OTTAWA - The federal government is recommending three building blocks of silicone found in some breast implants be deemed toxic.

The synthetic chemicals found in silicone fluids are three of 17 substances Health Canada recommends be deemed toxic in a draft report published Friday.

Health Canada said toxic consideration for the cyclohexasiloxane family - also known as D4, D5 and D6 - is based on their effect on the environment, and not on human health.

"They're not saying with this assessment that that's going to kill you, or harm you," said Kapil Khatter of the group Environmental Defence.

"But they are saying that overall this stuff builds up in our bodies and builds up in the environment and we need to get rid of it."

Among the other substances up for toxic designation is vinyl acetate, an ingredient in the making of polymer that's used as a chewing-gum base.

Confection companies Cadbury Adams Canada and the Wrigley Company insist there are only minute traces, if any, of vinyl acetate in chewing gum.

The public now has 60 days to comment before the government issues a final report, possibly detailing control measures.

It is similar to the process used last month when the government moved to have bisphenol A deemed a toxic substance.

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