Health Canada Says BPA Dangerous

Canada may be the first country to list Bisphenol A ("BPA"), a common estrogen mimicker that leaches from plastic and metal cans, as hazardous to health later this week.

I posted an article earlier this week entitled The Quest for Clean Water in which I mentioned bisphenol A ("BPA"), one of the chemicals that leaches into water (and other foods) from plastic bottles (and other plastic dishes, glasses, storage containers...). According to the latest news, bispenol A may soon be listed by Health Canada as a dangerous substance - making environmental and health history.

As today's Globe & Mail has it, this decision "will amount to one of the most important regulatory decisions regarding a single chemical in decades," and will put pressure on other countries to acknowledge the risks associated with BPA.

Bisphenol A is a "hormonally active chemical" found in almost all plastics and in metal can liners, where it can leach into foods and beverages. Industry maintains that BPA is safe at small concentrations, but concerns about its impact on human health continue to grow. Some experts say it mimics naturally occuring estrogen and according to the 2006 National Geographic Green Guide, animal studies indicate that BPA may cause infertility, cancers, and hyperactivity.

Health Canada's decision on bisphenol A is slated to be released tomorrow.