WASHINGTON (Reuters)
Canada is moving to get rid of products with a chemical common in plastic bottles. Bisphenol A, or BPA, is used to make polycarbonate plastic, a clear shatter-resistant material in products ranging from plastic baby and water bottles to the coating inside most food and beverage cans.
Canadian Health Minister Tony Clement said on Friday his country intends to become the first to ban the import and sale of some types of plastic baby bottles because they contain BPA.
The National Toxicology Program, part of the U.S. government's National Institutes of Health, also issued a draft report expressing concern that BPA could cause neural and behavioral problems in fetuses, infants and children. Relying on the results of animal studies, it expressed concern about possible links between BPA exposure, early puberty, and prostate and breast cancer.
The New York-based bottle maker Nalgene said on Friday it will phase out production of bottles made with BPA.
U.S. states including California, Maryland, Minnesota and Michigan are considering bills to ban or restrict bisphenol A in children's products.
While Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, announced on Thursday it plans to offer more BPA-free products.
