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Water Bottles Pulled From Shelves

CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF POLYCARBONATE PLASTIC HAS PROMPTED A MAJOR CANADIAN OUTDOOR-GOODS RETAILER TO PULL POPULAR WATER BOTTLES FROM SHELVES.  LEARN MORE ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

POLYCARBONATE IS A RIGID, CLEAR PLASTIC.  IT’S MADE FROM BISPHENOL A, OR B-P-A, A CHEMICAL THAT’S NOW UNDER FEDERAL REVIEW IN CANADA BECAUSE IT’S BEEN SHOWN TO MIMIC HUMAN ESTROGEN.

SOUTHAM: GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTY THAT SURROUNDS BPA IN CANADA IN TERMS OF ITS REGULATORY STATUS (EDIT), WE JUST FELT THAT IT WAS PRUDENT AT THIS TIME TO STOP SELLING POLYCARBONATE PRODUCTS.

THAT’S SPOKESPERSON TIM SOUTHAM OF MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT CO-OP, CANADA’S LARGEST OUTDOOR-GOODS RETAILER.  HE SAYS THE CO-OP WILL REVISIT THE DECISION AFTER THE GOVERNMENT ISSUES A FINAL RULING.  AND IN THE MEANTIME, CONSUMERS CAN BUY BOTTLES MADE FROM ALTERNATIVES LIKE STAINLESS STEEL.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Read more from the Toronto Globe and Mail.

Read more about BPA from Our Stolen Future.

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