Does thermal receipt paper contain BPA?

Studies have found that individual thermal receipts can contain BPA that is 250 to 1,000 times greater than the amount in a can of food.

What are the dangers of BPA?

Exposure to BPA is a concern because of the possible health effects on the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children. It can also affect children’s behavior. Additional research suggests a possible link between BPA and increased blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Why is BPA used in receipts?

In many thermal papers used as cash register receipts and tickets for airlines and trains, BPA is applied to the printing surface to be used as a heat-activated developer [22]. In these papers, the coating includes milligrams of unbound BPA per gram of paper [21–25].

Is it safe to burn thermal paper?

Non-recyclable paper. ( For that very reason, they cannot be composted or burned either, because both processes release BPA into the atmosphere — soil or air.

Can BPA be absorbed through the skin?

One study found that the chemical is readily absorbed through the skin, while a second study found that people who routinely touch BPA-laden till receipts have higher than average levels of the chemical in their bodies.

How does BPA act as an endocrine disruptor?

Generally, BPA acts on hormonal level by distorting hormonal balance and inducing estrogenic effects through binding with estrogen-related receptors (ERR) [20]. The resultant effects are numerous of which hormonal related abnormalities have been mostly reported.

When did BPA become harmful?

In September 2008 the National Toxicology Program of NIH determined that BPA may pose risks to human development, raising concerns for early puberty, prostate effects, breast cancer, and behavioral impacts from early-life exposures.

How do you avoid BPA in receipts?

If you need the receipt, fold the receipt with the print/glossy side in and hold it from the backside. The back of the receipt is unlikely coated with BPA and BPS. After handling a receipt, wash your hands thoroughly, especially before eating. Do not use hand sanitizers or lotions before or after handling receipts.

What is the difference between BPA and BPS?

BPS is an analog of BPA that has replaced BPA in a variety of ways, being present in thermal receipt paper, plastics, and indoor dust. After health concerns associated with bisphenol A grew in 2012, BPS began to be used as a replacement.

How BPA gets into the body?

How does BPA get into the body? The primary source of exposure to BPA for most people is through the diet. While air, dust, and water are other possible sources of exposure, BPA in food and beverages accounts for the majority of daily human exposure.

How does the body absorb BPA?

BPA is absorbed readily when ingested, but the liver quickly metabolizes the chemical. It is excreted in the urine within 24 hours and does not accumulate in the body. In other words, if someone had a single exposure, it would be entirely gone from the body after a day.