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Your Health & Toxic Receipts

  • Writer: Jane Wheeler
    Jane Wheeler
  • 9 hours ago
  • 4 min read

Canada banned BPA’s, Bisphenol A from baby bottles back in 2010. But there is still BPA and other similar chemicals in and around us to take notice of.


The past few years has shown the BPS, Bisphenol S, and BPA’s , Bisphenol A chemicals, the ones used on thermal paper that you get handed as a receipt are doing some serious damage to our bodies, particularly in pregnant women, children, and infants.


I first saw a post that in the State of California it is mandatory to provide a warning about the receipts and or packaging that contain BPS. The requirements to companies using BPS products is that they must in California by December 2024 provide a warning about the effects of BPS and the handling of thermal receipts, invoices, shipping label and some packaging.


Handling a receipt on thermal paper for just 10 seconds used by many companies here in Canada where we are not required to post warnings, can transfer BPS and other chemicals into your body. The BPS level registered via urine test, in the human body after holding a receipt for just 10 seconds was above the normal limits.


If your hands are wet or greasy or if you have used hand sanitizer the chemicals actually absorb faster, possibly 7 times faster.


I have to admit I first thought selfishly of me and my body but then I started thinking about cashiers, waiters or waitresses, handling receipts all day long.


So what is BPA and BPS, BPE, BPF’s? These are used as an ink developer coated onto one side of the paper to make the receipt printer work. They are synthetic chemicals that mimic the estrogen found in our bodies.


“Exposure to BPA/BPS is especially dangerous for pregnant women and infants. BPA/BPS is a synthetic estrogen invented in the 1890’s that can disrupt the endocrine system and may lead to early onset puberty, childhood obesity and breast cancer. A high percentage of cashiers and waitresses handling these toxic receipts are women in their childbearing years.” Quoted by United Food and Commercial Workers.


What this means medically is that we are collecting synthetic chemicals that affect our hormones through handling paper receipts in as little as 10 seconds. Known as endocrine disrupters, they can cause issues with reproduction- fertility and infertility as this chemical can lower testosterone, birth defects in pregnancy, hormones,- early childhood puberty, it can affect uour kids, your metabolic system, cancers, and other serious health issues. Messing with a body’s hormones is not something to be taken lightly.


“CEH is now suing 90 U.S. retailers, including Subway, Walmart and Lowe's, it investigators found high levels of BPS in the retailers' receipt paper. BPS has been linked to multiple cancer types, including triple-negative breast cancer—an aggressive form of breast cancer—as well as prostate cancer.

Based on these studies and testing by an independent lab, the concentrations were so high that touching only one receipt with BPS for 10 seconds resulted in exposure above the safe harbor level, which requires a clear and reasonable warning to consumers," said Mihir Vohra, Science Lead at Center for Environmental Health.


Some companies have phased these kind of receipts out: Costco, Loblaws (Superstore), Shoppers Drug Mart.


Clothing Label


BPS can also be found in plastics, synthetic fibers in clothing, personal care products and plastic food containers, transit passes, movie tickets, water bottles, dental sealants and devices as well as in canned food containers.


What you can do;


How to hold a receipt: Either get it dropped in the bag or fold it with the ink inside and wash your hands with soap and water after touching receipt.


Read labels, especially on clothing.


Saying No to receipts is an option.


Asking the question, “do your receipts contain BPS’ s or Bisphenols?” Over 80% of thermal receipts have BPS or BPA.


Asking businesses to become proactive for people’s health by switching their receipt system, there are good options out there.


Call or write your government official requesting that Canada ban these chemicals.


Do not recycle thermal receipts as they infect other recyclable materials. Throw them in the trash.


If you work with receipts on thermal paper ask your employer if they contain BPA or BPS.


Bring it up to your health and safety officer.


Wear gloves.


While it might seem like this is one more thing to worry about - your health matters. The lives of our children and babies matter. You as a consumer have the right to know and choose what goes into your body. The fact that you are expected to hold onto your receipt for warranty or returns long term also needs to be considered especially if they are on thermal paper.


Awareness is the most critical weapon you have. You can ask and demand change at the consumer level. If you work in the industry be diligent to make your employer give you a safe work place. It should never have to be a compromise between your health and a job.



Further Information go online and type in “danger of BPS in Canada” or check out these links:








 
 
 

1 Comment

sam1918m
27 minutes ago

Wow! That's some scary information 😳!

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