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Economic Times
04-08-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
Holding bill receipts for more than 10 seconds may decrease your sperm count: Research
Common items such as shopping receipts, ATM slips, and restaurant bills may contain Bisphenol S (BPS), a chemical that can be absorbed through the skin within seconds. BPS is a hormone-disrupting compound known to mimic estrogen, potentially affecting metabolism, growth, and development. Though marketed as a safer alternative to Bisphenol A (BPA), BPS has also been linked to a range of health concerns, including decreased sperm count, cognitive issues, and breast cancer. According to a study conducted by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH), a U.S.-based non-profit organisation, thermal paper receipts were found to carry toxic levels of BPS. The CEH has issued violation notices to about 50 major retailers, including Burger King, Chanel, and Dollar General, for exceeding California's Proposition 65 limits for BPS exposure. The group warned that even brief contact with BPS-coated receipts could surpass safe harbour thresholds and may require businesses to issue formal health warnings. Store workers and frequent receipt handlers are considered particularly at risk. Based on CEH research and testing conducted by an independent laboratory, the concentrations of BPS found in receipts were so high that touching just one receipt for 10 seconds was enough to exceed the safe harbour exposure level. Under California's Proposition 65, such levels require a clear and reasonable warning to consumers. CEH took legal action against an additional 38 retailers following further investigations. Since the beginning of the year, CEH has filed legal complaints against a total of 90 companies for the presence of BPS in their receipt paper. Dr Leonardo Trasande, a professor of paediatrics and environmental health researcher at NYU Langone, told Business Insider that hazardous chemicals often come from overlooked sources. He noted that while thermal paper may not appear to be plastic, its glossy coating contains polymers, including bisphenols. Bisphenols are a class of chemicals found in numerous consumer goods, including food packaging, fabrics, toys, and cookware. Many companies have phased out BPA in favour of BPA-free materials, often replacing it with BPS. However, emerging research indicates that BPS may carry similar or greater toxicity. To reduce exposure, experts recommend opting for digital receipts where possible and declining printed ones. For individuals who must handle receipts regularly, such as retail staff, wearing gloves is advised. Avoiding alcohol-based hand sanitisers before touching receipts and supporting businesses that use BPS-free alternatives are also suggested as preventive steps. The CEH has called on regulatory bodies to update chemical safety regulations and enforce clearer labelling for products containing harmful bisphenols. The organisation stated that relying on chemical substitutions without thorough health evaluations could lead to ongoing risks. It has also encouraged consumers to be aware of the presence of such substances in everyday products and to push for safer commercial practices. Ace Hardware Dutch Bros Petco Aesop Exxon Petsmart Alliance Thermal Paper Famous Footwear PF Chang's Amazon Fresh FedEx Office & Print Phillips 66 (76) AMC Five Guys Pizza Hut Applebee's Foot Locker Pressed Autozone Forever 21 Raising Cane's Baskin Robbins GameStop Red Robin Burger King Gap Outlet Red Lobster Burlington Habit Burger Ross Capital One Harbor Freight Saks Off 5th Carl's Jr Hot Dog on a Stick Shake Shack Cardenas IHOP Shell Smart & Final Champs Jack in the Box Sonic Chanel JCPenney Spencer's Chili's JPMorgan Chase Staples Church's KFC Subway Cinnabon Kroger (Foods Co) Taco Bell Claire's Lids Tractor Supply Coldstone Little Caesars The Cheesecake Factory Converse Lowe's ULTA Crumbl McDonald's Corporation Victoria's Secret Daiso MOD Pizza Walmart Del Taco Nordstrom Rack Wetzel's Pretzels Denny's Office Depot Wells Fargo Dick's Sporting Goods Olive Garden Williams Sonoma Dollar General Papa John's Yard House Dollar Tree Papa Murphy's Domino's Peet's Coffee & Tea Disclaimer: This report is based on findings by CEH in the United States during April and May 2025. The present status of these findings is currently unknown. Readers are advised to exercise discretion.
NDTV
04-08-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Shopping Bills, Receipts Have Toxic Chemicals That Can Get Absorbed In Skin
Shopping bills, restaurant receipts, and ATM slips might contain highly toxic chemical, Bisphenol S (BPS), that can get absorbed into skin within seconds. BPS is a hormone-disrupting chemical that mimics estrogen and can disrupt normal functions of the body, including metabolism, growth and development. It's a lesser-known cousin to Bisphenol A (BPA). BPS has been linked to hormone disruption, cognitive damage, decreased sperm count, breast cancer and other health issues. Social media platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok and X, are overflowing with viral claims that thermal paper receipts are linked to health issues. According to a study, these claims could be true. The study published in 2021 found that exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) is considered to be associated with the increased incidence of breast cancer. Notably, the chemicals are added as a coating to thermal paper to help ink develop. Recently, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) sent violation notices to about 50 major retailers in the United States. The non-profit group alerted the companies, including Burger King, Chanel, and Dollar General, about the high limits for BPS. Touching a receipt with BPS for a few seconds might result in exposure above the safe harbour level, requiring a clear warning to those companies who use it. The issue has made store workers and frequent receipt handlers at higher risk. Researcher Dr Leonardo Trasande, a professor of paediatrics and environmental health researcher at NYU Langone, recently told Business Insider that harmful chemicals sneak into our lives from unexpected places. "We don't think of thermal paper receipts as plastic, but that shiny coating is a polymer on top." Bisphenol is a class of chemicals used in a wide range of consumer products, including food packaging, fabrics, toys and cookware. Many companies have ditched BPA's use, replacing it with BPA-free material. However, recent research has found that BPS, which is often used as an alternative to BPA, is also toxic. How to mitigate the problem? Experts have urged to decline printed receipts when possible or opt for digital receipts. The store workers should wear gloves when handling receipts, or avoid using alcohol-based hand cleaners before handling receipts. And also, advocate for safer alternatives and support companies that use BPS-free receipt paper.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A doctor who studies toxic chemicals explains why he avoids paper receipts at the store
Receipts often contain bisphenols, which are chemicals linked to reproductive toxicity and cancer. That's because receipts are coated in a plastic polymer for heat-based printing. Dr. Leonardo Trasande from NYU Langone says he opts for email and text receipts when possible. Plastics and the chemicals they carry are everywhere, from our air, water, and blood to the products we use every day. Researchers like Dr. Leonardo Trasande know the unexpected places where these chemicals sneak into our lives, like the receipts you get at grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, and clothing outlets. "We don't think of thermal paper receipts as plastic, but that shiny coating is a polymer on top," Trasande, a professor of pediatrics and environmental health researcher at NYU Langone, told Business Insider. Trasande's main complaint about receipts is what that plastic polymer puts into human skin. Where there is plastic, he added, "chemicals of concern come along for the ride." When it's an option to receive his receipt by email or text, Trasande goes for that. Receipts are usually made of thermal paper, which is designed to print using heat-sensitive inks. That makes for cheap and easy on-the-spot printing in restaurants and businesses. The problem is that this thermal paper usually contains bisphenols, a class of chemicals used to manufacture plastics. The most famous bisphenol, called BPA, has been linked to heart disease, decreased fertility, breast and prostate cancers and, in children, asthma and neurodevelopmental issues. BPA has been phased out of US products over the past decade, including receipts. However, studies have found that many receipt manufacturers have replaced the BPA with its cousin BPS, which is banned in Europe for use in food containers, considered a reproductive toxin by the state of California, and has been associated with breast cancer. If you touch a receipt that's coated in BPS, the toxic chemical can quickly enter your body by absorbing through your skin, according to recent research. This year, the nonprofit watchdog Center for Environmental Health tested receipts from 32 major retailers and found that touching one for 10 seconds would expose someone to enough BPS to legally require a warning in California. Under the state's Proposition 65, businesses must provide warnings about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer or reproductive harm. The CEH delivered a legal notice to those 32 retailers in April. "Chemicals used in plastic materials need to be properly vetted for safety," Trasande said. "Insofar as chemicals are identified to be toxic to human health, we have safer alternatives that should be considered." He called electronic receipts "an important positive step forward." Underlying the bisphenols, of course, is plastic. Though Trasande said there is much more definitive research on the health effects of many chemicals in plastics, emerging science about the proliferation of plastics themselves throughout the human body is not comforting. The plastic items that surround us all in our homes, workplaces, schools, and even the outdoors are shedding tiny particles called microplastics — or, when they get really tiny, nanoplastics. These minuscule plastics build up in our bodies. They've been found in almost every human body tissue researchers have checked, from the brain to the lining of the arteries. Their health impacts are not yet clear, but they've been linked to chronic inflammation, lung and colon cancers, reproductive health issues, and heart attack and stroke risk. "There are limits to what I can control," Trasande said. "At the same time, there are so many steps we can take to reduce our exposure to chemicals of concern and particularly micro- and nanoplastics." Declining paper receipts is one of them. On the whole, though, Trasande said the world needs to reduce its plastic production. If business as usual continues, plastics production is expected to triple by 2060, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. Trasande said a global plastics treaty would help. According to Reuters, the United Nations is set to resume negotiations for such a treaty in August. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
15-05-2025
- Health
- Business Insider
A doctor who studies toxic chemicals explains why he avoids paper receipts at the store
Receipts often contain bisphenols, which are chemicals linked to reproductive toxicity and cancer. That's because receipts are coated in a plastic polymer for heat-based printing. Dr. Leonardo Trasande from NYU Langone says he opts for email and text receipts when possible. Plastics and the chemicals they carry are everywhere, from our air, water, and blood to the products we use every day. Researchers like Dr. Leonardo Trasande know the unexpected places where these chemicals sneak into our lives, like the receipts you get at grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, and clothing outlets. "We don't think of thermal paper receipts as plastic, but that shiny coating is a polymer on top," Trasande, a professor of pediatrics and environmental health researcher at NYU Langone, told Business Insider. Trasande's main complaint about receipts is what that plastic polymer puts into human skin. Where there is plastic, he added, "chemicals of concern come along for the ride." When it's an option to receive his receipt by email or text, Trasande goes for that. Toxic chemicals on store receipts Receipts are usually made of thermal paper, which is designed to print using heat-sensitive inks. That makes for cheap and easy on-the-spot printing in restaurants and businesses. The problem is that this thermal paper usually contains bisphenols, a class of chemicals used to manufacture plastics. The most famous bisphenol, called BPA, has been linked to heart disease, decreased fertility, breast and prostate cancers and, in children, asthma and neurodevelopmental issues. BPA has been phased out of US products over the past decade, including receipts. However, studies have found that many receipt manufacturers have replaced the BPA with its cousin BPS, which is banned in Europe for use in food containers, considered a reproductive toxin by the state of California, and has been associated with breast cancer. If you touch a receipt that's coated in BPS, the toxic chemical can quickly enter your body by absorbing through your skin, according to recent research. This year, the nonprofit watchdog Center for Environmental Health tested receipts from 32 major retailers and found that touching one for 10 seconds would expose someone to enough BPS to legally require a warning in California. Under the state's Proposition 65, businesses must provide warnings about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer or reproductive harm. The CEH delivered a legal notice to those 32 retailers in April. "Chemicals used in plastic materials need to be properly vetted for safety," Trasande said. "Insofar as chemicals are identified to be toxic to human health, we have safer alternatives that should be considered." He called electronic receipts "an important positive step forward." Please help BI improve our Business, Tech, and Innovation coverage by sharing a bit about your role — it will help us tailor content that matters most to people like you. What is your job title? (1 of 2) Entry level position Project manager Management Senior management Executive management Student Self-employed Retired Other Continue By providing this information, you agree that Business Insider may use this data to improve your site experience and for targeted advertising. By continuing you agree that you accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Microplastics in receipts Underlying the bisphenols, of course, is plastic. Though Trasande said there is much more definitive research on the health effects of many chemicals in plastics, emerging science about the proliferation of plastics themselves throughout the human body is not comforting. The plastic items that surround us all in our homes, workplaces, schools, and even the outdoors are shedding tiny particles called microplastics — or, when they get really tiny, nanoplastics. These minuscule plastics build up in our bodies. They've been found in almost every human body tissue researchers have checked, from the brain to the lining of the arteries. Their health impacts are not yet clear, but they've been linked to chronic inflammation, lung and colon cancers, reproductive health issues, and heart attack and stroke risk. "There are limits to what I can control," Trasande said. "At the same time, there are so many steps we can take to reduce our exposure to chemicals of concern and particularly micro- and nanoplastics." Declining paper receipts is one of them. On the whole, though, Trasande said the world needs to reduce its plastic production. If business as usual continues, plastics production is expected to triple by 2060, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. Trasande said a global plastics treaty would help. According to Reuters, the United Nations is set to resume negotiations for such a treaty in August.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Holding paper receipts for just 10 seconds can pose health risks, researchers warn
Health researchers are sounding the alarm about an endocrine disruptor commonly found in paper receipts – and they say it doesn't take long for your hands to absorb the chemical. In an Apr. 14 statement, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) announced a notice of violation for 32 retailers that allegedly had high levels of Bisphenol S (BPS) in their receipts. In the official notice of violation on April 11, the companies named dozens of national corporations. Men's Multivitamins Recalled Due To Undeclared Allergen: Fda The organization described Bisphenol S (BPS) as the "lesser-known but harmful chemical cousin to BPA in receipt paper," and described the organic compound as "hormone-disrupting." "BPS, like [Bisphenol A] … mimics estrogen and can disrupt the normal functioning of the body, including metabolism, growth and development, and reproduction," the statement said. Read On The Fox News App "Studies show that BPS can be absorbed through skin when handling receipt paper – even for short periods." This Odd Dental Habit Could Spark Heart Health Risks, Experts Warn The statement claimed that holding a BPS-laced receipt for just 10 seconds could have serious health consequences. "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," CEH Science Lead Mihir Vohra said in the press release. CEH stated that a lawsuit will be filed against the alleged violators unless they agree to "provide clear and reasonable warnings" to consumers or "reformulate such products to eliminate the BPS exposures." The retailers will also have to pay an "appropriate civil penalty." The organization advised consumers to decline paper receipts whenever possible. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "Store workers who must handle receipts should wear gloves if possible or avoid using alcohol-based hand cleaners before handling a receipt, because it can significantly increase the absorption of BPS," said CEH Senior Director Shakoora Azimi-Gaylon in the release. "Receipts are made from thermal paper, which shouldn't be recycled because they contain bisphenols like BPA and BPS, which can contaminate the recycling stream and pose health and environmental risks." Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel noted that digital receipts are more prevalent than ever. "We are definitely moving in the direction of digital receipts anyway," the medical expert told Fox News Digital. Siegel also noted that many Americans are exposed to Bisphenol A (BPA) without noticing it – for example, it can commonly be found on smartphone cases, despite not being found on iPhones. For more Health articles, visit More research needs to be done on the impact of "forever chemicals" like BPS, the doctor suggested. "Forever chemicals are everywhere and there is a concern about fertility," Siegel cautioned. "We need to do a better job of documenting and limiting exposure." BPS has been scrutinized in recent years over its potential to adversely impact people's health. In 2021, German researchers found that the chemical compound could "seriously damage" human brains after studying its effects on the nerve cells of article source: Holding paper receipts for just 10 seconds can pose health risks, researchers warn
