The Second Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada, published by Health Canada in April 2013, summarizes the results of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) Cycle 2 (2009-2011). The CHMS is a joint initiative of Statistics Canada, Health Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada to collect information from Canadians about their general health. In addition, the CHMS collects blood and urine samples to test for chronic and infectious diseases, nutrition and environment markers. The report presents data on concentrations of 91 environmental chemicals in Canadians.
Many chemicals that Canadians may be exposed to in the environment are also important occupational exposures, including some occupational carcinogens. The Second Report on Human Biomonitoring includes data on a number of workplace exposures. These include metals such as antimony, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, uranium, and vanadium; benzene; chlorophenols; pesticides including atrazine, carbamates, 2,4-D, organophosphates, and pyrethroids; and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
- Link to the Second Report on Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals in Canada.
- Click here to read an article about the use of biomonitoring data in exposure and human health risk assessments.
- For more information about the CHMS and the First Report on Human Biomonitoring, click here.
- To learn about similar biomonitoring initiatives in the United States, visit the Centers for Disease Control website.
