Latest news with #CenterforEnvironmentalHealth
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
Fox News
24-04-2025
- Health
- Fox News
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. 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. "Studies show that BPS can be absorbed through skin when handling receipt paper – even for short periods." 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. "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 goldfish.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New study reveals serious hidden risk of touching store receipts: 'Really eye-opening'
Ever held on to a shopping receipt while waiting for a server or juggling bags at checkout? As it turns out, that brief moment could have lasting consequences for your health — especially if you're doing it on a regular basis. A new study from the Center for Environmental Health has revealed that thermal paper receipts used by dozens of U.S. retailers contain dangerously high levels of bisphenol S (BPS), a chemical linked to hormone disruption and reproductive issues. While not yet as famous as the similar bisphenol A, aka BPA, the researchers said even touching a receipt with BPS for just 10 seconds can cause enough exposure to exceed California's cancer safety limits under Proposition 65. The Center for Environmental Health tested receipts from nearly 50 national chains — including Dollar General, Subway, Burger King, AMC Theatres, and Chanel — and found that they contained alarming concentrations of BPS. This chemical is used in thermal receipt paper to help ink appear when printed, but it doesn't just stay on the page. CEH also took legal action against 32 major retailers, with others including Crumbl and Gap stores, with a full list here, though the findings apply to any store that uses the same type of receipts. According to CEH science director Mihir Vohra, the research findings were "really eye-opening." "They really speak to just how high the concentrations of BPS are in these receipts," Vohra said. This discovery is especially troubling for cashiers and retail workers who handle hundreds of receipts every day. But even customers are at risk — think about how long you hold a receipt when reviewing your bill at a restaurant or signing a return. While many brands have phased out BPA — a chemical banned in food packaging in the EU — its close cousin BPS is still widely used, despite drawing allegations of being just as toxic. Research has connected BPS exposure to breast cancer, cognitive development issues, decreased sperm count, and other serious health problems. The problem isn't just the chemical itself — it's how easily it is absorbed. Unlike other forms of contact, BPS in thermal paper can transfer through your skin in mere seconds, building up quickly with repeated exposure. Do you worry about using cleaning products with harsh chemicals in them? All the time Sometimes Not really No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. CEH has issued violation notices to these companies, who now have 60 days to either add a warning or switch to safer alternatives. Failure to do either might result in facing legal action. This is pushing companies to switch to paper or clearly warn customers about potential harm. Washington is leading the way as the first state to take action to remove hormone-disrupting chemicals from receipt paper. The state banned bisphenols as a class in receipt paper under the Safer Products for Washington law, effective from January 2026. In the meantime, there are simple ways to reduce exposure like opting for digital or email receipts instead. For retail workers, wearing gloves or washing hands frequently after handling receipts can help in a big way as well. Every small action helps. Choosing safer options not only protects your health but also encourages retailers to make cleaner, healthier changes for everyone. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
