Three Air Pollutants to be Declared Toxic Under CEPA

OTTAWA, May 3, 2002 - The Government of Canada is proposing to add three cancer-causing air pollutants to the List of Toxic Substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) following scientific assessments conducted by Environment Canada and Health Canada. Canadians will have 60 days to comment on the proposal to add the substances to Schedule 1 of CEPA before the government makes a final decision.

The three substances are ethylene oxide, formaldehyde and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Ethylene oxide is used to produce ethylene glycol and in manufacturing other compounds. Formaldehyde is used in the production of resins, and is found in motor vehicle exhaust and tobacco smoke. NDMA is not used in Canada but is released as a by-product of the manufacture of pesticides, rubber tires, and dyes. NDMA has also been detected in drinking water and in automobile exhaust.

"Declaring formaldehyde, NDMA and ethylene oxide toxic is a critical step to cleaning up the sources of these three substances," said Environment Minister Anderson. "By working with industry to re-design industrial processes or by developing the use of alternative substances or processes, and by taking further action on automobile emissions, we can make tremendous improvements on air quality," he said.

"A number of recent studies have shown the correlation between air pollution and health effects," said Health Minister Anne McLellan. "That's why we are making air pollution an environmental priority, so that Canadians can live healthier and longer lives."

All three substances were selected for scientific assessment of their impact on human health and the environment in 1995 by an expert panel that made recommendations for substances to be included on the second Priority Substances List (PSL 2) under CEPA, to determine whether they pose a significant risk to the health of Canadians or the environment.

The release of final assessment reports for the three substances starts a two-year time clock for the development of preventive or control measures under CEPA. The government has a further 18 months to enact the measures under tough new deadlines for action on toxic substances in CEPA.

Related documents:

• N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) - [Backgrounder, 2002-05-03]
• Formaldehyde - [Backgrounder, 2002-05-03]
• Ethylene Oxide - [Backgrounder, 2002-05-03]