A U.S. woman has filed a federal lawsuit against Playtex Products, alleging the manufacturer failed to disclose its baby bottles were made using the chemical bisphenol A.

The lawsuit, filed by Ashley Campbell of Westport, Conn., seeks national class action status. Campbell contends she purchased the bottles not knowing they contained BPA.

Jacqueline Burwitz, a Playtex spokeswoman, declined comment on the suit.

Until recently, Health Canada had long maintained the chemical used in the manufacture of hard plastic water bottles, DVDs, CDs, and liners in cans did not pose a risk to human health. But on April 18, Health Minister Tony Clement announced a ban on the import and sale of polycarbonate baby bottles containing bisphenol A.

Studies in peer-reviewed journals have indicated that even at low doses, the chemical can increase breast and ovarian cancer-cell growth and the growth of some prostate cancer cells in animals.

In December, Mountain Equipment Co-op became the first major Canadian retailer to halt sales of Nalgene bottles, made using BPA.

Wal-Mart in April said it will phase out bottles containing BPA by 2009 while Nalgene Outdoor Products announced plans to discontinue use of the chemical.

With files from the Associated Press