In 2007, the National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health found there is "some concern for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures. The NTP also has some concern for bisphenol A exposure in these populations based on effects in the prostate gland, mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in females."

The report went on to state that BPA harms animals at low levels--levels found in nearly all human bodies. For infants and young children, sources of BPA include seepage from plastic beverage containers (such as baby bottles) and liners in cans containing food and infant formula.

In April 2008, the Canadian government concluded that BPA may pose some risk to infants and proposed classifying the chemical as "toxic" to human health and to the environment. This further catapulted the arguments of the anti-BPA camp.

Now, for the other side. The members of the NTP felt quite comfortable saying that birth defects and miscarriages are not caused by BPA exposure during pregnancy. They also felt confident that most adults are not at risk for BPA-related adverse effects because the exposure levels are typically not high enough (with the exception of adults that receive high occupational exposure to BPA).

And studies show that exposure to high doses of BPA may be harder to come by than once thought. BPA is leached by pouring boiling hot liquids into polycarbonate drinking bottles--BPA levels in the boiling liquid rise up to 55 times faster than cool or temperate water, at a rate of 8-32 ngm/hr versus 0.2-0.8 ngm/hr. Note that these studies are looking at boiling water. Rarely, if ever, do parents actually boil liquids that they are preparing for their children and if they do, they almost never put that boiling water into plastic bottles before letting it cool.

Basically, the draft report ultimately says that more research needs to be done. From what this group of experts and researchers can tell, the possibility that BPA can do harm to humans--and specifically impact human development--has not been ruled out. But it hasn't been proven either.

To hear Dr. Cara's bottom line on plastic and BPA, including whether she lets her own kids use plastic bottles, go to page 3.

Read more from Dr. Cara.