Ontario to study reduction of toxins in plastic baby bottles

The Ontario government is appointing a panel to advise on ways of reducing the amount of Bisphenol A used in the manufacture of plastic baby bottles.

The initiative which comes in the wake of a Nov. 20 public rally in Toronto protesting against the use of Bisphenol A in baby bottles is part of the McGuinty governments new toxins reduction strategy, according to a statement issued by the Premiers office.

[The strategy] will include a range of measures to protect our health. It will include introduction of new toxic reduction legislation to reduce pollution, inform and protect Ontarians from toxic chemicals in the air, water, land and consumer products, the release said. An early prioritywill be to provide recommendations on how best to address Bisphenol A, widely used in plastic baby bottles and similar consumer products.

The panel will be composed from expert medical and scientific personnel, the release continued.

Efforts to target Bisphenol A in Ontario are partly the result of two recent panels in the U.S., both of which pointed to potential health effects of exposure to Bisphenol A. According to an expert panel of 38 scientists working with the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, most people are exposed to Bisphenol A at levels higher than those that cause health effects in animal studies. An expert panel of the U.S. National Toxicology Program concluded recently that Bisphenol A exposure to fetuses and to children could have behavioural and nervous system impacts.

(Speak Up! To contribute to a Canadian Plastics poll regarding the possible banning of Bisphenol A in Ontario, visit www.canplastics.com.)