7 List of Chemicals Banned in Canada – The Harm and Exposures

Chemicals are almost always used in every aspect of life. As industry keeps growing, the use of chemicals increased significantly. To prevent misuse of toxic chemicals, every country set the regulation to regulate the circulation of chemicals.

By chemicals, it can be any compound contained in food, cosmetics or pesticide just like UAE with their List of Chemicals and Hazardous Materials Banned and Restricted in UAE, or List of Toxic Chemicals Banned or Severely Restricted in P.R.C. Canada also has its own regulation of some toxic substance under Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations SOR/2012-285 issued by Ministry of Environment. Here is the list of chemicals banned in Canada.

1. Polybrominated Byphenyls

Polybrominated Byphenyls (PBB) is one of the chemical listed in Certain Toxic Substances Regulations under category Prohibited. The chemical is a colorless manufactured result of certain elements used to be mixed with plastic. The chemical later can separate itself from plastic and contaminate the surrounding.

The chemical is banned because not all of its compound can be digested by living being. In other words, the chemical can be accumulated and turn into toxin that endangers body. The indigested PPB can cause several health problems like nausea, loss of appetite, skin disorder, and for long-term effect can cause damage to vital organ such as liver and lungs. The chemical is likely to cause bioaccumulation in food chain in which the damage will be even severe for the one in the top chain. Indeed, this is one of the list of chemicals banned in Canada.

2. Chlorinated Alkanes

Formerly known as paraffins, chlorinated alkanes is prohibited due to its nature that can cause harm to living being. The chemical is a result of chlorine gas with fraction of paraffins. The chemical usually is found among adhesives, sealants, textiles and paints. The nature of chlorinated alkanes is persistent and water insoluble. Thus, it can lead to a potential bioaccumulation where toxin is stored within one’s body.

The persistence of chlorinated alkanes has been tested to be toxic for animals. The accumulated chemical within the body can also cause cancer because it can trigger carcinogenic cell. Also see Usual Signs of Overexposure to Hazardous Chemicals Include to be aware of getting exposed to toxic chemical.

3. N-Nitrosodimethylamine

N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a chemical with formuka C₂H₆N₂O usually in the form of yellow liquid. This chemical is water insoluble as well as not causing bioaccumulation, however, NDMA is still pretty toxic. Even the chemical was once used as poison in a homicid case in Germany.

NDMA can seep through body and destroy vital organs, particularly liver. It is also carcinogenic in which frequent exposure to it will trigger the growth of cancerous cell. Due to the extreme danger it exposes, N-Nitrosodimethylamine is listed among the prohibited chemicals in Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

4. Hexabromocyclododecane

Hexabromocyclododecane or HBCCD is a chemical with formula C₁₂H₁₈Br_6. HBCCD was often found in insulation, upholstery, and electronic equipment. HBCCD was once permitted in the industry until a further research proved the chemical to be toxic, persistent and highly possible for bioaccumulation.

If HBCCD is accumulated in long period of time, it will affect the health of living being, including human. The body will start reacting to this foreign chemical and develop allergies to battle it. If the immune system is unstable, a more serious health problem may arise. The worse case of it is development of carcinogenic cell within the body.

5. Chloromethyl Methyl Ether

Chloromethyl Methyl Ether or CMME is an alkylating agent with compound formula of CH3OCH₂Cl. The chemical was once used in the industry as polymers and mixed with other elements for solvent industry. The chemical is banned because Chloromethyl methyl ether is highly carcinogenic.

Long period accumulation of this compound will trigger highly risky cell including carcinoma. Carcinoma cell is often the cell that triggers cancer in skin and vital organ in body. The organ that will be highly affected by penetration of CMME is liver. Not only in Canada but many countries have prohibited the import and export of this chemical (Related to List of Toxic Chemicals Severely Restricted for Import and Export)

6. Polychlorinated Napthalene

Polychlorinated Napthalene (PCN) is an oil chemical that was used for waxy elements and for insulation. PCN was once used widely for industry when the harm it exposes was undetected. However, after long use of it, industrial workers were reported to encounter some health problem as result of being exposed to polychlorinated napthalene.

Starting from skin rashes, some of long-time workers develop a problem in their livers and the climax was the death of some workers. The chemical is later discovered to be persistent in most ways and only small elements are soluble through sunlight. Because of its toxic nature, many countries prohibit all activities connected with this chemical.

7. Hexachlorobutadiene

Hexachlorobutadiene is a colorless compound with formula C₄Cl₄. Formerly used as solvent for other chlorine compounds, the chemical is later banned by Canada and is listed among the prohibited list in Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The first use of it was heavily under surveillance until further research discovered the chemical to be highly toxic.

When Hexachlorobutadiene is absorbed to inhalation, oral or through skin (dermal), it can cause degeneration of liver and disfiguration of nerve system. Later, it is also proven to be possibly carcinogenic to human. Because of the high risk it exposes, not only Canada but their neighbor United States also prohibit the use and import activity of this product. The chemical is also hazardous to environment in which a bioacummulation within a food chain may cause depopulation of some organisms.

By being aware of which chemical is banned, people can avoid a long-term risk of being affected with dangerous diseases. Furthermore, there are many list of chemicals banned in Canada, some of the chemicals are colorless as well as persistent in which the spread of it can pollute everything around it. To see how chemicals manifested in foods are banned, take a peak at Harmful List Of Banned Food Additives In Many Countries.