BPA’s a chemical found in everything from hard plastic bottles to cash register receipts to cans containing food — and linked to everything from breast cancer to sexual dysfunction. So in some ways, the decision from Environment Canada — an agency similar to the U.S.’ EPA — should be no surprise. This week, Canada officially declared BPA a toxic substance.

To be clear, Environment Canada’s decision isn’t a ban on BPA — though the agency’s move could make future bans more likely, according to the New York Times. And the toxic designation could get companies to get the maligned chemical out of their products voluntarily.

What about BPA in the U.S.? Well, we’re behind Canada. BPA was named and shamed as a troublesome chemical by the President’s Cancer Panel in March, and even the FDA advised people to decrease their exposure to the chemical in January. But no actual bans have happened at the federal level. The New York Times summarizes the progress we’ve made so far:

In the United States, about half a dozen states have banned BPA in children’s products. The federal government has taken no action, saying there is no proof of harm in humans. But health and regulatory agencies have concerns about BPA and have commissioned more studies.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and FDA are among those agencies.

And in California? a bill banning BPA in baby food packaging unfortunately didn’t pass. However, the California EPA’s moved to list BPA as reproductive toxicant.

In the meantime, it’s up to you to avoid BPA. To start, learn how to ban the can from your life!

Photo by stevendepolo

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