Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that is widely used as a color developer in thermal paper. However, recent discoveries have proved that Bisphenol A is carcinogenic compound and can cause significant harm to the human body. BPA is also found to be an endocrine disruptor. This can lead to several negative consequences because BPA can mimic the human bodys very own hormones such as estrogen.
Bisphenol A is used in high levels in the manufacture of thermal paper and carbonless copy paper. It is the compound that darkens and makes the paper readable when exposed to a heated print head such as in a thermal printer. Owing to the widespread and popular use of thermal paper such as in airline tickets, labels, credit card print outs, cinema tickets, retail invoices, and such, BPA residue can be readily ingested since the BPA exists on them as unbound and un-reacted molecules.
There are strong feelings about the damage that BPA is causing to health and society. BPA exposure can cause a horde of health problems such as higher rate of heart diseases, diabetes, adult liver abnormality, promotion of the growth of human breast cancer cells hormone development problems in fetuses as well as young children, and even cause erectile dysfunction as well as other sexual problems in men.
In recent laboratory tests carried out by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) significantly high levels of BPA were found on a significant percentage of receipts that were sampled from some of the top US retail and business majors. According to this report, the total amounts of BPA on receipts were between 250 and 1,000 times greater than the other modes of exposure such as exposure from canned foods, baby bottles, infant formula, and others.
Therefore, a significant percentage of the public is exposed to BPA while handling receipts. This also includes store clerks and other personnel who get exposed to BPA while handling hundreds of receipts every day. Following this discovery, the EWG wrote to several companies recommending them to shift to
BPA free thermal paper.
BAP Free thermal paper is readily available in the United States, and following this event, many retailers and businesses are expected to shift to BPA free thermal paper. Hence, in the meantime, as a consumer, you can ask your store retailer if the receipt is BPA free or not. Additionally, keep these receipts away from children and wash your hands thoroughly after you handle a thermal paper receipt, especially if you are preparing food or before having a meal. You also need to keep thermal paper receipts out of the recycling bin to prevent the BPA from getting into the environment. These are some of the steps you should take before you finally know that the receipts you are handling are
BPA free thermal paper.
