Since 1998, phthalates have voluntarily not been used by Canadian industry in soft vinyl pacifiers, teethers, rattles, baby bottle nipples and other products intended to be mouthed by children and infants.

Even so, Health Canada's own market survey conducted in 2008 found the widespread presence of phthalates in PVC toys and other products for young children.

According to the test results released to Postmedia News under access-to-information legislation, three-quarters (54 of 72) of soft plastic toys and other items for young children contained up to 39.9 percent by weight of PVC.

Health Canada says it conducted the tests to "understand what manufacturers are using instead of phthalates," according to an internal summary of the test results, said Sara Schmidt of Postmedia News.

Many environmentalists want the Canadian government to do a great deal more to control phthalates and other toxic chemicals in everyday consumer products.

A petition filed Thursday by the David Suzuki Foundation and Reseau des femmes en environement asks why Canada is not enforcing a prohibition on estrogen-mimicking, hormone-disrupting chemicals in personal care products like shampoos, lotions, deodorants and makeup. Estrogens are the primary female sex hormones.

"Canada's Cosmetic Regulations are clear - products that contain estrogenic substances should not be allowed on the shelf," said Lisa Gue, researcher with the David Suzuki Foundation. "So what are these chemicals doing in our body products?"

The petition points out that although Canada's Cosmetics Regulations prohibit the sale of any cosmetic that contains "an estrogenic substance," parabens, siloxanes, phthalates and BHA are common ingredients in cosmetics. All four show evidence of estrogenic activity and have been classified by the European Union as suspected endocrine-disrupting substances.

The petition asks what action Health Canada is taking against manufacturers or importers of cosmetics containing these and other estrogen-mimicking endocrine disrupters.

"There is a growing body of scientific evidence linking exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and adverse effects on wildlife and human health," the petition states. These chemicals have been linked to health effects, ranging from declining sperm counts and increased incidences of male genital malformations, to increased incidences of certain types of cancer.

The petition asks seven questions of Canada's Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Scott Vaughan. The government will have 120 days to respond.

"Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are ubiquitous and it makes sense to minimize unnecessary exposure," said Gue. "Health Canada has acknowledged this in recent decisions to ban Bisphenol-A in baby bottles and six types of phthalates in soft vinyl toys. We hope that our petition will spur the government to start enforcing the regulatory prohibition on estrogenic substances in cosmetics."