TORONTO — Health Canada, the Canadian national health agency, said it has no safety concerns about the presence of the plastic-hardening chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in 18.5-liter (5-gallon) polycarbonate drinking water bottles, according to a recent report on the Health Canada Web site.

“The levels of BPA in these containers were very low and pose no safety concerns,” Health Canada reported, citing findings of a study by its Bureau of Chemical Safety entitled “Survey of Bisphenol A in Bottled Water Products.”

The survey examined samples from 56 different bottled water brands, including those in polycarbonate bottled water containers. BPA was detected with a majority of the polycarbonate containers and was not found at detectable limits with non-polycarbonate containers.

“Based on the average BPA level found in polycarbonate bottled water products (1.5 µg/L [micrograms per liter, or parts per billion]), an adult (60 kg [132 lbs.] body weight) would have to consume approximately 1000 L [264 gallons] of bottled water from polycarbonate carboys in one day to approach the TDI [tolerable daily intake of 25 μg/kg body weight/day] set by Health Canada's Food Directorate,” the report said.

The agency concluded that BPA in bottled water containers poses no health risk to the general population, including newborns and young children. However, as a precaution, it recommended that, in view of varying sets of data generated in other studies that raise some uncertainty, consumers should exercise the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle when using containers with BPA for newborns and young children. 

To access the Health Canada site, click here.

To read a full report on the study, click here.

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