12.19.2012 8:41 AM

New York County First to Ban BPA in Receipts

Research suggests sales receipts could expose people to as much, or more, BPA than plastic food packaging and containers.

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Photo: IStock

By Dan Shapley

Suffolk County, New York, on Long Island, has become the first county in the nation to ban the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in sales receipts. BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that has been linked in both animal and some human studies to a long list of potential health problems, including cancer, reproductive problems, obesity and learning disabilities.

Research has shown that many thermal paper receipts have "large quantities" of BPA (up to 2.2% of the weight of the receipt), and nearly all dollar bills had lower amounts, presumably from rubbing up against so many receipts. And other research suggests that sales receipts may be as big a source of exposure as the food packaging (hard plastics, canned foods, etc.) that dominate news about the hormone-mimicking chemical.

Dr. Phillip Landrigan, a past Heart of Green Award winner for his work to protect children from toxic chemicals, hailed the Safer Sales Slip Act as a model. He endorsed these Environmental Working Group tips for those of us living outside Suffolk County:

Refrain from taking receipts at ATMs, gas stations, and other retail stores. Choose paperless receipts, if possible. Wash hands thoroughly after touching receipts, especially before preparing or eating food. Do not give children receipts to hold or play with. Store receipts separately in a change purse or wallet. Do not recycle cash receipts, as BPA can contaminate other recycled paper.

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