Plastics: It's Official: Canada Declares Bisphenol A Toxic

Yay, CANADA!!!

"Canadian Health Minister Tony Clement announced yesterday that Bisphenol A would be listed as a toxic substance and banned the use of polycarbonate plastic baby bottles. His Ministry will also tell baby food manufacturers to get it out of the linings of infant formula cans. The chemical has been blamed for conditions including cancer, declining sperm counts and early puberty in girls.

“We believe that the current safety margin needs to be higher. We have concluded that it is better to be safe than sorry,” Mr. Clement told a news conference yesterday in Ottawa, announcing the decision as “precautionary action.”

Martin Mittelstaedt, who has been reporting on BPA for years and deserves great credit for being an early voice in the wilderness, reports:

“This is the first time in living memory that our federal government has taken such a leadership position in the world on an issue like this,” commented Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defence, an advocacy group. “I think oftentimes Canadians want … to know that our country is doing right in the world, and in this particular case today it's actually happening.”

The FDA in the States still says it is safe, based on two studies funded by the American Chemistry Council."

Green: Say No Way to BPA!

Can I get an Amen and a Hallelujah!?

As a HUGE anti-plastics preacher I can't begin to tell you how thrilled I am that word is FINALLY getting out to the masses (hey, 'some concern' is better than 'no concern') about the toxicity of 'food grade' plastics.  I've been annoying educating everyone I know about my concerns with plastics for YEARS now!  Dump your plastic water bottles for non-toxic alternatives such as a stainless steel Klean Kanteen, People!  And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not drink water out of those 5 gallon plastic containers that Arrowhead (and the like) delivers to your home and office!  Those bottles are made from plastic number 7 which is a MAJOR leacher of BPA.  And (while I'm on a roll here) NEVER heat your food in the microwave in any sort of plastic container.  Seriously, how much more convincing do you need?!  Or maybe you're cool with Prostate and Breast Cancer, hormonal imbalances, etc.(?!) 

And Bravo(!) to Health Canada for being the first regulatory body in the world to call Bisphenol A (BPA) a 'dangerous substance' this week!  w00t!

From Grist.org...

U.S. health agency says ubiquitous chemical may harm kiddos.

A U.S. federal agency has declared that there is "some concern" that chemical bisphenol A can harm the development of children's brains and reproductive systems. The National Toxicology Program, part of the National Institutes of Health, issued a draft report following up on an 18-month review of BPA. The agency reported more concern than was suggested by its advisory panel, which critics alleged was biased toward the chemical industry. BPA can seep from hard plastic beverage containers, including baby bottles, and was detected in the urine of 93 percent of participants in a recent study. In light of the NTP report, congressional Democrats are asking the Food and Drug Administration to reconsider its view that BPA is safe. Canada, for once not beating us to the punch, is expected to issue a similar warning about BPA soon.

sources: Los Angeles Times, Reuters, The Washington Post, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Associated Press
see also, in Grist: Umbra advises on plastic water bottles
see also, in Grist: A special series on parenting and health