BPA scandal keeps on growing

Is your little girl or granddaughter less "girlie" than you expected?

Now, we might know why - and it's not because you've got a tomboy in the family. A dangerous chemical commonly used in plastic bottles and even baby bottles has been linked to aggression in little girls.

This estrogen-like chemical is one I've been warning you about: bisphenol A, or BPA… and the abnormal levels of aggression aren't even the worst thing associated with it. It's just the latest in a long and ugly list of associations that includes cancer, obesity and early puberty.

In the latest study, researchers looked at 249 pregnant women, and then followed the development of their children. They found that the women who had the highest levels of BPA during pregnancy had little girls who were more hyperactive and aggressive by the age of two.

Now, I know what you're thinking. No big deal… A two-year-old is practically made of energy and hyperactivity anyway.

But this is something different - and worse. In fact, these little girls were essentially like boys in their aggressive behavior, the researchers said.

Researchers plan to follow these girls at least until the age of five, to see what further effects there might be.

But we don't need to wait for them to take action - we already know how bad this junk is, for kids and adults alike. Even very low levels of BPA - levels far below what we're routinely exposed to - have been linked to serious problems.

Yet the FDA is engaged in its favorite sport: foot-dragging.

Already, some of the biggest makers of baby bottles aren't waiting for the FDA - they've stopped using BPA. But it's not enough. This dangerous chemical is practically everywhere, and until action is taken, we're all at risk… especially our hyper-aggressive children.

For now, do what you can to avoid this chemical. It's not always easy or obvious, so it's best to stick to containers that say "BPA free" on the label.