Do not touch your receipts: While the cost of your purchases can be useful, you’ll get much more if you take your receipt with you. For example, receipts and airplane tickets are full of BPAs. They can contain up to 1000 times more BPA than food containers. We will discuss why paperless is a good idea and what to do if you need receipts.

BPAs: The Problem

BPA is Bisphenol-A. This chemical compound is primarily used in the manufacture of plastics. The chemical mimics estrogen in the body and can cause hormonal disruptions, known as the endocrine system. BPA has been linked to obesity, breast cancer, diabetes, and other health problems in children, according to studies. ^[1-3]

BPA plastics have such a negative impact on children’s development the FDA has banned them from sippy cups and baby bottles. Unfortunately, it does not apply to other products on shelves or in our daily lives.^[4]

BPA can be fat-soluble, which can build up in fatty tissues. However, studies have shown that it is fast metabolized. In fact, it is almost 100% after acute exposure.

Hormonal dysregulation can also become chronic if people are constantly exposed to it. A study showed that over 90% of Americans have some form of hormonal dysregulation.^[5]

Many consumers are becoming more concerned about food safety in BPA-containing containers. BPA can be leaked from food and drink containers into food and beverages. It is most commonly found in plastic single-use bottles, plastic wraps, straws, and the linings of many canned foods. BPA exposure can cause health problems. Therefore, being mindful of this topic and avoiding exposure is important.

Food containers can introduce BPAs to our bodies. Many people avoid plastic containers like the plague, but they still come in direct contact with food cans with up to 1000x.^[6] Who is the culprit? Receipts?

Do not touch your receipts: BPAs in Thermal Paper

Thermal paper is a recording medium that can be printed using heat from a thermal printer. When the thermal printer head is placed on the area of thermal paper, heat produces the image. The thermal printer is small and compact, so it requires no maintenance. Because it is reliable and convenient, thermal paper is used for printing labels, tickets, and POS receipts. Unfortunately, receipts are one of the most common ways we are exposed to dangers.^[7]

Receipts have become so ingrained in our culture that we don’t even think about it anymore: We pay for something, we get the receipt from the cashier, and then we take it. However, regardless of whether you keep receipts, handling thermal paper can expose your body to BPAs in a big way.

Although one might believe that hand exposure doesn’t matter, science proves otherwise. Research shows that receipts can contain up to 1000x as many BPAs as canned foods. This is due to the way the substance is made.[8] BPA in a bottle or can is bound to other molecules, which a person must break down to absorb it. The thermal receipt paper is coated with a thin layer of powdery BPA. This loose powder leaves a high concentration on the fingers. It can also contaminate food and other materials and penetrate the skin’s pores.^[8,9]

Thermal printing can also be used to print shipping labels, airplane tickets, parking tickets, and parking stubs.^[10]

Do not touch your receipts: What can you do instead?

1. Go Paperless

   It is best to go paperless as much as possible. It may take some time to get used to saying “no thank you” when the cashier offers the receipt. But you should refuse the receipt if you don’t use it.

2. Ask to have it put in a bag.

   Ask them to place it in the bag so that you can remove it later. You can photograph the item and then dispose of it with a tissue or gloves.

3. Take a small pouch

   Consider bringing a small pouch or folder to keep your receipts. The cashier will be happy to place it in the pouch. You can then use gloves to cover your receipts when you look at them later.

4. Speak up

   Consider bringing up BPA labels or receipts if you work in an environment that allows you to touch them all day. To reduce exposure, get a pair of nitrile gloves if they won’t replace the ink printers with traditional printers.

Do not touch your receipts: BPAs can be eliminated by detoxing.

BPA dissolves quickly after acute exposure. The body excretes it through sweat and urine. Make sure to stay hydrated and engage in activities that induce sweating, such as exercise and sauna therapy.^[11]

BPAs can be fat-soluble, so your body can store toxic substances in fat cells. A high-quality liposomal Zeolite Clinoptilolite with Fulvates is a great way to eliminate these toxins from your body safely. CytoDetox(r) is a powerful zeolite that supports the safe elimination of environmental toxins such as heavy metals, chemicals, and pesticides at the cellular level. It can also be 100% natural.^[12]

Summary

The thermal printing process uses a powdered BPA that can expose you to up to 1000x more than a BPA-lined food container. To avoid the hormone-disrupting effects of BPAs, it is important to not use receipts or other labels on tickets printed on thermal paper. Exercising, using a sauna, and staying hydrated can help in excreting BPAs through sweat and urine. To help your body detoxify, you can use clinoptilolite high-quality liposomal Zeolite Clinoptilolite for long-term exposure.

 

References:

1. Scientists Examine Breast Cancer Link and BPA — ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111018214107.htm.
2. Peeples, Lynne. “A Hormonal Mess: How an Everyday Chemical May Be Making Us Fat and Sick.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 16 Feb. 2012, www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/14/bpa-chemical-hormone-obesity-diabetes_n_1276996.html.
3. Blue, Laura. “More Health Harms for Children Exposed to BPA.” Time, Time, 9 Jan. 2013, healthland.time.com/2013/01/09/more-health-harms-for-children-exposed-to-bpa/.
4. Tavernise, Sabrina. “F.D.A. Makes It Official: BPA Can’t Be Used in Baby Bottles and Cups.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 July 2012, www.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/science/fda-bans-bpa-from-baby-bottles-and-sippy-cups.html.
5. Tillett, Tanya. “Bisphenol A chapter 2: New data shed light on exposure and potential bioaccumulation.” Environmental Health Perspectives vol. 117,5 (2009): A210. doi:10.1289/ehp.117-a210b
6. “BPA and BPS in Thermal Paper.” Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, www.pca.state.mn.us/business-with-us/bpa-and-bps-in-thermal-paper.
7. “Turning up the Heat on Thermal Paper Receipts.” Office for Science and Society, 28 Feb. 2020, www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health/turning-heat-thermal-paper-receipts.
8. “Thermal Paper Technology – What Is Thermal Paper?” Jujo Thermal, www.jujothermal.com/technical-guide/thermal-paper-technology/.
9. “Is BPA on Thermal Paper a Health Risk?” Plastic Pollution Coalition, 1 July 2022, www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2016/12/23/is-bpa-on-thermal-paper-a-health-hazard.
10. “Direct Thermal Printer or Thermal Transfer Printer.” AB&R, 6 May 2021, www.abr.com/direct-thermal-printer-thermal-transfer-printer/.
11. Genuis Stephen J. et al. “Human excretion of bisphenol-A: Blood, urine, sweat (BUS) study.” Journal of Environmental and Public Health vol. 2012 (2012): 185731. doi:10.1155/2012/185731
12. Mastinu, Andrea et al. “Zeolite Clinoptilolite – Therapeutic Virtues Of An Ancient Mineral.” Molecules, Basel, Switzerland vol. 24,8 1517. 17 Apr. 2019, doi:10.3390/molecules24081517