Research report raises cancer concerns

Totem Ski Shop pulled candy-coloured water bottles from its sales floor last Friday, joining retailers across Canada who were responding to fears that a key ingredient in the popular plastic containers may cause cancer.

“We got a message this morning from the manufacturer, asking us to return any bottles to them,” said Manu Loir-Mongazon, camping equipment manager at Totem, which sells about 500 of the hard plastic bottles a year.

The source of concern is bisphenol A, a hardening agent that allows clear polycarbonate plastic to mimic glass. A published research report says it has the ability to alter the activity of genes in normal breast cells in ways that resemble what is found in extremely dangerous breast cancers.

Health Canada has concluded bisphenol A, or BPA, is a dangerous substance, and Canada is poised to become the first country in the world to list it as a toxic substance and ban the use of polycarbonate plastic baby bottles that contain the controversial material.

Jasper’s Cavell Guadian Drugs had hard plastic baby bottles on its shelves this week, but  none were marked with a “7” inside a triangle, the telltale indicator for BPA. Store manager Leanne Ewald said no recall has been issued by Rexall, the store’s main supplier, but she is looking for glass bottles.

“Customers have been asking,  and I want to offer them a choice,” she said. 

Health Canada also intends to tell baby food manufacturers to reduce the amounts of it leaching from the linings of  infant formula cans. Health Minister Tony Clement announced the steps Friday just as Loir-Mongazon got the warning from Totem’s supplier.

Loir-Monzagon said the alternative to plastic is an aluminum bottle, but if misused, those have some of the same potential problems as a hard plastic containers: their plastic liner can also be dissolved by alcohol, fruit juice or hot beverages.

“I tell customers not to wash these bottles with detergent, don’t pour boiling or hot liquid in it; use it only for water, and change the water every day, it’s good. It’s supposed to be safe, but it depends on the customer to be safe about how the container is used.”

“If you need to carry juice, soup or coffee, he recommends vacuum bottles or food containers that are subject to more safety regulations than water bottles. Some manufacturers list the substances that their products can safely contain, if it isn’t mentioned, don’t use it,” he cautioned.

BPA, is one of the most widely used synthetic chemicals in modern industry, used to make the epoxy resins lining most tin cans, along with some dental sealants, sports helmets and compact discs.

The industry association representing BPA manufacturers, the Arlington, Va.-based American Chemistry Council, issued a statement contending the Canadian government acted without justification.