The announcement was made by Health Canada Wednesday. Canada maybe the first country to warn the public against this new study.
The chemical compound named bisphenol-a, most commonly known as B.P.A. was tested on animals and have shown that it disrupts the hormonal system of the animals.
B.P.A. is widely used in making polycarbonate plastic. Polycarbonates have many uses that pose no risk. But the test on animals of the chemical showed that even for a very small amount, it causes changes with the body.
"If the government issues a finding of toxic, no parent in their right mind will be using products made with this chemical," said Rick Smith, the executive director of Environmental Defense, a Canadian group that has been campaigning against B.P.A. "We will be arguing strongly for a ban on the use of this chemical in food and beverage containers."
But some scientists are questioning the significance of the test to humans. There are also disputes on how much chemical is produced by the plastic.
Director of the center for reproductive care and reproductive biology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and once headed the reproductive toxicology group at Health Canada, Warren G. Foster, is more skeptical.
Foster said, "In my experience working with bisphenol-a, it's a relatively benign chemical. There's room here for a lot more research."
He added that substances could be declared toxic under Canada's chemical management system if they had the potential for adverse effects in animals but not humans.
On the other hand, a draft report released by the United States says that further study is needed on the chemical.
In their statement, the American Chemistry Council agrees that there have been no reports of serious or high level adverse effects of B.P.A. to human reproduction and developmen
