Wed 11 Jan 2006 Victoria Times Colonist What leader will detoxify us? Canadian industries released nearly 18 million kilograms of carcinogens in 2003. That's a pound of cancer-causing poison per Canadian. Add that to the carcinogens we import in paints, varnishes, furnishings, carpets, computers and agricultural pesticides amongst others, and you have a veritable river of death. Little wonder that one out of four Canadians die of cancer. Why do we allow it? Have our leaders decided that for economic and industrial reasons, eating, drinking, and breathing poison is the way it has to be for Canadians? Canada poisons the Earth with more volatile organic compounds per capita then any of the 30 other member countries of the OECD, including the U.S., U.K., Germany and France. (VOCs are recognized cancer-causing chemicals.) We release more nucleur waste than any other OECD country and have one of the worst pollution records around the world. A recent study called "Toxic Nation" (www.toxicnation.ca) tested the level of toxic chemicals that Canadians are carrying around in their bodies. On average 41 carcinogens were found in each person tested. Most of them are found in everyday items like those mentioned above. In short, we're killing ourselves. Who, among our aspiring prime ministers, will address this? Bill Henderson, Saltspring Island.