Canada is taking an historic step by becoming the first nation to add the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) to its official register of toxic substances.
BPA is the primary component in hard, clear polycarbonate plastics that are used in thousands of everyday consumer products such as baby bottles, CDs and DVDs, and the linings of food and beverage cans. Numerous studies have shown that BPA can cause or contribute to health problems ranging from heart disease and diabetes in adults to impaired brain and hormone development in children.
BPA is so pervasive, and present in so many products people use every day, that the chemical leaches into our food and water, and even permeates our skin. A report last week by Statistics Canada showed that 91 percent of people tested had BPA in their urine, with the highest concentrations found in children. Those results are consistent with previous studies conducted in the United States.
In 2009, when the Canadian government first proposed listing BPA as a toxic substance, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) demanded a formal review of the proposal, accused the Canadian government of pandering to "emotional zealots," and said that any designation of BPA as toxic would not be "based on the best available data and scientific knowledge." Canadian minister Jim Prentice rejected ACC demands, saying that the organization had failed to "bring forth any new scientific data or information" to support its request for a board of review.
Canada had already banned the sale of baby bottles that contain BPA in 2008, and while the new action would make it the world's first nation to list BPA as a toxic substance Canada is not alone in its concern about the chemical's possible adverse health effects.
In May, France approved a ban on manufacturing, importing, exporting or selling baby bottles made with plastics that contain BPA. Denmark has banned the use of BPA in any materials that come into contact with food and beverages, and Sweden is considering a similar ban. Several U.S. states have banned baby bottles and other children's products that contain BPA, and U.S. government agencies continue to study and review the overall safety of using BPA in consumer products.
On the other hand, Germany declined to take action to ban or reduce consumer exposure to BPA after the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment cited two studies that found the chemical was no hazardous to human health.
The controversy over BPA is bound to continue for some time, as more studies are conducted and new information comes to light about the potential or proven health effects of exposure to the chemical. Meanwhile, consumers in most countries are left without definitive answers and must decide for themselves whether they want to do as much as they can to reduce their exposure to BPA.
Also Read:
Monday, September 06, 2010
Canada First Nation to Declare BPA a Toxic Substance
