New report: 9 out of 10 receipts contain toxic BPA or BPS
A new report by our partners at HealthyStuff.org out today exposes a danger at many checkout counters—toxic receipts. They found toxic bisphenol A (BPA) or its chemical cousin bisphenol S (BPS) in 93% of the receipts tested.
You’ve probably heard about BPA in hard plastic water bottles and we’ve told you about BPA in the linings of food cans. It’s been banned from some children’s products like baby bottles and sippy cups in the US.
But did you know that after touching a single receipt, these chemicals can enter your bloodstream within minutes?
What’s the problem with BPA and BPS?
These chemicals are endocrine disruptors that mimic hormones like estrogen and thyroid hormone, disrupting the body’s normal functioning.
Studies have found links between BPA exposure and numerous health problems like breast cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes and obesity.
Unlike some chemicals that are only toxic at certain doses, scientists have found that even low doses of these chemicals can impact fetal development and may contribute to reproductive impairment, ADHD, autism and other health problems. The most common replacement chemical for BPA in receipt paper, BPS, and emerging science suggests it may be just as bad as BPA. It’s a classic case of a “regrettable substitute.”
What happens when you handle a toxic receipt?
In receipt paper known as “thermal paper” because of the way the ink develops, BPA and BPS are added in their free form without being bound to the paper or polymerized. So the chemicals can easily transfer to anything a receipt touches—your hand, the money in your wallet or even the groceries in your shopping bag. Several studies have found that handling receipts, even briefly, leads to significant BPA or BPS absorption into the body.
And this type of “thermal paper” isn’t limited to receipts—it’s also used for movie and concert tickets, boarding passes and deli meat and cheese labels. It’s pretty hard to avoid. And studies have found that the body absorbs more BPA when thermal paper is handled with moist or greasy fingers.
Using hand sanitizer and hand creams can make the body absorb BPA much more rapidly.
While virtually every person who has been tested has had BPA and BPS in their bodies, cashiers and other workers who handle thermal paper have more of these chemicals in their body than the rest of us.
The fetuses of pregnant workers who handle toxic receipts may be the most vulnerable to exposure.
One More Reason to Avoid Handling Thermal Paper
The thermal paper that receipts are printed on contains high amounts of BPA. ... Essentially, BPA mimics estrogen, binding to estrogen receptors and causing your body to think it has more estrogen.
This leads to a hormonal imbalance, causing testosterone production to drop off.
Suggestions:
- If you must handle a receipt or come in contact with this type of paper, (example a newspaper) wear disposable gloves. Peel the gloves off after using so that the exposed side is inverted.
- Wash hands after handling
- Avoid using your fingers to eat until after they have been cleaned.
- Note: These chemicals are much more readily absorbed through the skin rather than the digestive system.
Perhaps it is time to work on a Detoxification Enhancement Program
We have several to choose from lasting anywhere from 7 to 60 days. Give us a call if you would like to work on this.
Learn how to naturally lose weight with our "detox" done right" video.
Your body's cellular "buckets" could be overflowing with toxic build-up.
What are these toxins?
- Alcohol
- Augar
- Pesticides
- Unhealthy fats
- Chemicals found in your makeup, water and air pollution, and more.
You can look at each of the trillions of cells in your body as buckets; when these cells reach their "toxic load/limit", they begin to overflow, and that's when symptoms begin to appear. A lack of energy, weight gain, sluggishness, frequent colds or infections, and allergies are just a few examples of what happens when your body is too toxic. Check out my blog on this topic.
Always remember one of my mantras., "The more you know about how your body works, the better you can take care of yourself."
For more details about the natural approach I take with my patients, take a look at the book I wrote entitled: Reclaim Your Life; Your Guide To Revealing Your Body's Life-Changing Secrets For Renewed Health. It is available in my office or at Amazon and many other book outlets. If you found value in this article, please use the social sharing icons at the top of this post and please share with those you know who are still suffering with chronic health challenges, despite receiving medical management. Help me reach more people so they may regain their zest for living! Thank you!
ALL THE BEST – DR. KARL R.O.S. JOHNSON, DC – DIGGING DEEPER TO FIND SOLUTIONS
Note: portions of this blog post is courtesy of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families
