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Canada labels BPA hazardous

TORONTO: Canada became the first country to limit the import and use of products containing an ubiquitous chemical found in hard plastic water bottles and baby bottles, metal cans and other food packaging when it formally declared bisphenol A to be a hazardous substance on Saturday.

The government published its decision to place bisphenol A, or BPA, on its list of toxic substances in the Canada Gazette on Friday.

The announcement came six months after Canadian Health Minister Tony Clement surprised the industry by labelling BPA as “dangerous” and saying that he may ban its use in baby bottles.

Health Canada made that decision shortly after a U.S. company said it would stop selling hard-plastic Nalgene water bottles made with bisphenol A because of growing consumer concern over whether it poses a risk.

Mr. Clement said a draft report on bisphenol A found the chemical endangers people, particularly newborns and infants, and the environment. He cited concerns that the chemical in polycarbonate products and epoxy linings can migrate into food and beverages.More than 6 million pounds of products containing bisphenol A are produced in the United States alone each year, including dental sealants, baby bottles, the liners of food cans, CDs and DVDs, eyeglasses and hundreds of household goods.

The biggest concern has been over BPA’s possible effects on reproductive development and hormone-related problems. Many scientists believe it can act like the hormone estrogen. — AP

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