BPA Gets Canada’ed!
We’ve invented a word because Canada is having a great week on toxics regulation. According to Environment Canada, BPA has been added to the agency’s toxic substances list—a big, big deal, especially after the disturbing revelation last week that 90% of the people tested had the hormone disruptor in their urine. (A similar study in the United States found it in 93% of those sampled.)
The American Chemistry Council is predictably miffed, and last year said that classifying it as a toxic is “pander[ing] to emotional zealots.” Well, color us emotional zealots because we are thrilled.
BPA, in case you have been living under a rock, has been linked to obesity, neurological issues, impaired thyroid function and other hormonal issues. Humans are exposed to it from soda cans, canned foods, baby bottles, school lunches, in plastics and more.
This is pretty game-changey. We’re excited to see what happens next, and we hope Environment Canada is ready to duck, because we imagine there’s going to be some mudslinging.
Luca with a BPA-free bottle (and Siobhan)
This is great great news. It is tough to get away from plastics. Plastics are everywhere, and sadly plastic-making companies selling everyday products even sponsor shows like Top Chef, which has a huge fan following.
I am trying to get rid of plastic, I hope I can completely do away with it.
P.S: I am a true NPR-junkie and I was so glad I heard you guys on the radio. I have been a fan of your blog ever since. I have changed my hair routine, am trying products such as the Moroccan argan oil, and have switched to organic shampoos. I am a student of cancer biology, but was unaware of the horrors of everyday products that we use. I truly appreciate the work that you two are doing. Kudos :-) Keep up the good work!
I LOVE this article, if only because it’s about Canada and I’m from here. But also, I’m glad to see the mundane, day-to-day, use-it-but-don’t-even-think-about-it items get blasted into the public eye like this. The natural and safe product companies can advertise and promote all they want; if it’s cheaper and easier to obtain, Joe Blow is going to buy $2 shampoo from Walmart….unLESS he knows what he’s doing to himself.