The Food and Drug Administration officials have pledged yesterday to study the chemical Bisphenol A, a chemical found in plastic bottles, soda cans, food containers and thousands of consumer goods, citing concerns about health risks.

Emerging scientific evidence has cited the chemical to a host of problems, including cancer, sexual dysfunction and heart disease. Federal officials have extended their concerns over BPA's effect on the development of foetuses, infants and young children.

Massachusetts Congressman Edward J. Markey, lead author of a bill to ban BPA in all food and beverage containers, said the announcement was important for keeping young children safe.

The Department of Health and Human Services had issued recommendations to consumers yesterday, advising them throw away scratched cups and bottles with Bisphenol A as even minute amounts of the chemical can seep out and be ingested by children.

However, citing inefficient evidence to support a legal crackdown, regulators still cannot raise a ban on the compound or even ask manufacturers to label products containing BPA.

Amidst growing warnings, many manufacturers have voluntarily replaced BPA in their products like baby bottles, drinking water containers. In addition, some stores such as Wal-Mart and CVS have agreed to discontinue carrying some children’s items made with BPA.