Canada Considers Federal Ban On Bisphenol A

Ottawa, Canada (AHN) - Health Canada is considering a federal ban on the use of bisphenol A after a joint assessment report with Environment Canada concluded the substance poses a danger to people's health and the environment.

Once the document is made public, it leaves open for 60 days public comment, leading to the issuance by the federal government of control measures on the item under question.

BPA is used as a synthetic chemical with various industrial applications such as basic building block for polycarbonate and to produce epoxy resin that line the insides of tin cans, dental sealants, sports helmets and compact discs.

Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defense, explained to Globe and Mail that, "Bisphenol A is in every Canadian home. It threatens the health of every Canadian. Moving against it would be a hugely significant victory for public health and the environment."

Health Canada is expected to issue a statement this week that BPA may threaten Canadians' health. By being the first country to issue such a warning, it will pressure other major regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its counterpart in the European Union to study again their approval on the use of BPA.

Previous U.S. tests showed over 90 percent of Americans have BPA trace residues in their bodies. BPA's molecular shape mimics estrogen, the female hormone. Trace amounts of the chemical are transferred from food and beverage containers especially when the plastic is heated, exposed to strong dishwashing chemicals or gets in touch with acidic substances.

Following the BPA alarm, specialty retailers in Canada have pulled off the shelves polycarbonate plastic containers and replaced it with BPA-free bottles which have been selling well.

San Francisco tried to ban the sale of baby bottles with BPAs, but recalled the law after 5 months. There are 9 U.S. states considering a ban on the use of BPA in containers.