The US National Toxicology Program (NTP) recently released its final report on the potential negative health effects of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical widely used in consumer plastic products. The agency found that there is "some concern" about the chemical's effects on infants and children. They had lower levels of concern for other groups and concluded more research is needed to determine just what the risks of BPA exposure might be.

Their conclusion echoes that of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA issued a draft report last month saying that there is not enough evidence to ban BPA. A public hearing is planned for later this month to discuss results from their review.

Concern about the chemical, which may be linked possible reproductive and developmental problems, has been growing. In April 2008, Canada became the first country to ban baby bottles containing bisphenol A. And water bottle manufacturer Nalgene decided to phase out use of BPA in its containers in response to public concern.

The NTP report focuses primarily on the possible reproductive and developmental effects of BPA (such as changes in fertility, birth weight, and the development of certain brain regions), not on cancer. However it does note that in some animal studies, BPA has shown effects on breast and prostate tissue, as well as on how early puberty occurs. These effects could be linked to cancer, the report says, but the authors caution that there is not enough evidence to know whether BPA actually causes cancer -- in animals or in people.

The health effects of BPA are being studied because so many people are exposed to it on a daily basis. The chemical is widely used in plastic water and baby bottles, food packaging, compact discs, and other consumer products; plastics made with BPA usually have the number 7 on the bottom. One survey conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention detected BPA in the urine of 93% of people age 6 years and older.