CCS adapting to COVID-19 realities to support Canadians during and after the pandemic
BPA
Bisphenol A (also called BPA) is used to make:
- polycarbonate plastics (plastics that are usually very hard and clear, such as reusable water bottles and children’s sippy cups)
- the resins that line food cans
- some dental materials, such as sealants or composite fillings, which contain low amounts of BPA derivatives (BPA is only present in saliva for up to 3 hours after a dental procedure that uses sealants or composite fillings)
Many plastics have a recycling code from 1 to 7 on them, usually at the bottom of the container. Polycarbonate plastics are labelled with a recycling code 7 and may contain BPA.
We do not know if exposure to bisphenol A increases your risk of cancer or affects your health in other ways.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reviewed the evidence and wasn’t able to be sure about whether BPA does or does not cause cancer in humans.