First Nation Children’s Environmental Health

To speak about the manual To provide tools which could be used to

teach community members about environmental health concerns and how to decrease exposure to toxins

Elders Union of Ontario Indians Ministry of Children and Youth Services Wendy Burgoyne – Best Start Resource

Centre and Health Nexus First Nation’s Service Providers

Air Earth Fire Water

“The well being of our people today and generations to come are directly related to our ability to live in balance and harmony with Mother Earth”

John BeaucageGrand Council Chief

“Every child deserves to live in a healthy environment.”

“We can all work together to improve the health of First Nations children.”

Phil Fontaine, National Chief

Child Health and the Environment – A Primer, August 2005: Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and the Environment.

Physiological, developmental, and behavioral differences set them apart

Exposure occurs during sensitive developmental stages

Children spend more time close to the ground

Explore their environments through taste and touch

Consume larger quantities of food and water per body weight

Spend more time indoors

Liver is not developed to adult capacity until 6 months

Kidneys are not fully developed until 16 months

The blood-brain barrier is not fully developed for at least 3 years

Rapid brain development leads to increased vulnerability

Child Health and the Environment-A Primer, August 2005 Canadian Partnership fro Children’s Health and the Environment

When an activity raises threats of harm tohuman health or the environment,

precautionarymeasures should be taken even if some causeand effect relationships are not fully

establishedscientifically

The Wingspread statement(Wingspread Conference, Racine Wisconsin,

1998)

Some pollutants are excreted more slowly than they are absorbed and are stored in the body for long periods of time.

Body burden: Total pollutants in the body may increase if the organism is repeatedly exposed to bioaccumulating substances for a long period of time.

Intellectual deficits Learning disabilities Vision and hearing problems Behavioral problems

Interfere with normal functioning of the reproductive system and stages of development

Linked to birth defects in the male reproductive system, fertility problems, early onset menstruation/puberty, and cancer

Occurs mainly from contamination of wildlife and other foods including food packaging

A child’s lungs continue to develop into adolescence

Asthma – 12% of children in NA have, increased since 1994, boys higher rates

First Nations – higher rates of tobacco use, higher rates of asthma, more likely to be hospitalized for respiratory illness

Changes in sexual behaviour, lower sperm count, decreased fertility, irregular menstruation

Spontaneous abortion Low Birth Weight Birth defects Vision, hearing, intellectual deficits

Aamjiwnaang FN near Sarnia – more females born than males

Cause cancer PCBs, pesticides, diesel exhaust, vehicle

emissions, tobacco smoke Cancer rates are lower among FNs Increasing incidence of lung and colon

cancer

Lead Methyl Mercury PCB’s, Dioxins Volatile Organic Compounds Tobacco Smoke Radiation – UV Exposure Outdoor pollution – diesel, combustion,

burning, industrial air releases

Bisphenol A Poly Vinyl Chloride Phthalates Pesticides Persistent Organic Pollutants Poly Brominated Diphenyl Ethers

Found: Water supply, lead based paint (renovations), soil

and gardening, some consumer products Health Canada banned in gasoline in 1990 Today’s plumbing code prohibits the use of lead-

based solder

Water Supply: piping, solder, fixtures (taps themselves) Longer water sits in pipes the more lead may

dissolve into water Homes constructed before 1955 (today plumbing

code prohibits lead based solder)

Paint manufactured before 1980 & homes built before 1950

If chipped, peeled or sanded can release particles into dust and soil

Areas with increased abrasion (doors/rails/window sills) prone to creating dust therefore ensure that painted surfaces in older buildings are well maintained

Soil and Gardening Soil can be contaminated from current or past Soil can be contaminated from current or past

industrial activities/use of products by residents industrial activities/use of products by residents (vehicle emissions) especially if garden is close (vehicle emissions) especially if garden is close to roads/highwayto roads/highway

Consumer Products: plastic mini-blinds, candlewicks, sidewalk

chalk, crayons, the paint on pencils, clothing zippers, inexpensive jewellery and trinkets, pewter items, some imported candy and traditional medicines and some painted toys

What Can Families Do?What Can Families Do?Water Supply: Most effective way is to replace lead water service

or piping (expensive) Filtration (NSF Standard 53) Use only cold flushed water for drinking, cooking

and especially for preparing baby formula (never use hot water for tap consumption as heated water may contain higher levels

Boiling water doesn’t remove it MOE requires all daycares to have less than 10

ppb in water Flushing

What Can Families Do? Get advice from a qualified contractor

on how best to deal with old painted surfaces that require renovations or repair

Wash hands after cleaning Do not let children eat or suck on paint

chips Keep painted surfaces in good repair Wipe up paint chips immediately with

damp cloth Keep pregnant women and children out

of renovated spaces until the work is finished and well cleaned

What Can Families Do?Soil and Gardening: Remove shoes at the door and use washable door

mats Try to ensure that children play on grass not bare

soil Wash children’s feet after they play barefoot

outdoors Plant community gardens away from industrial or

high traffic areas Plant home gardens away from foundation of the

house if paint is peeling from outside of the building Add organic matter (such as compost) to your soil Keep soil moist to control dust Remove as much soil as you can from produce

before bringing into home/thoroughly wash vegetables before consuming or cooking

What Can Families Do?Consumer Products: Check for product warnings/advisories/recalls

from Health Canada Watch out for “trinkets” that have a dull grey

colour or are heavy for their size Carefully discard plastic mini-blinds bought

before 1997 Do not store or serve food and drinks in

leaded crystal dishes Avoid buying candles with metallic core in the

wick Avoid toys, backpacks and lunchboxes made

of brightly coloured PVC plastic Choose products such as pencils, crayons and

sidewalk chalk that are made in Canada

Found: Naturally occurring element found in

soil, rocks,lakes, streams and oceans. Released in environment by human

activities such as burning coal and other fossil fuel mining and manufacturing

Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces

Tuna (steaks), pike, bass, swordfish, shark and marlin contain high levels

Eat Less OftenEat Less OftenCanned white tunaCanned white tuna

(Albacore or blue fin) (Albacore or blue fin)

PregnantPregnant

Breastfeeding Breastfeeding WomenWomen

Children Children

Ages 1-4Ages 1-4ChildrenChildren

Ages 5-11 Ages 5-11

300 grams a week=

4 food guide servings

75 grams a week=

2 food guide servings

150 grams a week=

2 food guide servings

Higher in mercuryHigher in mercury

Canned TunaCanned Tuna

EAT MORE OFTENEAT MORE OFTEN

•Canned light tuna

•Made from skip jack, yellow fin and togol

LOWER IN MERCURYLOWER IN MERCURY

FISH TO LIMIT Fresh/frozen tuna steaks Swordfish Shark Marlin, tilefish Orange roughy Escolar Large freshwater fish- walleye,

northern pike

ENJOY OFTEN!Canned Tuna *light*CrabClams, oystersHalibutHerringLake whitefishRainbow troutShrimp, scallopsSquidBreaded fish cakes, sticks

2 food guide servings a month or 150 grams 2 food guide servings per week or 150 grams

FISH AND MERCURYFISH AND MERCURY

Where Are They Found? Also known as PCB’s Used in manufacture of transformer

cooling oil etc.. No longer in use in Canada (banned)

but still persists in the environment Found in air, soil, water and food Main source of contaminant is

through the fat of some fish as with most contaminants they are lipophilic ( fat loving)

Poly Chlorinated BiphenylsPoly Chlorinated Biphenyls

What Can Families Do? When eating fish, trim off fat

, discard the flesh and use a drip tray to allow fat to drip off fish and remove PCB

Follow same fish consumption guidelines as mercury

Poly Chlorinated BiphenylsPoly Chlorinated Biphenyls

Where Are They Found? Also known as PBDE “ The new PCB” Found in air, consumer products,

dust, soil and water Some are used as flame retardants

and heat stabilizers in thousands of products

Often make up a large portion of the plastics in building materials, television and computer casings, hand tool housings, foam and fabrics of textiles, drapery fabrics and furniture

Poly Brominated Diphenyl Poly Brominated Diphenyl EthersEthers

What Can Families Do? Dusting around the house and car with a damp cloth. Never dry dusting Handle dryer lint and vacuum cleaner bags

carefully Wash hands often before eating and preparing

food Open windows when cleaning Cover any exposed foam on household items, or

discard if it is crumbling or cannot be contained Remove unecessary carpets Ask retailers whether they carry PBDE free

products

Poly Brominated Diphenyl Poly Brominated Diphenyl EthersEthers

Where Are They Found? Also known as VOC’s A large group organic compounds that are

airborne at room temperature eg: formaldehyde, toluene, benzene

Release of fumes also known as “off gassing”

Fumes from solvents like paints and paint thinners

Fumes from new carpets, new furniture, new cars, cigarette smoke, hair spray, nail polish, mothballs, pressed wood, paints and thinners

Volatile Organic CompoundsVolatile Organic Compounds

What Can Families Do? Look for “low-VOC” , “non toxic” or

“enviro friendly” labelled products Choose a carpet free option for

children’s play area Encourage a smoke free environment Reduce the number of personal care

products such as hairsprays and nail polish

Open windows or let product “off gas” before installing- length of “off gassing” varies depending on product

Volatile Organic CompoundsVolatile Organic Compounds

Car and diesel exhaust, fuel combustion, burning of garbage or materials containing harmful chemicals and industrial air releases

Affects climate change Creation of “ smog” in the airDioxins Are by-products of combustion,

degradation of other chemicals such as vinyl and some industrial processes

Many types of dioxins and highly toxic

Outdoor PollutionOutdoor Pollution

Water run off, illegal waste dumping, improperly managed raw sewage, industry, agriculture, inadequate waste management systems

Most water pollution is now caused by overuse of consumer products particularly in the Great Lakes

Outdoor pollution also contributes to soil and water contamination

What Can Families Do? Do not burn garbage that

should not be burned Properly store and dispose of

hazardous waste Organize a hazardous waste

day in your community Stay indoors on very hot or

smoggy days Switch to paper instead of

disposable foam items such as paper plates

Outdoor Air PollutionOutdoor Air Pollution

Where Are They Found? Travel from farm fields, golf

courses, parks, forests by air , food and soil

Used for pest control in houses, indoor plants and gardens, lawns and pets

Used on fruits and vegetables Sprayed on side of road and hydro

lines for weed control Ontario has a new Cosmetic

Pesticide Law-some exceptions Some pesticides are banned in

Canada but not necessarily in the US

Pesticides and HerbicidesPesticides and Herbicides

Direct Exposure Those using pesticides Eg: Professionals, Farmers

Indirect Exposure Those living close to

areas where pesticides are used : Eg: agricultural areas, hydro lines, golf courses , agricultural crops

What Can Families Do? Avoid spraying the lawns with

pesticides Wash fruits and vegetables well with

water Buy local and grow your own produce Avoid picking berries, medicinal herbs

in areas where it may have been sprayed

Wash work clothes separately Take shoes and work clothes off at the

door Dust with a damp cloth

Pesticides and HerbicidesPesticides and Herbicides

Build up occurs when excess moisture is retained indoors

Mostly happens in bathrooms, kitchens and basements- can spread to rest of house

Can be found in carpets, wallpaper, insulation, wood and drywall

More than 270 kinds of mould Causes include home design,

poor ventilation, use of basements and crawl spaces in moist climate

Numbers 1-7 are for the purpose of recycling

(Thunder Bay #1&2) No regulatory body enforcing

mandated numbering on plastics (manufacturer’s choice)

Industries in charge of own testing

Not designed to be used to determine safety of plastics

Tests (Heating of plastics) conclude plastics heat resistance NOT whether they leach into product or not

Most plastics are made from petroleum (non-renewable imported)

Plastics in cooking and food storage can carry health risks ( chemicals leach in to food/occupational concerns & air pollution during manufacturing)

FoundFound:: Pop bottles - ability to hold fizz Juice containers, water bottles, Recyclable: Yes Safe for Food Storage: Yes only if one

time use only, must be recycled not re-used

Polyethylene Polyethylene Terephthalate EthyleneTerephthalate Ethylene

Found: Used in clear containers Milk jugs, juice containers, bleach, detergent

and shampoo containers, sports water bottles (soft)

Found in some plastic bags Recyclable: Yes Safe for food storage: Yes

High Density High Density PolyethylenePolyethylene

Concerns: plastic packaging (especially plastic bags) is an enormous source of landfill waste and is regularly

eaten by marine and land animals to fatal consequences

What Can Families Do? Try use alternatives to plastic packaging and storage

containers. Cloth, paper or cardboard are possibilities for transporting groceries.

High Density Polyethylene

Found: Used in some cling wrap, some plastic

squeeze bottles, peanut butter jars, shower curtains and children’s toys (ie: rubber ducky)

Bottles that have handles - handle can be molded easily into the bottle

Recyclable: No Safe for food storage: NoConcerns: PVC products contain and can leach

toxic additives

Poly Vinyl Chloride Poly Vinyl Chloride

What can Families Do? Avoid shower curtains and other

products, such as vinyl table cloths, made from PVC as much as you can/choose PVC-free curtains made from safer materials such as cotton OR

allow it to air out (off gassing is the smell of PVC)

Vinyl smells, don’t buy if there is no label

Poly Vinyl Chloride Poly Vinyl Chloride

What can Families Do? If you can, only purchase toys (other

products) that are not made from PVC If you already have toys that are made

from PVC try your best to limit (if possible stop altogether) the mouthing or sucking on items since this will speed up the leaching process

Health Canada has banned use of phthalates in teethers and rattles but no other toys at this time/US ban on phthalates in all toys

Poly Vinyl Chloride Poly Vinyl Chloride

Found: Grocery store bags, frozen food bags,

plastic wrap and some bottles Recyclable: No Safe for food Storage: Yes Concerns: Use plastic wrap with

caution, especially in microwave. Keep it from touching the food.

Alternatives: Wax paper, paper towels

Low Density Low Density PolyethylenePolyethylene

Found: Containers such as Rubber maid, deli soup,

syrup, yogurt andmargarine containers Straws and other clouded plastic containers

including baby bottles Safe for food storage: Yes Recyclable: No

PolypropylenPolypropylenee

Concerns/Tips: Avoid using plastic containers in the microwave

OR for food storage immediately after cooking while food is still hot. Chemicals are released from plastic when heated.

Use glass or ceramic containers free of metallic paint for microwaving and cooling/storing food.

Avoid storing fatty foods in plastic containers as there is greater leaching of chemicals into fatty foods.

Still continue to use as storage containers in other parts of daycare ie: mouthed toys waiting to be cleaned and disinfected, items used in crafts

PolypropylenPolypropylenee

Found: Styrofoam food trays, egg cartons, disposable

cups/bowls, carry out containers and opaque plastic cutlery

Safe for food storage: No Recyclable: No

PolystyrenePolystyrene

Concerns/Tips: Can leach into food Toxic to brain and nervous system Has been known to adversely affect red

blood cells, liver, kidneys and stomach in animal studies

What Can Families Do? Purchase eggs in cardboard cartons Do not store food in these containers

(especially food that has been heated) If being used in crafts, do not let children

mouth these items (ie: styrofoam balls etc.)

PolystyrenePolystyrene

Found: Used in most plastic baby bottles 5-gallon water bottles, sports

bottles, metal food can liners clear plastic “sippy” cups and some

clear plastic cutlery 7-PC-polycarbonate 7-Other-not just PC, can also be a

mixture of other plastics

Bisphenol ABisphenol A

7-Other-new bio based plastic 7-ABS-Acrylonitrile Butadiene

Styrene-similar concerns as 7- PC  Safe for food storage: No Recyclable: No

Bisphenol ABisphenol A

In the News:*October 2008: Health Canada adds it

to its Toxic Substances List*Spring 2010-Health Canada bans

BPA in baby bottles*Aug 2010- New Stats Can Bio Report-

BPA in over 90% of population. Ages 12-19 higher levels- *kids under 6 not tested*

Bisphenol A Bisphenol A

What Can Families Do? Baby bottles containing BPA should

not be on-site ( Health Canada ban) use glass or BPA free plastic- no longer allowed to sell in stores due to ban

Avoid plastic containers made of polycarbonate eg: kitchen use ie: no microwaving, do not put hot foods/liquids in them (use glass, porcelain or stainless for ALL food/liquid storage

Bisphenol ABisphenol A

What Can Families do ?

Dishwashing is considered to be a heat source (if used as the sanitizer) or the detergent itself can contribute to the break down of the container

When possible, replace all canned food with fresh or frozen

Look for bio based plastic which is not made from petroleum products

Switch to glass or stainless steel

Bisphenol A Bisphenol A

Where are they found? Used in plastics( mostly in vinyl)

to soften and make them flexible Used in baby toys , tablecloths,

shower curtains, medical equipment, flooring and packaging, paints and lubricants

Several classes of phthalates Used in scented products such as

candles, room deodorizers, personal care products, cars to make the scent last longer. “New car” smell.

What Can Families Do ? Used in unscented products to

mask the scent Limit or avoid purchasing vinyl

products. Choose fabric Limit the use of soft toys such

as bath toys around small children especially if they chew

Limit or avoid scented or unscented products

What Can Families Do? Look for term “Fragrance Free” Let products “off gas” outside

on clothes line for a few days and/or open windows

Feb 2009 – US banned phthalates in kids toys.

Canada currently only bans phthalates in teething rings and rattles/US ban for all toys

Keep pregnant women and children away from renovations

www.pvcfree.org

Tobacco Use Pesticide and

Herbicide Use Household

Chemicals Smog

Infants born to smokers have higher rates of nicotine dependency, lower birth weights and developmental as well as physical abnormalities.

Canadian Paediatric Society, 2006

Food Source Contamination

Soil Contamination

Waste Management

Housing

“Loss of traditional practices, including loss of traditional diets, can be linked to the increase in dietary related disease and obesity.”

Elder Rebecca Martell (2008)

Home Heating

Emissions from Combustion

Water Quality (Drinking) Breastfeeding Water Quality (Fish)

Lobby and advocate for change within community and at broader government level

Use resources available through internet and government agencies

Be aware and create awareness Provide up to date information Educate community members, Chief and

Council Participate in research activities Incorporate environmentally friendly

strategies in to service provision

Downloaded for free atwww.anishinabek.ca/images/Healthpdf/Inside%20Report.pdf

Call Laurie McLeod-Shabogesic to purchase copies at (705) 497-9127. The cost is $12.85 plus $5.00 for shipping and handling.

Limited number available for purchase during the conference.

www.tbdhu.com/HBHF/CEH www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca www.storyofstuff.com www.sinsofgreenwashing.org www.chej.org

Seven Sins of Greenwashing Wallet Card Personal Care Products Fact Sheet Breastfeeding: The Greenest Way To Go

Fact Sheet Smart Plastics Guide Guide to Eating Ontario Sport Fish List of Contaminants