OTTOWA, Ontario, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- The Canadian government said Monday it will review more than 500 chemical substances for their safe use in everyday consumer plastic products.
Environment Minister Peter Kent and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said the five-year, $506 million Chemicals Management Plan put forth by the Tory government will assess whether compounds are toxic to humans and/or the environment, Postmedia News reported.
"Today's announcement is both an investment in the health of the Canadian economy and our environment," Aglukkaq said. "Canadians want to have confidence in the products they use every day, and reassurance that they are not harmful to the environment."
Phthalates, found in plastics, will be screened, along with compounds found in items such as pesticides, clothing and food containers.
Another round of funding will allow screening of flame retardants and BPA, a compound used to stiffen plastic bottles but also alleged to affect hormone function, Postmedia said.
The Toronto-based group Environment Defense lauded the government's plan but also said it was taking too long assessing the environment fallout from the oil and gas industry.
"The delay in the petroleum stream is of concern given the rapid rise of fossil-fuel production in the tar sands and the vast lakes of toxic tailings now covering an area larger than the city of Vancouver," the report said.
