More testing needed on 'forever chemicals' in the North, advocate says

An environmental group says not enough testing is being done to determine the extent of contamination from so-called "forever chemicals," especially in the North.

CBC News recently published an interactive map showing some PFAS "hotspots" across Canada, based on data from the federal government's inventory of contaminated sites. But Cassie Barker, senior program manager at the Toronto-based advocacy group Environmental Defence, said it doesn't show the entire picture.

"The problem with that map is that it really can't show the extent of PFAS contamination that the North is actually dealing with," she said. "PFAS is everywhere, and in the North, it's particularly harmful and concentrated." 

PFAS — perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a group of human-made chemicals found in a wide range of products, including cosmetics, non-stick pans, and firefighting foam. They're called forever chemicals because they have a strong carbon-fluorine bond, one of the strongest in chemistry, that makes them nearly impossible to break down.

They're resistant to heat, water, and oil, and they can stay in the environment and our bodies for decades. PFAS have also increasingly been linked to human health problems, such as increasing cancer risk and causing reproductive issues.

According to Barker, routine testing for PFAS is limited, and contamination may be more widespread than current testing indicates, meaning much of the exposure may be unseen or unreported.

PFAS levels are often higher near industrial sites, landfills, and airports. In the N.W.T., the chemicals have been found in soil at the Hay River, Fort Simpson, and Inuvik airports. The territorial government plans to begin environmental site assessments at airport properties this year, starting in Hay River.

Dana Bowen with the N.W.T. government says the territory has also tested all 33 N.W.T. communities for PFAS at water treatment facilities in 2023 and 2024. Most were below detection limits, but in 2024 Norman Wells exceeded Health Canada's new recommended limit for drinking water.

Exceeding the limit doesn't necessarily indicate an immediate health risk, officials say, as the guideline includes large safety margins. More testing is planned in Norman Wells, but there is no schedule for re-testing across the rest of the territory.

The N.W.T. government says PFAS are considered an emerging chemical of concern, and officials are working to align with evolving science and regulations. 

However, Barker says governments need to move faster. She said PFAS can travel through soil, water, and even the air, and build up in the bodies of people and animals over time. She added that these chemicals can be harmful even at very low levels.

She said exposure to PFAS has been linked to rare cancers, hormone disruption, and damage to organs like the liver and kidneys.

"Very small amounts of PFAS have these outsized harms," Barker said. "We're talking, you know, really low levels, drops in a swimming pool, levels of toxicity."

Health Canada recently revised its guidelines for PFAS in drinking water, lowering the acceptable limit. Barker said the change reflects growing evidence that even small amounts can cause harm.