A U.S. government report revealed Tuesday that a dangerous chemical called bisphenol A (BPA), present in plastic packaging such as baby bottles, might be harmful to the development of children’s brains and reproductive organs.

Bisphenol A is a synthetic hormone that has been shown to leach out of a certain type of plastic when heated, endangering the health of consumers. Hard polycarbonate plastic is used in baby bottles, toddler cups, water bottles and other recipients.

The National Toxicology Program, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, conducted experiments on about 500 rats that were exposed to BPA levels similar to human exposure. The experiment found precancerous prostate tumors, urinary system problems and early puberty when the animals were given low doses of BPA. Therefore, the report concluded: “These studies only provide limited evidence for adverse effects on development and more research is needed to better understand their implications for human health. However, because these effects in animals occur at bisphenol A exposure levels similar to those experienced by humans, the possibility that bisphenol A may alter human development cannot be dismissed.”

The report also described BPA as “weakly estrogenic,” being suspected of having biological effects on other hormonal processes such as those involving androgens and thyroid hormones.

In November last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said there is “no reason at this time to ban or otherwise restrict” use of the chemical. FDA chemists concluded that infants would have to ingest over 7,000 times more formula than they do in a day to suffer any harm.

It appears that the recent report casts doubt on the FDA’s position that BPA was safe, Rep. John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat, and chairman of the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee said.

"I hope the FDA is willing to reconsider their position on BPA for the safety of our infants and children," he said, as quoted by Reuters.

An FDA representative could not be reached to comment on the report.

The National Institutes of Health is the first U.S. government agency to conclude that low levels of BPA could be harmful to humans.

Plastic industry representatives contested the report saying the agency found “no serious or high-level concern” and called the lab animal experiments inconclusive and flawed, the Los Angeles Times reports.

On the other hand, environmental activists who have long warned about health concerns regarding the chemical praised the report.

"NTP's decision corrects the scientific record. It reflects a significant body of science showing that BPA may play a larger role than previously thought in a host of common health problems," Anila Jacob of the Environmental Working Group said in a statement.