News Release
2003-88
November 24, 2003
For immediate release
Minister McLellan proposes measures to reduce children's exposure to lead
OTTAWA - The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Health, today announced
that two regulatory proposals have been prepublished in Canada Gazette Part I.
The proposed Children's Jewellery Regulations sets levels for the amount of lead
permitted in jewellery intended for children, while the proposed Candles Regulations limits
the lead content of metallic core candle wicks, and requires manufacturers and importers
to include warning and safe use labelling on all candles. These are proposed amendments
to the Hazardous Products Act.
This prepublication is followed by the usual (required) 75-day comment period. After Health
Canada has reviewed all feedback, and modified the proposals if required, the proposed
Regulations will continue in the Federal Regulatory Process toward final publication in Canada
Gazette, Part II. This would be the final step in these proposed Regulations coming
into force under the Hazardous Products Act.
'The steps we are taking to reduce this exposure through these proposed Regulations are
important and reasonable measures in the protection of the health and safety of our children,"said
Minister McLellan. 'As well, the safety labelling requirements proposed under the amended Candles
Regulations will help to reduce death, injury and financial loss due to candle fires.
It is our aim to have these Regulations come into force as soon as possible."
Lead is a metal which is toxic even at very low levels of exposure, and accumulates in
the body. Recent studies indicate that much lower blood lead levels than those previously
accepted may be associated with harmful effects. Where 10 ug/dl (micrograms per decilitre)
may have been deemed a safe level, these studies show that blood lead levels of below 5
ug/dl may have harmful effects on the intellectual development and behaviour of children.
Lead also has a variety of adverse health effects on adults.
Jewellery
The proposed regulatory changes would ban the import, advertisement or sale of:
- children's jewellery containing more than 600 mg/kg total lead and more than 90 mg/kg
migratable lead (lead that can be dissolved out of the product and enter the body).
A large proportion of costume jewellery sold in North America today contains lead. Health
Canada is aware of several incidents in North America where children have been exposed
to lead through mouthing or sucking on leaded children's jewellery. In 1999 and 2000, Health
Canada requested manufacturers, distributors, importers and retailers of jewellery intended
for children to voluntarily refrain from importing, advertising or selling children's leaded
jewellery. In January 2001, Health Canada issued a public advisory, alerting the Canadian
public to the risks to children associated with jewellery containing lead. On November
5, 2003, Health Canada issued a public warning against a children's (Runic) leaded pendant
distributed through vending machines in North America.
Candles
The proposed regulatory changes would ban the import, advertisement or sale of:
- candles which do not include official language warning labels and safe-use instructions
on the candle or its packaging;
- candles with metallic wick cores that contain more than 600 mg/kg total lead; and
- candles which may spontaneously re-light when extinguished.
A small portion of candles on the Canadian marketplace contain a lead core wick, which
supports the cotton or paper wick and is believed to make candles burn more slowly and
evenly. These metals, having low melting points, melt as the cotton or paper burns. Studies
in 1999 and 2000 have shown that 20-35% of the lead in pure lead candle wicks is vaporized.
A recent study indicates that one leaded-core candle-burning episode per week may release
enough lead to raise a child's blood lead level above Health Canada's current recommended
intervention level for lead of 10 ug/dl. Secondary exposure to lead from lead-core candles
may occur when lead fume particles emitted by the candles settle onto floors, furniture,
and other surfaces and become part of household dust. The health risk is greatest for children
under three, who are not only more susceptible to the effects of lead, but tend to spend
most of their time indoors and are more often close to the floor.
Health Canada will accept comments on both these proposals until February 6, 2004.
The complete proposal packages can be found on the  Canada
Gazette website.
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Media Inquiries:
Margot Geduld/Carole Saindon
Health Canada
(613) 957-1588
Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991
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