Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC): A National Profile of In Utero and Lactational Exposure to Environmental Contaminants
Recent reports have raised concerns about the number of chemicals in our bodies and the health effects, if any, that may be associated with the levels measured. Canadian data on this issue are limited.
This Canadian study has the following purposes:
to measure the extent to which pregnant women and their babies are exposed to common environmental chemicals;
to measure some of the beneficial elements in human breast milk;
to assess what health risks, if any, are associated with the chemical levels measured, with a focus on heavy metals such as lead and mercury;
another goal of this study is also to create a data and biological specimen bank for further research on fetal growth, pregnancy and health of mother and baby.
The co-principal investigators are:Tye Arbuckle, PhD
William Fraser, MD
Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
Health Canada
Professor and Chair
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Université de Montréal
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Funding agencies and research partners:
Health Canada
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Ontario Ministry of the Environment