On September 27, 2012, Health Canada announced that current exposures to BPA from food contact applications are not expected to pose a health risk, including for infants and children, and are lower than previously estimated. For a series of questions and answers about the Health Canada report, please click here.
On August 26, 2010, Health Canada released a new report that reviewed the amount of BPA found in canned beverages. According to Health Canada, the report, “further confirm[s] that exposure to BPA from canned beverage products is very low and poses no health or safety concerns to the general population.” To read the full report, please click here.
In a June 2010 review on BPA in canned food products, Health Canada examined BPA levels in 78 canned food products. Health Canada concluded that “The results of this survey confirm that exposure to BPA from canned food products is very low and poses no health or safety concerns to the general population.” To read the summary of this Health Canada study, please click here.
Statistics Canada (2010), “Bisphenol A concentrations in the Canadian population, 2007 to 2009”: On August 16, 2010, Statistics Canada released biomonitoring data, which included data on BPA. The 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) is the first national survey to measure bisphenol A (BPA) in Canadians. The study found that metabolites of BPA were detected in the urine of 91% of the population aged six to 79 years. This data demonstrated that the typical levels of BPA found in the general Canadian population are extremely low — approximately 1,000 times below the safe intake level for BPA set by Health Canada for all age groups, including children and teenagers. To read the Statistics Canada report, please click here.
In October 2008, Health Canada released the results of its human health screening assessment on BPA. In its comprehensive assessment, Health Canada specifically reviewed a small number of studies that demonstrated neurobehavioral effects following oral administration of BPA in mice. In regard to these studies, Environment Canada concluded that “While collectively these studies provide evidence that exposure to bisphenol A during gestation and early postnatal life may be affecting neural development and some aspects of behaviour in rodents, the overall weight of evidence was considered limited from the perspective of rigour (e.g., study design limitations such as conduct of behavioural assessments at a single time point); power (e.g., limited number of animals per test group), corroboration/consistency (limited consistency of studies) and biological plausibility (e.g., certain studies involve use of a single dose, lack of dose response relationship). These limitations make it difficult to determine actual significance of findings to human health risk assessment.” To read the full report, please click here.
In October 2008, Health Canada released a fact sheet on BPA, stating that “The current research tells us the general public need not be concerned. In general, most Canadians are exposed to very low levels of bisphenol A, therefore, it does not pose a health risk.” To read the full fact sheet, please click here.
In its August 2008 BPA Health Risk Assessment, Health Canada reviewed current data to assess the potential for health risks arising from dietary sources of BPA. Health Canada concluded that, “Based on the overall weight of evidence, Health Canada’s Food Directorate has concluded that the current dietary exposure to BPA through food packaging uses is not expected to pose a health risk to the general population, including newborns and young children. This conclusion has been re-affirmed by health agencies in other countries, including notably the United States, the European Union and Japan.” To read the full report, please click here.
In addition to the studies, reviews and assessments noted above, Health Canada has conducted multiple other scientific assessments on BPA. For additional information or to read the results of these assessments please click here.