Chemicals and Your Health

It's Your Health

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On this page:

• The issue
• Potential health risks
• Potential health effects
• Reducing risks
• The Government of Canada's role
• For more information

The issue

You are exposed to numerous chemicals every day - in the air, food and water. There are also chemicals in products used at work, at home and at play. Exposure to most of these chemicals is not harmful. But in some cases exposure can affect your health if risks aren't properly managed.

Many everyday products are designed to make life safer, healthier and more efficient. However, their proper use, storage and disposal are important to protect you and your family's health.

Potential health risks

The health risks of chemicals depend on several factors, such as:

• the type of chemical
• the amount you're exposed to
• when and how long you are exposed
• how you're exposed (through food, water, air, products and so on)
• your age and general state of health

Some people may be more sensitive to chemical exposure than others. Groups that may be at higher risk include children, pregnant women and seniors.

Potential health effects

Accidents or incorrect use of household chemical products may cause immediate health effects, such as burns and poisoning.

There can also be longer-term health effects from chemicals. When these occur, they are usually the result of exposure to certain chemicals over a long period of time.

Depending on the chemical, these longer-term health effects might include:

• organ damage
• weakening of the immune system
• reproductive problems and birth defects
• effects on the mental cognitive or physical development of children
• cancer

Reducing risks

You can take steps to protect yourself and your family from chemical risks:

• Read and follow all directions when using household chemicals. If you don't understand something on the label, contact the manufacturer.
• Open windows to provide ventilation during and after use of certain household products, since some of these can release chemicals into your indoor air.
• Keep all chemical products out of sight and out of reach of children and animals. Make sure child-resistant containers are working.
• Teach children that hazard symbols on containers mean "Danger! Do not touch."
• Consult the  Air Quality Health Index, and consider adjusting outdoor activities when air quality is poor, especially if you have heart or breathing problems.

Also, visit the Government of Canada's website on chemical substances for consumer fact sheets on:

• chemicals and children's health
• chemicals at a glance - chemicals that are being (or have been) assessed in Canada for their possible risks to health or the environment, like lead or bisphenol A

The Government of Canada's role

Canada is a world leader in assessing and managing the risks of chemical substances. To protect Canadians and the environment from chemical risks, the Government of Canada regulates the manufacturing, import and use of chemicals under a number of Acts, including:

• the  Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
• the  Canada Consumer Product Safety Act
• the  Food and Drugs Act
• the  Pest Control Products Act

In 2006, the Government of Canada launched Canada's Chemicals Management Plan. This plan protects human health and the environment by assessing chemicals used in Canada, and putting measures in place to reduce risks that are identified.

When it is necessary to reduce chemical risks, a variety of tools can be used. These range from providing information about proper use and disposal, to regulations that restrict or even ban use.

For more information

• Chemical Substances
• Chemical Substances, Fact Sheets & Frequently Asked Questions
• Chemicals and Children's Health
• Health Canada, Household Chemical Products
• Health Canada, Tips for Healthy Indoor Air
• Health Canada, Improving Indoor Air
• Stay Safe: An Education Guide to Hazard Symbols
• Chemicals at a Glance
• Health Canada, Proper Use of Pesticides
• Health Canada, Food and Nutrition - Chemical Contaminants
• Environment Canada,  A Guide to Understanding the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
• Health Canada and Environment Canada,  Air Quality Health Index

For industry and professionals

• Chemicals Management Plan
• Chemical Substances, Businesses and Organizations
• Environment Canada,  CEPA Environmental Registry

Related resources

• It's Your Health articles:
  • PBDE Flame Retardants
  • Indoor Air
  • Wood Smoke
  • Second-hand Smoke
• Hazards in Your Environment Hazardcheck
• For safety information about food, health and consumer products, visit the  Healthy Canadians website
• For more articles on health and safety issues go to the It's Your Health web section

You can also call toll free at 1-866-225-0709 or TTY at 1-800-267-1245*

Original: June 2012
©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Health, 2012

Catalogue# H13-7/3-2012E-PDF
ISBN# 978-1-100-20775-9