The government of Canada formally declared bisphenol A, a chemical widely used to create clear, hard plastics, as well as food can liners, to be a toxic substance. The compound, commonly known as BPA, has been shown to disrupt the hormone systems of animals and is under review in the United States and Europe. The Canadian government, two years ago, eliminated the compound’s use in polycarbonate bottles used by infants and children. BPA is toxic to both the environment and human health. In the United States, about half a dozen states have banned BPA in children’s products. The federal government has taken no action, saying there is no proof of harm in humans. But health and regulatory agencies have concerns about BPA and have commissioned more studies. In an extensive study of BPA retained by Canadians’ bodies that was published in August, Statistics Canada, a government agency, found that almost no one escaped the chemical and that the highest concentrations of the compound were found in teenagers, with younger children a close second. The presence of a chemical in the body, however, does not necessarily mean it is harmful.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/14/world/americas/14bpa.html?ref=earth
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/14/world/americas/14bpa.html?ref=earth
While I applaud Canada for making a public announcement about a possibly dangerous chemical, let me highlight the keyword there, "possibly." Scientists say the chemical can act like the female hormone estrogen, but what does that do to the body exactly? Are women going to evolve to have larger chests, or are teenage boys suddenly going to develop womanly curves? The Endocrine Society warned about the dangers of endocrine disruptors, but what does BPA do specifically? Canada is taking a step in the right direction, but they might want to have done their research first.
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