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"We're exposed to very small amounts of it," said Michael Shelby, director of the National Toxicology Program's Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction at Research Triangle Park. "All the data show a large, large majority of people in the U.S. are exposed to it, something over 90 percent based on the Center for Disease Control's data. We're still within the program trying to hammer out our final conclusions."

Limiting exposure

In the meantime, Shelby said, people can limit their exposure to the chemical. "If it's something that is worrying you, that is probably a good thing to do," even if only for peace of mind.

The most common way people are exposed to bisphenol-A is by eating prepared foods from canned goods or certain plastic containers. Epoxy resins are used to coat the inside of food and beverage cans, bottle tops and water supply pipes.

Kathleen Schuler, co-director of Healthy Legacy, a Minnesota-based group that is trying to phase out toxic chemicals in consumer products, said the group recommends that parents avoid polycarbonate in baby bottles and sippy cups. She recommended using bottles and cups made of polyethylene or polypropylene bearing the numbers 1 or 5 in the triangular recycling codes on the bottom of most plastic containers.

"Consumers are concerned, and they just want safe products," Schuler said. "We're most concerned when people heat the plastics or use acidic or fatty products in them."

Steven Hentges, executive director of the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group of the American Chemistry Council, an industry group, says plastic products using bisphenol-A have a long history of safe use.

Hentges said the industry is planning further research studies on neural and behavioral effects of the compound to try to resolve unanswered questions.

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