Retailers Pull Plastic Bottles From Shelves Citing Safety Concerns

Concerns about the chemical component Bisphenol-A (BPA) lead several major Canadian retailers to pull plastic bottles from their stores today. Chains including The Bay, Zellers, Canadian Tire, Sport Chek and Athlete’s World have removed conventional plastic water bottles from their stores following the lead of other retailers including Mountain Equipment Co-op, Lululemon and Aviva Natural Health Solutions.

Health Canada is widely expected to officially list BPA, a chemical component frequently used in clear, moldable, polycarbonate plastics, as a potentially dangerous chemical substance as early as today.

In the United States, the National Toxicology Program released a report [PDF – 542k] yesterday outlining their concerns about BPA and the need for further study.

Are Current Exposures to Bisphenol A High Enough to Cause Concern?
 
Possibly. The “high” dose effects of bisphenol A in laboratory animals that provide clear evidence for adverse effects on development, i.e., reduced survival, birth weight, and growth of offspring early in life, and delayed puberty in female rats and male rats and mice, are observed at levels of exposure that far exceed those encountered by humans. However, estimated exposures in pregnant women and fetuses, infants, and children are similar to levels of bisphenol A associated with several “low” dose laboratory animal findings of effects on the brain and behavior, prostate and mammary gland development, and early onset of puberty in females. When considered together, these findings provide limited evidence that bisphenol A has adverse effects on development.

Consumers looking for healthier options can look for glass bottles or the more convenient reusable water bottles from Sigg are free of BPA, BPB and pthalates. There are BPA-free baby bottles available from Born-Free as well.