Special Reports

MIAMI (CBS4) ― A CBS4 I-Team investigation into your safety follows new developments in the battle over restricting the use of Bisphenol A, known to many simply as BPA.

With a new president in the White House, Congressional leaders have renewed questions about BPA's safety and whether it might impact your or your children's health.

It's a chemical that the CBS4 I-Team raised questions about more than two years ago.

CBS4 I-Team Investigator has the letter from Congress along with the latest developments.

Responding to this letter from Congress, the new head of the Food and Drug Administration has agreed to review the safety of this chemical and to consider perhaps restricting its use.

BPA is a common chemical used to harden plastic, one that research has linked to increased incidents of heart attack, strokes and some types of diabetes.

But the risk appears to be greatest among young children.

It's found in everything from baby bottles, to water bottles, microwaveable dishes, to the liners inside of many cans of food, soda, even infant formula.

It's the chemical BPA or Bisphenol A.

And last fall scientists at the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) raised questions about whether BPA harms human health.

"It [last fall's study] is the first evidence we've ever had on ordinary US adults living ordinary lives," said Dr. David Melzer who co-authored the report in JAMA.

So ordinary, in fact, that scientists say 90 percent of Americans have some traces of BPA in their bodies. And that is why those scientists point to some studies which show BPA can be a problem, especially in young children.

"Bisphenol A is linked to toxic events at very low doses," said Jane Houlihan of the Environmental Working Group, Washington D.C. based think tank.

"Concerns (about BPA) range from breast cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, early puberty and infertility," said Houlihan.

But many of those studies involve lab rats. Industry advocates, including the chemical industry, argue the science on BPA in humans isn't as conclusive yet.

"The very low levels of Bisphenol A to which people are exposed do not pose a risk to human health at all," said Dr. Steven Hentegs of the American Chemistry Council.

Even so many scientists are troubled by the effects they do see in studies involving humans and BPA. The say BPA is a chemical that mimics estrogen in the human body and that might be what causes some health problems.

"The average age of onset of puberty in boys and girls is 11," said pediatrician Dr. Philip Floyd. "The range is 8 to 14 but we are seeing some children as young as 6 or 7 showing the signs of early puberty."

That type of concern is what prompted this letter this Tuesday from the chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Henry Waxman, (D) California, to President Barack Obama's new FDA commissioner, Margaret Hamburg.

The letter, dated June 2, 2009, asks the Food and Drug Administration to quote "…reconsider the Bush Administration's position that BPA is safe at current…levels."

The letter points to two investigations, one by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the other by the Washington Post, calling into question both BPA's safety and the politics surrounding the FDA's decision years ago not to regulate it.

The letter from Congress reads: "These new press accounts raise serious questions about…independent scientific advice…" given to the FDA about Bisphenol A.

On June 4, 2009, the Governor of Connecticut signed into law legislation banning BPA in infant formula, baby food cans and jars as well as from reusable food and beverage containers.

California, Michigan and New York may soon follow suit. In fact, the California state Senate just passed legislation to ban BPA in infant and toddler products there.

So, how do you know if the plastic contains BPA?

Experts tell us to check the container.

Look for a triangle symbol which can be found usually near or on the bottom of the container. Experts say look for the number "7" in or around the triangle which can sometimes be accompanied with the letters "PC."

That would indicate the plastic might contain BPA.

Or to be sure, look for plastic that actually says on it "BPA free."

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I-Team Extras: Arson Registry

• I-Team Extra: Arson Registry Information
• I-Team Extra: Arson Registry Legislation