As if parents today weren't already faced with protecting their children from a myriad of dangers, now they must worry about a potentially harmful chemical commonly found in plastic baby bottles.

Recent studies in lab rats have linked bisphenal A (BPA) — a chemical used to make polycarbonate plastics — to brain and reproductive problems, as well as breast and prostate cancer. Concerns about BPA were elevated last week by the release of a draft brief by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) of the National Institute of Environmental Health Services, a component of the National Institutes of Health.

According to the NTP, there is "some concern for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants and children at current human exposures [of BPA]." The NTP also said that it has "some concern" for BPA exposure in these populations based on effects in the prostate gland, mammary gland and an early onset of puberty in females.

While the findings are likely to bring out major mommy-guilt among those who use bottles containing BPA to feed their infants, the animal studies that have been done only provide limited evidence for adverse effects on development, the NTP noted.

But it then it added something to the message greatly mixing it.

It these effects in animals occur at BPA exposure levels similar to those experienced by humans, and that "the possibility that it may alter human development cannot be dismissed."

"Some concern" is the NTP's third-lowest ranking on a five-level scale — "serious concern" being the highest and "negligible concern" being the lowest.

On Friday, Canada became the first country to propose a ban on the chemical and several health groups in Canada and the U.S. have called for an immediate moratorium on BPA.

One such organization, the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ; Falls Church, Virginia), is part of a coalition of public health groups that published a report in February warning consumers about using products made with BPA. The report, "Baby's Toxic Bottle," urged parents to use glass bottles, or plastic bottles without BPA, instead.

Mike Schade, a co-author of the report with the CHEJ, told Medical Device Daily that BPA exposure in humans is so widespread that it has been found in 95% of Americans who were tested for it.

"We know it's dangerous, we know it's toxic at low doses and there are safer products available," Schade said. "So why take the chance with our children's health?"

Nonetheless, the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Arlington, Virginia) — not exactly an objective third party, it must be noted — issued a statement saying that BPA is still considered safe and that science does not support consumer product bans on the chemical.

"The weight of scientific evidence, as assessed by Health Canada and other agencies around the world, provides reassurance that consumers can continue to safely use products made from bisphenol A," said Steven Hentges, PhD, of the ACC's Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group. "Consumer products made from polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, including products for infants and children, are accepted as safe for use, and used, around the world."

But in an effort to eliminate confusion about the safety of BPA, the ACC last week, issued a statement calling called on the FDA to update its review of the safety of BPA in food contact applications.

Recent media coverage about the chemical "quite frankly has unnecessarily confused and frightened the public," Sharon Kneiss, VP of the products division at the ACC, told reporters last week during a press conference.

"As a mother I can certainly und the concern with the confusing and contradictory information about the safety of plastic beverage containers and cans, but as a scientist I understand and feel confident about what the science says about these products," she said. "[T]he public should feel confident that these products are safe."

However, at least two major retailers — Wal-Mart (Bentonville, Arkansas) and Toys 'R' Us/Babies 'R' Us (Wayne, New Jersey) — responded to the growing controversy with plans to pull baby bottles containing BPA from their shelves.

Wal-Mart said last week it would immediately remove baby bottles and other products with BPA from its Canadian stores and that it would phase out baby bottles with the potentially harmful chemical from its U.S. stores next year.

Playtex Infant Care (Westport, Connecticut) also said it would stop using BPA in its products this year and that it would distribute one million free samples of its Drop-Ins Original Nurser systems, which it says are free of BPA.

In addition, Nalgene (Rochester, New York), a company that makes durable plastic water bottles, also said it would phase out production of its Outdoor line of polycarbonate containers that include BPA over the next several months.

"We know recent news coverage has created significant confusion about the use of BPA in plastic baby products," said Gary Cohen, VP and general manager of Playtex Infant Care. "While U.S. and worldwide regulatory bodies continue to deem the ingredient safe, as a leader in infant care products, we are listening to consumer concerns and we believe the right thing to do is eliminate any confusion or doubt that parents may have."