Are there toxins in receipt paper?

Toxins in Receipt Paper: Health Risks and Protective Measures

Yes, receipt paper commonly contains bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting chemical that can transfer to skin upon contact and potentially cause health effects. Multiple studies have confirmed the presence of BPA in thermal receipt paper at significantly high concentrations.

Evidence of BPA in Receipt Paper

• BPA is used as a heat-activated developer in thermal receipt paper, with concentrations ranging from 8-17 g/kg (or about 20 mg BPA/g paper) 1
• Studies found BPA in 94% of thermal receipt papers tested, with concentrations ranging from below detection limits to 13.9 mg/g 2
• Chinese research detected BPA in all supermarket receipts tested at concentrations ranging from 2.58 to 14.7 mg/g 3

Transfer to Human Skin

The transfer of BPA from receipts to humans occurs through several mechanisms:

• Simply holding a receipt for 5 seconds can transfer approximately 1 μg BPA to dry fingers, and about 10 times more if fingers are wet or greasy 1
• BPA transferred to skin may not be easily washed off after 2 hours of contact, suggesting it can penetrate the skin to a significant depth 1
• The combination of handling receipts after using hand sanitizer (which contains dermal penetration enhancers) and then eating food creates a particularly high exposure route 4

Health Implications

• BPA is an endocrine disruptor that has been linked to various health concerns
• A study of female cashiers found that higher urinary BPA concentrations were associated with greater levels of fasting insulin and insulin resistance 5
• Research showed that handling receipts after using hand sanitizer led to rapid and dramatic increases in bioactive BPA in serum (∼7 ng/mL) and urine (∼20 μg total BPA/g creatinine) within 90 minutes 4

Exposure Levels

• For cashiers and other workers who handle receipts frequently, estimated daily intake of BPA ranges from 2 to 347 μg/day (mean 40.4 μg/day) 3
• For the general population, estimated daily intake ranges from 0.24 to 3.98 μg/day (mean 0.69 μg/day) 3
• Thermal receipt papers contribute to the majority (>98%) of BPA exposure from paper products 2

Protective Measures

• Wearing gloves effectively reduces BPA exposure - a study of cashiers showed that when gloves were worn, there was no increase in urinary BPA levels after a work shift, compared to a two-fold increase without gloves 5
• Avoiding hand sanitizers before handling receipts can reduce absorption, as these products contain chemicals that enhance dermal penetration of BPA by up to 100-fold 4
• Washing hands after handling receipts may help, though BPA that has already penetrated the skin may not be removable 1

Important Considerations

• The handling time and frequency of contact with receipts are the most important variables contributing to exposure levels 3
• Hand creams and moisturizers may enhance permeability of the skin to BPA, potentially increasing absorption 1
• BPA from receipts can be transferred to food if handled after touching receipts, creating an additional oral exposure route 4

For those concerned about BPA exposure from receipts, using gloves when handling thermal paper receipts, avoiding hand sanitizers before touching receipts, and washing hands after contact are practical protective measures to reduce potential health risks.