Health Canada is first in the world to declare BPA dangerous - making environmental and health history.  What a great move for Canada, as this is the first step towards a ban and this classification could pave the way for BPA to be listed as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. This would allow our health minister to issue measures for its use. Other countries have been buying into the industry defending that BPA is harmless.  By Canada being the first country to issue such a warning, it will pressure other major regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its counterpart in the European Union to study again their approval on the use of BPA.

Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defense, explained to Globe and Mail that, “Bisphenol A is in every Canadian home. It threatens the health of every Canadian. Moving against it would be a hugely significant victory for public health and the environment.”

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.