April 15 (Bloomberg) -- A chemical widely used in plastic products may be linked to health problems, including breast cancer and early puberty, according to a report by a U.S. health agency.

People can be exposed to the chemical, bisphenol A, in their diets from food and beverage containers made of plastic, including baby bottles. Children absorb more of the chemical than older people and it is found in the urine of 93 percent of children under 6 years old, said the report from the National Toxicology Program.

While there is little research on the effect of bisphenol A on human health, the report said, studies suggest that rats exposed to high levels of the chemical during pregnancy or when nursing are more likely to die, are born smaller, grow less and have delayed puberty. Some studies suggest that lower doses may cause precancerous growths in prostate and breast tissue, may alter development of the prostate and urinary tract, and may trigger early puberty in females.

Though the animal research is limited and there is a lack of data on humans, ``the possibility that bisphenol A may alter human development cannot be dismissed,'' the National Toxicology Program report said.

Democrats in Congress responded by asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reconsider the safety of the chemical in products used by infants and children. The new report and other research ``fly in the face'' of regulators' views that the chemical is safe, said Representative John Dingell, the Michigan Democrat who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in an e-mailed statement.

In January, the committee sent letters to seven companies, including Abbott Laboratories, Wyeth, Nestle SA and Hain Celestial Group Inc., seeking information about how the FDA decided the chemical, also known as BPA, could safely be used in cans of infant formula.

``I hope the FDA is willing to reconsider their position on BPA for the safety of our infants and children,'' Dingell said today in his statement.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rob Waters in San Francisco at rwaters5@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: April 15, 2008 17:29 EDT