list also includes some types of perfluorocarbons, which are used to make non-stick, stain-resistant or water-repellant products and are commonly found in fast-food packaging, furniture, clothing and cookware.