Cash register receipt paper responsible for high BPA levels in humans

by Stepy — October 30, 2014

Most of us have heard the term “BPA-free.”

But what is BPA exactly?

BPA stands for bisphenol A, which is an industrial chemical that has been used in the production of some plastics and resins since the 1960s.

It is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.

Research shows that BPA may pose health risks. “Chemical bonds that BPA forms in plastic can unravel when heated, washed or exposed to acidic foods, prompting the chemical to contaminate foods,” states Dr. Joseph Mercola.

Now research is providing evidence that BPA from thermal paper used in cash registers as receipt paper accounts for high levels of BPA in people.

Study participants showed a major increase of BPA in their blood when using a skin care product and then touching receipt paper.

“BPA first was developed by a biochemist and tested as an artificial estrogen supplement,” said Frederick vom Saal, Curators Professor of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Science at MU. “As an endocrine disrupting chemical, BPA has been demonstrated to alter signaling mechanisms involving estrogen and other hormones. Store and fast food receipts, airline tickets, ATM receipts and other thermal papers all use massive amounts of BPA on the surface of the paper as a print developer. The problem is, we as consumers have hand sanitizers, hand creams, soaps and sunscreens on our hands that drastically alter the absorption rate of the BPA found on these receipts.”

Researchers tested participants who cleaned their hands with hand sanitizers and then held receipt papers. To further test the absorption of BPA, participants were then asked to eat French fries with their hands after handling receipt paper, which significantly increased BPA in the blood.

“Our research found that large amounts of BPA can be transferred to your hands and then to the food you hold and eat as well as be absorbed through your skin,” vom Saal said. “BPA exhibits hormone-like properties and has been proven to cause reproductive defects in fetuses, infants, children and adults as well as cancer, metabolic and immune problems in rodents. BPA from thermal papers will be absorbed into your blood rapidly; at those levels, many diseases such as diabetes and disorders such as obesity increase as well. Use of BPA or other similar chemicals that are being used to replace BPA in thermal paper pose a threat to human health.”

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