Bisphenol A (BPA) is used in a wide variety of consumer and industrial plastics including water bottles, sports equipment, medical and dental devices, dental fillings and sealants, eyeglass lenses, CDs and DVDs, and household electronics.

The agency says that animal studies have shown BPA to be a reproductive, developmental, and systemic toxicant. It also is weakly estrogenic, according to the agency, meaning that it can cross into cells and bind to estrogen receptors causing over production of the hormone.

In its announcement, the agency cites several studies that have found BPA, even in low concentrations, to have an impact on the growth, reproduction and development of aquatic organisms.

The agency is only interested in the possible effects of BPA in plants and animals because regulation of the chemical as it directly affects humans is under the jurisdiction of other agencies including the Food and Drug Administration.

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