A U.S. government report has found that exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used to make plastic for baby bottles and to line soda cans, may harm fetuses and children, and that it needs further study before it is deemed safe.

Tests in animals have showed harmful effects from the chemical.

“The possibility that BPA may affect human development cannot be dismissed,” said John Bucher of the National Toxicology Program, which is part of the Health and Human Services Department. “We see developmental changes occurring in some animal studies at BPA exposure levels similar to those experienced by humans.”

In April of this year, Canada became the first country to label bisphenol A as “toxic,” and it is considering a ban on its use in baby bottles.