A controversial chemical used in everyday products is connected to behavior and emotional problems in young girls. That’s according to a new study by Harvard researchers. The study found mothers with higher levels of the chemical BPA during pregnancy tended to have young girls with signs of hyperactivity, depression and anxiety. BPA is a chemical found in products including hard plastic containers, the lining of canned food and cash register receipts made from thermal paper. BPA is an endocrine disruptor that some studies have connected to infertility, heart disease and some cancers.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health collected data from 244 mothers and their 3 year old children. They measured BPA levels in the urine of the mothers during pregnancy and at birth. The children were tested each year from ages 1 to 3 at which time the mothers completed surveys about their children’s behavior. Researchers found mothers with high levels of BPA during pregnancy had children with more depressed, anxious and aggressive behavior, as well as poor emotional control and inhibition. The relationship was not seen in boys.

Harvard researchers say the study confirms two prior studies showing that exposure to BPA in the womb can impact child behavior but this is the first to show that in utero exposures are more important than exposure during childhood. Lead author Joseph Braun says “Gestational, but not childhood BPA exposures may impact neurobehavioral function, and girls appear to be more sensitive to BPA than boys.”

The Food and Drug Administration says recent studies provide reason for some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children. The FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research is carrying out studies to clarify uncertainties about the risks of BPA.

Read Terri’s Top 5 Ways to Reduce BPA Exposure for tips on keeping the controversial chemical to a minimum in your home.