Exposure to chemicals and pollutants can have short- and long-term effects on your health. Learn about the types of exposure, the factors that affect the risk to your health and the effects of chemical exposure.
There are 3 ways to be exposed to chemicals and pollutants:
You are exposed to chemicals and pollutants when you inhale (breathe in). You take over 20,000 breaths a day. This number can be much higher for infants and children. The chemicals and pollutants you inhale can end up in your lungs and blood stream. Sometimes, you can smell or taste harmful chemicals, but it isn't always so easy. Some chemicals, like radon or carbon monoxide, are odourless, tasteless and invisible.
You can be exposed to chemicals and pollutants by coming into contact with them through your skin and eyes. These organs can be more sensitive to chemicals and may react more quickly than the rest of your body.
You’re exposed to chemicals and pollutants when you eat and drink. Chemicals and pollutants are found in both our food and water sources.
Accidents or incorrect use of household chemical products may cause immediate health effects, such as skin or eye irritation or burns, or poisoning.
There can also be longer-term health effects from chemicals. When these occur, they’re usually the result of exposure to certain chemicals over a long period.
Depending on the chemical, longer-term health effects might include:
The health risks of chemicals and pollutants depend on several factors, including:
People that may be more sensitive to or more harmed by exposures from chemicals and pollutants include:
In 2006, we launched the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) to protect people in Canada and the environment from the harmful effects of chemical substances.
Learn about how we conduct chemical risk assessments to determine whether substances pose a risk to humans or the environment.