The Canadian government today became the first to officially designate the chemical BPA as a toxic substance. BPA -- or bisphenol A -- is found in many hard plastics and in the linings of food cans, though its use has diminished somewhat since questions began being raised about its safety in recent years.

The U.S. FDA in January updated its stance on BPA, calling for further study of the chemical and efforts to reduce BPA's presence in the food supply. The agency noted that toxicology findings suggest low-level exposure to BPA is safe but acknowledged concerns among some government health agencies about possible neurological harm to fetuses, infants and young children resulting from BPA exposure.