Canada is set to become the first country in the world to officially declare the chemical bisphenol-A hazardous to our health and to ban the use of it in baby bottles.

The government will begin drafting regulations on Saturday to ban the importation, sale, and advertising of BPA.

The concern comes from the chemical leaching into baby's milk when the bottles are heated up. bisphenol-A has been linked to reproductive damage, thyroid disorders, and cancer.

Related links: Canada to put BPA on toxic substances list

Research suggests BPA can interfere with the activity of hormones in the body such as estrogen.

Over the past few months, many stores have voluntarily pulled bottles containing BPA off their shelves. But as of this weekend, the process begins to make it law.

Question and Answer session with Dr. Rhonda Low

What about limiting BPA in other items?

The environmentalists are lobbying for a full ban because BPA is one of the highest volume chemicals produced in the world.

It is found in a wide range of thing,  from aluminum tin cans to dental sealants and hard plastic toys.

This chemical can leach into our environment through landfills and one day end up in our groundwater.

More studies are finding that BPA can have negative effects for adults too.

One recent study found that high urinary levels of BPA were associated with a two to three times increased risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.

The Canadian government says it is allocating more than $1 million over the next few years to fund research projects on BPA. But many public health experts are saying it doesn't make sense to wait for proof of causation.

What can consumers do to minimize their exposure to BPA now?

When it comes to plastic containers, the federal government says that those with the numbers 1 through 6 on the little recyclable logo on the bottom of the container are BPA free.

To be absolutely safe, you might want to use glass containers to reheat your food in the microwave and limit your exposure to tinned goods, especially those that contain acid foods like tomatoes.

With a report by CTV British Columbia's Dr. Rhonda Low