Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used to make billions of tons of plastics each year in the United States. It's a chemical that could cause infertility and even cancer or Parkinson's Disease years after a person has been exposed to it.

A report by Frederick Vom Saal, an MU biologist, warns that BPA is currently used in the production of many baby bottles and sippy cups, and that it could be dangerous.

"It's like putting a time bomb into the organs of your baby that later on in life are going to cause those organs to malfunction and lead to mammary cancer, other kinds of cancers that are associated with estrogen exposure," Vom Saal said.

BPA is a petroleum product that, when heated, releases progressively higher amounts of the female hormone Estrogen into the contained liquids. The chemical can be found in any hard, clear plastic, including those used to line the inside of most canned goods and drinks.

Many countries limit the use of BPA, but the FDA has yet to impose any limitations in the United States.

A statement from the FDA says, "We are actively reviewing the safety of BPA. These studies do not indicate a safety concern at the current exposure level for infants or adults. We will continue to monitor data on BPA to determine if a safety concern exists."

But for parents like Lori Ferrier, BPA could be another concern in a long list of recent concerns, like many child toy recalls.

"I'm constantly looking at the recall lists to make sure that none of my toys are on those lists," Ferrier said.

While many scientists say it will take more research to determine how high the risks are, Vom Saal suggests parents look into BPA-free baby bottles that are currently on the market.