Research Plans

The Bureau of Chemical Safety, in the Food Directorate of Health Canada, has identified and committed to delivering on the following research priorities on Bisphenol A (BPA):

• Gathering data to fill data gaps for Canadian exposure estimates to BPA:
  • Develop occurrence data of BPA in food sources from a variety of canned and bottled foods for all age groups (infants up to 18 months, young children ages 1-4 and adults). Data will be generated in selected samplings available for sale in Canada of:
    1. Liquid Infant Formula;
    2. Powdered Infant Formula;
    3. Infant Foods (selected infant foods for newborns and young children aged 1-4)
    4. Variety of canned and bottled products for the general population.
       • Bottled Water Products
       • Canned Drink Products
  • Develop accurate Canadian exposure estimates to BPA from all pre-packaged food sources through estimation of occurrence levels of BPA in canned foods available for sale in Canada.
    • Develop improved exposure estimates for BPA from all Canadian food sources: BPA will be added to the list of chemicals to be monitored regularly as part of the Canadian Total Diet Study (TDS) as of the 2009 cycle.
• Addressing information gaps on the occurrence and significance of BPA in Human milk from Canadian mothers: Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC)
  • This study is being funded by Health Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. The study consists of a 5 year program during which 2,000 women will be recruited during the first trimester of pregnancy and followed through the birth of their child and up to 8 weeks after birth. Bisphenol A was identified as one of the chemicals to be surveyed in sampled human milk resulting from the study.