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These data tables present national data on concentrations of environmental chemicals in Canadians. These data were collected as part of an ongoing national direct health measures survey called the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). Statistics Canada, in partnership with Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, launched the CHMS in 2007 to collect health and wellness data and biological specimens on a nationally representative sample of Canadians. Biological specimens were analyzed for indicators of health status, chronic and infectious diseases, nutritional status, and environmental chemicals.

Human biomonitoring is used to estimate exposure to environmental chemicals by measuring the chemical, its metabolites, or reaction products in biological specimens. Since 2007, the biomonitoring component of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) has measured over 250 chemicals in blood, urine and/or pooled serum. The CHMS is an ongoing national survey with data collected in two-year cycles. More information on the full survey can be found on the Statistics Canada website (statcan.gc.ca/chms).

Human biomonitoring is used to estimate exposure to environmental chemicals by measuring the chemical, its metabolites, or reaction products in biological specimens. Since 2007, the biomonitoring component of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) has measured over 250 chemicals in blood, urine and/or pooled serum. The CHMS is an ongoing national survey with data collected in two-year cycles. More information on the full survey can be found on the Statistics Canada website (statcan.gc.ca/chms).

Biomonitoring is a key tool used as an indicator and quantitative measure of exposure to chemicals in the environment. Human biomonitoring data contribute to our understanding of exposure and provide information to inform the management of the health risks posed by chemicals.

Recent reports raise concerns about the number of environmental chemicals in our bodies. They also address the possible health effects that may be linked to the levels of these chemicals.

Information regarding the uncontrolled release of chemicals, biological agents or radioactive contamination into the environment or explosions that cause widespread damage; and Health Canada's role in preparation for, or in the event of such an emergency.

Every day, we are exposed to chemicals and pollutants - in our air, food and water. There are chemicals in everyday products we use at work, at home and at play. While some chemicals may be beneficial to our health, others may pose a health risk if they're not handled properly.

Biomonitoring provides a measure of internal doses of environmental chemicals or agents and allows for a more accurate measure of human health risk from these chemical exposures. Information presented in these Alberta Biomonitoring Program datasets were collected as part of two province-wide biomonitoring studies investigating the serum concentrations of a variety of environmental chemicals (both natural and synthetic) in pregnant women in northern, central, and southern Alberta (Phase 1) and in children in southern Alberta (Phase 2). The goals of the Alberta Biomonitoring Program are to create a benchmark against which to track future exposures, to provide a starting point for assessing health risks, to indicate possible exposure sources and to prioritize research efforts. Chemicals targeted for monitoring in this program were selected using expert guidance and reviewing similar studies conducted by other agencies.

Join Health Canada's Chemical Contaminants e-Notice, a free service to stay on top of issued advice as well as regulatory and scientific developments in the area of food chemical contaminants in Canada.

Geographical information about Licensed Lab and Specimen Collection Centres. These include all of the hospital laboratories, private laboratories, laboratories in public health clinics and Canadian Blood Services laboratories.