That is a complex question. These substances act in different ways and it's not always possible to establish a direct correlation. Often, the cumulative risks associated with various substances can make an assessment very difficult. The truth remains, however, that we are regularly exposed to many toxic substances.
When the Canadian Environmental Protection Act was passed at the end of the 1990s, we knew very little about endocrine‑disrupting chemicals and their various combinations. Our knowledge of the subject has greatly increased over the past few years, however.
France has been one of the leaders in this field with its proactive and stringent regulations on endocrine‑disrupting chemicals. This is a field that is very close to my area of expertise, which is health. France has made regulations that target certain risks such as exposure to endocrine‑disrupting chemicals in certain healthcare settings. Let me give you an example for clarity. In the hospital, we sometimes have to rehydrate patients with saline solutions. The solutions come in plastic bags, and the tubes connected to these bags contain a lot of endocrine‑disrupting chemicals. France has taken measures to reduce exposure to these chemicals. I would say that France has made important strides in its legislation over the past few years.