BPA- Bisphenol A

Image by Sabine van Erp from Pixabay

What does BPA stand for?

Bisphenol A is a chemical found in items such as hard plastics, including drinking water bottles, products packaged in plastic containers. eye glass lenses, shower curtain liners, electronics and store receipts.

Studies have shown that exposure too BPA or its counter part BPS  ( Bisphenol S ) is linked to a number of health issues. These toxic chemicals have been linked to causing reproductive, neurological, immunity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

The receipts that we receive when we buy groceries, gas, clothing, prescriptions, restaurants are generally printed on thermal paper coated with Bisphenol A (BPA) or on its chemical cousin Bisphenol S (BPS). 

How to know if the receipts have BPA or BPS?

A quick test to see it the paper you are handling is  the thermal type containing BPA: on the printed side make a scratch, if it makes a dark mark it is thermal.