| One of the staple products in the promotional | | | | announced that Canada intends to ban the import, |
| products industry is the logo water bottle. It is | | | | sale and advertisement of polycarbonate baby |
| useful, inexpensive and comes in literally thousands | | | | bottles in Canada. Also in 2008, both Walmart and |
| of styles and colors. Promotional water bottles are | | | | Toys-R-Us have stated they will cease the sale |
| manufactured from a variety of materials. The | | | | of these bottles in their Canadian stores. |
| most common are soft plastics. In recent years, | | | | The position of the United States Food and Drug |
| the polycarbonate water bottle has become the | | | | Administration is polycarbonate food and |
| most popular style and the standard by which | | | | beverage containers continue to be safe for |
| others are measured. Rigid and sturdy, | | | | human use of all ages, and that they are |
| polycarbonate bottles are higher end and are | | | | monitoring and studying the science as it becomes |
| virtually indestructible. The plastic has brilliant clarity | | | | available. The FDA maintains that the evidence |
| and color which provides a striking background for | | | | does not show instances of cancer, miscarriage or |
| corporate branding. | | | | birth defects in humans from low dose exposure |
| However, polycarbonate plastics in food and drink | | | | to BPA plastics, and that there is not currently a |
| containers have come increasingly under fire, over | | | | safety concern in the use of food grade BPA |
| the last year, due to the presence of the | | | | plastics. |
| chemical compound bisphenol A (BPA) found in the | | | | Notwithstanding the position of the FDA, there |
| plastic. The substance has been used in | | | | are many consumers and businesses which are |
| commerce for over 50 years, and is used in | | | | looking for and demanding BPA free alternatives. |
| products from baby and water bottles, to CDs, | | | | The promotional products industry has seemingly |
| optical lenses, and even sporting equipment. The | | | | split into two responses. Many distributors and |
| recent science of bisphenol A is inconclusive and | | | | suppliers have elected to continue to sell the |
| controversial. I think all scientists agree that | | | | popular polycarbonate bottles until the science is |
| bisphenol A is a low level toxin. It mimics the | | | | more conclusive. But other distributors and |
| bodies own hormones, specifically estrogen, and | | | | suppliers have embraced BPA free water bottles, |
| acts as an endocrine disruptor. But for decades, it | | | | and are selling promotional water bottles without |
| was thought to be safe in the very low doses | | | | bisphenol A made of stainless steel, aluminum or |
| which would leach from a bottle or a container | | | | BPA free copolyesters. |
| into a food or drink. These plastics are also | | | | Whether or not the scientists studying BPA can |
| thought to be quite stable, especially with cold | | | | find agreement and whether or not the FDA will |
| drinks. | | | | eventually change its position and ban BPA is in |
| Then in the late nineties, some scientists began to | | | | some ways beside the point. Consumers and |
| report the possibility of even low dose effects by | | | | businesses are free to make their own decisions |
| the compound. It has since been suggested these | | | | and will usually buy what they perceive to be the |
| harmful effects include early physical maturation | | | | healthier alternative. And in its efficient and |
| and development in children, carcinogenic effects, | | | | wondrous way, the market will give them what |
| neurological effects and even obesity. In April of | | | | they want. |
| 2008, Canadian Health Minister Tony Clement | | | | |