Harmful levels of BPS and BPA in store receipts

BPS ( a “‘cousin” of BPA) levels in thermal store receipts are so high that touching one for 10 seconds resulted in exposure levels above California’s Prop 65 safe harbor level which requires a clear and reasonable warning to consumers …   And this is in ADDITION to the unsafe BPA levels these receipts already hVr been found to have ( thermal paper receipts contain 250-1,000 times the amount of BPA found in a can of food).

BPS, like BPA, is a hormone-disrupting chemical that mimics estrogen and can disrupt the normal functioning of the body, including metabolism, growth and development, and reproduction.

Our skin starts to absorb these chemicals after just 5 seconds of contact.

Here is what you can do to reduce your exposure to BPS and BPA in receipts:

1️⃣decline paper receipts when possible

2️⃣If you work as a cashier, use gloves to handle receipts

3️⃣Avoid using alcohol-based hand cleaners before or after handling a receipt because it can significantly increase the absorption of BPS. Instead, wash your hands with soap and water

4️⃣ if you have to hold a receipt, fold the receipt with the printed side in, since the backside of the paper typically isn't coated with the chemicals. 

What companies are still using thermal receipts with these bisphenols?

Burger King, Famous Footwear, Capital One, Claire's, Converse, Crumbl, Daiso, Forever 21, Subway, Foot Locker, Champs, Lids, Jack in the Box, Nordstrom Rack, Peet's Coffee & Tea, JCPenney, Pressed, Spencer's, The Cheesecake Factory, Gap Outlet, Victoria's Secret, Wetzel's Pretzels, Yard House, Smart & Final, Office Depot, Staples, Alliance Thermal Paper, Chanel, Dollar General, AMC, GameStop, and Cinnabon.

In 2023 the Ecology Center found that About 80% of receipts from 144 major chain stores in 22 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., contained bisphenols, including retailers such as Walmart, Voctoria’s Secret,  Ulta, USPS, UPS store, Vitamin Shop, Home Depot, Pet Smart, Nordstroms, Old Navy, Ralphsand restaurants including McDonald's, Wendy’s, Subway, Shop Rite,  Shake Shack

Retailers NOT using Bisphenols in their receipts now include:

Best Buy, Costco, Culver's, CVS, H&M, Starbucks and Target,LukuLemon, Marshalls, Home Goods, REI, Sams Club, trader Joe’s, Whole Foods

This week, the  Center for Environmental Health (CEH) notified dozens of retailers that their receipts contain BPS levels that exceed the limit established in California's Proposition 65, giving them 60 days to switch to BPS-free paper or post toxicity warnings near cash registers. CEH can sue companies who don't respond within 60 days. You can read more about CEH’s work here