Families warn of new deaths linked to a chemical previously sold by Kenneth Lo

Toronto —
Families of victims have issued new warnings after deaths believed to be linked to a chemical previously sold by Kenneth Lo, who is accused in a wide-ranging case related to assisting suicide online.

Concerns focus on the continued accessibility of "sodium nitrite" online, despite its association with several deaths inside and outside Canada, and despite the forensic and regulatory scrutiny following Lo's arrest.

Affected families say the new deaths show that the problem did not end with the charges against Lo, and that hazardous materials remain available in ways that allow vulnerable individuals to obtain them.

Lo had faced charges related to selling substances online believed to have been used in deaths, in a case that caused widespread shock and led to calls for tighter controls on the sale of chemicals with dangerous uses.

The case is complicated by the fact that sodium nitrite is not a fully banned substance, as it is used in industrial and food sectors, making its sale regulation legally more difficult.

However, the victims' families say this reality does not exempt authorities and commercial platforms from the responsibility to impose clearer restrictions, especially when the substance is sold in quantities or ways that could indicate its use for lethal purposes.

The families call for stronger measures including monitoring online sales, restricting shipping, requiring sellers to implement stricter verification procedures, in addition to removing content that facilitates access to means of suicide.

The case highlights a growing gap between the speed of e-commerce and the ability of laws to keep pace with the risks of materials available online, especially when intersecting with mental health crises and suicide.

Authorities continue to follow up on the case, while families affirm that protecting vulnerable individuals requires faster action before additional deaths occur.