Baby bottles made with bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical linked to cancer and birth defects, have been declared toxic in Canada, while in the US the FDA is reviewing use of the chemical. The toxic classification in Canada will trigger a two-year regulatory process there that ultimately could lead to restrictions or a ban on the use of the chemical. Such a ban would also affect other consumer products including drink bottles, canned food and food containers. In the US, the American Chemistry Council has asked the FDA to review the chemical.
Studies in the past have found that even at low doses the chemical can increase breast and ovarian cancer cell growth, as well as some prostate cancer cells in animals. Rats that were fed or injected with low doses of the chemical developed precancerous tumors, urinary tract problems and began puberty early.
While manufacturers are confident they can quickly replace BPA with substitute chemicals in bottles, canned food is a bigger problem. Researchers say they have been unable to find a suitable replacement for the BPA-based epoxy resin that is used to line the inside of tin cans and prevent the metal from contacting the foodstuffs in the can.
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