Nalgene Outdoor Products, the Rochester, New York, company that manufactures the popular water bottles and baby bottles characterized by hard, clear plastic that is almost impossible to break has announced that they will no longer be manufacturing these items. Recent scientific studies have produced repeated conclusions that one chemical (bisphenol-a) in these plastics is linked to hormonal changes that lead to the development of precancerous tumors, urinary tract issues, and the premature onset of puberty. Nalgene is a subsidiary unit of Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Nalgene’s general manager, Steven Silverman, says the company continues to believe bisphenol-a (BPA) is safe when used as intended but customer preference calls for BPA-free products instead. They have introduced a new line of bottles using Tritan copolyester, manufactured by the Eastman Chemical Company, instead of BPA. The new bottles have the same resistance to shattering as the BPA-based bottles do but they do not contain the chemical itself.

Wal-Mart Canada and other major retailers have begun removing food-related products made with BPA from store shelves earlier this week. Items being removed include baby bottles, sipping cups for toddlers, and other food containers.

Canada’s minister of health, Tony Clement, is scheduled to discuss the issue today in a news conference announcing the beginning of a regulatory process that may lead to the eventual ban of, or restrictions for using, BPA. The regulatory process as planned will last two years.

Another spokesperson for the Canadian government has said there are plans to list BPA as a toxic substance falling under the jurisdiction of the country’s environmental protection act.

Retailers, citing the current lack of consumer interest in food-related products that contain BPA, say they’ve begun removing merchandise containing the polycarbonate to meet customer demand. The public outcry against the recall of these products has been minimal.

In the US, The American Chemistry Council claimed no evidence suggests BPA has an adverse impact on consumers and has called for a BPA review from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The council considers an FDA ruling to be the final answer regarding the safety of this particular chemical.

Foods and beverages that come in cans are also exposed to BPA, used to line the insides of the cans to extend shelf life of the product and to prevent a metallic flavor from leaching into the foods and beverages the cans contain. The BPA-containing epoxy resin has been used for twenty years and John M. Rost, chairman of the North American Metal Packaging Alliance, says there is no evidence that these can linings expose people to harmful effects of the chemical although there are some people in the scientific community who disagree. Rost says industry-based research and development measures have not produced an alternative lining that works as well as the BPA-based one currently being used industry wide. Rost also says retailer reaction in Canada is not based on actual data supplied by Health Canada and his organization is encouraging the release of substantiating data very soon.

Products displaying the recycling code that reads “7 Other” contain, but are not limited to, BPA. The code also represents the presence of other chemicals as well. When BPA is present, the recycling code may also contain the letters “PC” for polycarbonates.