Toxic‑Chemistry Doctor Skips Paper Receipts—Here’s the Real Reason
Plastic Polymer Receipts: an Unseen Daily Exposure
Dr. Leonardo Trasande, a NYU Langone pediatrician and environmental health professor, highlights a commonplace source of plastic chemicals—grocery, gas station, restaurant, and clothing store receipts. While receipts are not typically perceived as plastic, their polymer coatings are indeed polymers.
Polymer Coatings: The Hidden Chemical Transmission
- Skin Contact: The polymer layer on receipts can release chemicals directly into human skin.
- Chemical Trail: Wherever plastic appears, chemicals of concern accompany it.
Practicing Digital Alternatives
When an electronic receipt is offered, Dr. Trasande opts for that digital route, avoiding plastic-coated paper receipts.
Toxic chemicals on store receipts
Reconsidering Receipt Printing
When a receipt pops out of a kitchen printer or a shop register, it is usually produced on thermal paper. That paper is engineered to respond to heat, allowing cheap ink to appear instantaneously on the spot.
Why Thermal Paper Is Common
Several factors make thermal paper the default choice for businesses:
- b Low Cost – The paper itself is inexpensive, making on‑the‑spot printing a budget friendly option.
- b Speed – Thermal paper requires no ink cartridges, ensuring rapid output for restaurants, retail stores, and other venues.
- b Durability in the Short Term – The heat‑sensitive ink lasts long enough for most receipts, under normal handling conditions.
The Hidden Chemical Concern
Although thermal paper is designed for convenience, it often contains bisphenols, a group of chemicals that traditionally find use in plastic manufacturing. Bisphenols can leach from paper and may pose health risks for workers who handle large volumes of receipts.
What Bisphenols Are
Bisphenols are a class of compounds that are commonly produced during the creation of certain plastics. When they migrate from thermal paper into the air, they can accumulate in indoor environments.
Why Bisphenols Matter
Research has linked bisphenol exposure to:
- b Hormonal Disruption – Bisphenols can interfere with the normal function of hormones in the body.
- b Neurodevelopmental Issues – High levels of bisphenol exposure have been associated with learning and behavioral challenges in children.
- b Reproductive Health Risks – Women who have been exposed to bisphenols are at a higher risk of fertility problems and early pregnancy loss.
Addressing the Problem
Businesses and individuals can take steps to reduce bisphenol exposure from thermal paper:
- When feasible, opt for paperless receipts by providing digital copies via email or a mobile app.
- Use alternative printing media that do not contain bisphenols, such as certain types of printable sheets on conventional printers.
- Ensure proper ventilation in areas where thermal paper is frequently handled, helping to disperse any chemicals that may be released.
By recognizing the trade‑offs between convenience and chemical safety, stakeholders can move toward printing solutions that are both efficient and healthier for Everyone involved.
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In a landmark effort this year, the nonprofit watchdog Center for Environmental Health examined receipts from 32 leading retailers. Their findings revealed that a brief 10‑second touch exposes consumers to a quantity of BPS far exceeding California’s legal threshold for a warning under Prop 65. Consequently, the CEH issued a formal legal notice to those retailers in April.
Key Points
- Receipts from 32 major retailers verified high BPS exposure.
- Exposure levels surpass California’s Proposition 65 warning requirement.
- Legal notice delivered by the CEH to each retailer in April.
Expert Commentary
Trasande emphasized the necessity for stringent safety vetting of chemicals used in plastic materials. “When toxic chemicals are identified as a human health threat, we must prioritize safer alternatives,” he said. Highlighting electronic receipts as a significant advancement, Trasande stated, “Electronic receipts represent an important positive step forward.”
Microplastics in receipts
Microplastics, the invisible threat inside our bodies
Where the plastic infiltrates
Every household item, from kitchen containers to office supplies, is a potential source of micro‑ and nanoplastics. When these tiny particles shed, they drift into the air, water, and eventually our biological systems.
Microplastics in the human body
Researchers have detected micro‑nanoplastics in an astonishing array of tissues, from the brain to the arterial lining. Although the precise health consequences remain under investigation, existing evidence has linked them to:
- Chronic inflammation
- Lung and colon cancers
- Reproductive abnormalities
- Cardiovascular events
Reducing our plastic exposure
Trasande noted the limits of personal control but highlighted actionable steps:
- Eliminating paper receipts to cut paper use alongside plastic.
- Choosing reusable containers over single‑use plastic.
- Supporting plastic‑free product lines.
A global call to curb plastic production
Current production trends predict a triple increase by 2060 per the United Nations Environment Programme. Trasande advocates for a global plastics treaty to steer international policy.
According to Reuters, the United Nations plans to resume treaty negotiations in August.