Health

Bisphenol A: toxic to babies, OK for adults?

by Wordsnark | October 20, 2008 at 12:11 pm

123 views | 27 Recommendations | 5 comments

While the Canadian government has decided that Bisphenol A (BPA) is toxic for infants, it has not considered extending the designation to protect adults.

Infants are more vulnerable, but adults are probably more exposed to Bisphenol A. The chemical is used in polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins in many food containers -- the linings of almost all almost all food, beer and pop cans are formulated with BPA.

The federal government has decided to add bisphenol A to the country's list of toxic substances, a move that is likely to renew attention on the widespread use of the controversial chemical in almost all food cans sold in Canada.

The toxic determination, issued in today's Canada Gazette, makes Canada the first country to classify as risky bisphenol A, the chemical building block for polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins.

The government took the action based on worries that infants up to the age of 18 months might be inadvertently getting too much of the chemical, which mimics the hormone estrogen, from baby formula cans and plastic baby bottles, as well concerns that fish and other wildlife could be harmed from environmental exposure.

"On October 17, the Government of Canada announced it will immediately proceed with drafting regulations to prohibit the importation, sale and advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles that contain bisphenol A (BPA). The Government will also take action to limit the amount of bisphenol A that is being released into the environment."
- Goverment of Canada Chemical Substances in Canada website

Bisphenol A news releases and factsheets from Canadian Chemical Substances (Government of Canada) website.

American Chemistry Council website on Bisphenol A
"The American Chemistry Council represents the companies that make the products that make modern life possible, while working to protect the environment, public health, and the security of our nation."

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Rachel Nixon

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 12:23 on October 20th, 2008

Wordsnark, it's a good question about adult exposure.

jessica.lam

at 12:33 on October 20th, 2008

Something to keep tabs on definitely -

Wordsnark

at 12:50 on October 20th, 2008

Thanks for the notice, Rachel and Jessica. It seems that Terri Potratz and I are keeping the watch on this ... along with, I hope, millions of alert consumers in Canada.