Bisphenol A (BPA), the synthetic hormone used in baby bottles, toddler cups, water bottle and other recipients, has been a subject of controversy since “forever” or at least it seems so with so many scientific reports warning about its negative effects on babies’ health primarily and why not on adults’ health as well.

The chemical has been under fire since April this year when a report issued by the National Toxicology Program, part of the US National Institutes of Health revealed that their study on mice given BPA on regular basis resulted in precancerous prostate tumors, urinary system problems and early puberty when the animals were given low doses of the chemical.

“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 concluded at the time.

The report was highly contested by plastic industry representatives who called the lab experiments inconclusive and flawed. But its results have been confirmed in time by other studies making consumers anxious over the possible adverse effects of BPA.

Now, a new study published in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association, comes to reiterates what was previously denied. The effects of BPA on human health seem to be more dangerous than previously believed.

The study, led by David Melzer of Peninsula Medical School in the U.K., used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2003 and 2004 by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More exactly, the researchers looked at BPA levels in the urine of 1,455 adults aged 18 to 74 and found that average BPA concentrations were higher in those who had cardiovascular disease or diabetes. In fact, high levels of BPA increased the risk for these diseases by 39 percent, the study reported.

Moreover, higher BPA concentrations were linked to abnormal concentration of three liver enzymes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 93 percent of Americans have traces of BPA in their urine, but this percentage is not harmful. The risk is greater for those with a "high" level of exposure—a group that includes formula-fed infants.

The study findings coincided with a public hearing the Food and Drug Administration held Tuesday in Rockville, Maryland to discuss whether BPA is safe for continued use in food packaging and liquid containers. Last month, the agency said there wasn’t enough evidence to support banning BPA from baby and food products.

“There are real problems with BPA use. BPA is an estrogen-like endocrine disruptor. Clearly, from the animal data, there is reason to believe the BPA is hazardous to the fetus if taken during pregnancy. I think it’s worth being cautious and at least trying to keep woman who are pregnant away from BPA. With adult exposure, it is less certain that there is any adverse effect,” said Dr. Hugh S. Taylor, an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & reproductive Sciences at the Yale University school of Medicine.

The Consumer Federation of American urged the FDA to take action against the use of BPA.

“While scientists continue to assess the health risks of BPA to consumers, the FDA is taking on a bigger risk by taking no action to protect the health and safety of consumers. Consumers expect to buy products that have a proven safety record, not a lack of proven harm. Too many examples of potential risks today become tomorrow's hazardous reality. FDA should not take that gamble in the face of mounting evidence of harm,” Rachel Weintraub, the federation's director of product safety and senior counsel, said in a prepared statement, before the hearing.

However, the FDA maintained its previous decision referring to BPA.

“Right now, our tentative conclusion is that it’s safe, so we’re not recommending any change in habits,” Laura Tarantino, head of the FDA’s office of food additive safety.