There is wonderful news that canada will ban bisphenol A (BPA) by November 2010, which will force manufacturers to find safe alternatives to the estrogen mimicking chemical. A recent Statistics Canada study, conducted in partnership with Health Canada, found that nine out of 10 Canadians aged six to 79, or 91 per cent of the population, have bisphenol A in their urine. Youth between the ages of 12 to 19 had an average level of 1.50 parts per billion -- higher than the overall average of 1.16 parts per billion. Bisphenol A leaches into food from the protective epoxy resin coatings of canned foods and drinks and from polycarbonate tableware, plastic food storage containers and reusable hard plastic bottles, including water cooler bottles. It is a man-made chemical that has been used for decades to harden plastics and is found in reusable water bottles, baby bottles, lenses, helmets, goggles, toys, CDs, DVDs, credit cards, and as a coating for most dental fillings. It is one of the world’s most ubiquitous chemicals, with more than 2.2 million tonnes produced each year. Studies show that low level of exposure to bisphenol A early in life predisposes us to learning difficulties, diabetes, breast cancer, infertility, early onset of puberty and male sexual dysfunction. Men exposed to bisphenol A (BPA) in the workplace had four times the risk of erectile dysfunction and seven times the risk of ejaculation problems when compared with men who did not have workplace exposure to the compound. Happily, Canada has been the first country in the world to declare it a toxic substance. Thankfully, the Canadian dental association is advising dentists to search for BPA free materials, which are not yet readily available. The ban will force the dental industry to come up with safer substances for use in fillings and dental appliances. For more information on bisphenol A and breast health, see www.mammalive.net