Plastics have been suffering from an image problem lately, as more research comes to light regarding "leaching": when harmful compounds migrate from plastic containers into your food and drink. The latest plastic component to get a bad rap is bisphenol A, a chemical that mimics estrogen.

Bisphenol A can be found in some electronics, the lining of food cans, some anti-cavity sealants for teeth, and...BABY BOTTLES! As you can imagine, parents are scrambling for alternatives and glass baby bottles are making an unexpected resurgence.

When heated, five of the most popular brands of polycarbonate -- the clear, shatterproof plastic used in baby bottles -- leached bisphenol A at levels that have been found to cause harm in laboratory animals, Environment California found.

Even at low levels, bisphenol A has been linked to abnormalities in the mammary and prostate glands and the eggs of laboratory animals, scientists say. Animal tests also show bisphenol A can speed up puberty and add to weight gain, and may cause changes that can lead to breast and prostate cancer.

Now, I know that you wouldn't want to believe a bunch of stinky hippie environmentalists. If you want the truth, you gotta get the official line from the industry trade group (wink wink).

"I think parents are arguably being misled into buying products that may not be as safe," said Steve Hentges, a spokesman for the American Chemistry Council, which represents manufacturers of bisphenol A and other chemicals.

It's irrefutable that glass can shatter, Hentges said. But there is "no scientific basis to conclude that BPA is something to be concerned about ... at the extremely low levels that people might be exposed to from use of consumer products."