In the next few days, a groundbreaking national health survey is planned to be starting in British Columbia.
The survey is initiated to discover what kinds of toxic chemicals are present in Canadians' bodies, as well as examining other health issues such as obesity and disease other diseases.
Nearly 700 residents in the province will be surveyed.
By the end of 2008, more than 5,000 Canadians between the ages of 6 and 79 will have been tested.
Participants must agree to a series of physical exams, fitness testing and blood and urine tests. They'll also be required to wear an activity monitor for seven days.
According to Jeanine Bustros, the director of the physical health measures division of Statistics Canada, the survey could have major significance for health policy, depending on the findings.
"This survey will allow us, for the first time, to have a benchmark," she said.
"To be able to measure: Are we getting better? Are we getting worse?, in terms of the levels of contaminants in the Canadian population."
StatsCan will put the findings together for Health Canada and Canada's Public Health Agency. The results will become the first-ever comprehensive health study that directly measures things like obesity, lung function, chronic disease and levels of toxic chemicals in the blood.
Individual health results will be , but will be provided to participants who request them, within weeks of testing.
Only Canadians who are contacted by Statistics Canada are eligible to participate.
The results of the survey are confidential and protected by privacy laws, but will be given to participants within weeks after testing on request.
Source: CBC News
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