When you ask for a receipt at the grocery store or coffee shop, you may be handed a small slip of paper that looks harmless. That paper is usually thermal paper, which is coated with chemicals called bisphenols – most commonly bisphenol A (BPA) or bisphenol S (BPS). These compounds help the paper develop the black print when heated.
What are bisphenols?
Bisphenols are synthetic chemicals that have been used in industry since the 1950s. They are key ingredients in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins found in water bottles, food containers, and metal can liners. In recent decades, manufacturers have begun to replace BPA with alternatives such as BPS or BPF, but the health concerns remain similar.
How bisphenols affect the body
Medical toxicologists classify bisphenols as endocrine disruptors. This means they can interfere with the body’s hormone system, which regulates growth, metabolism, and reproduction. Research on BPA shows it can mimic estrogen, a hormone present in all people, and has been linked in some studies to preterm birth, altered fetal brain development, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and oxidative stress.
Because the endocrine system is especially important during fetal development, pregnant people and young children are advised to limit exposure where possible. The European Union has banned BPA in many products, and the United States prohibits its use in baby bottles, though it remains legal in most other items.
Do receipts pose a real danger?
A 2025 study from the Center for Environmental Health estimated that the amount of BPA transferred from a typical thermal receipt to a person’s skin is between 5,000 and 50 million times lower than the safety limits set by the European Food Safety Authority. In practical terms, that is less than a single drop of BPA in an eight‑ounce glass of water.
For the average shopper who handles a receipt for a few seconds, the exposure is negligible. Workers who handle large volumes of receipts – such as cashiers, baristas, and delivery drivers – may experience exposure up to 100 times higher than the average person, according to the same researchers. Even so, the estimated dose for these workers still falls well below established safety thresholds.
Practical steps for those who are concerned
While the risk is low, the following simple measures can further reduce any potential exposure:
- Avoid applying hand sanitizer, lotion, or other greasy products before handling receipts, as these can increase skin absorption.
- Consider using gloves if you handle receipts for many hours each day.
- Ask retailers for electronic receipts when available, or store printed receipts in a pocket or bag rather than holding them in your hand.
- Employers can explore using bisphenol‑free thermal paper for point‑of‑sale printers.
For most people, especially those outside of sensitive groups such as pregnant individuals, infants, children, or those with specific endocrine disorders, handling a receipt remains a very low‑risk activity.
Bottom line
Bisphenols are present in many everyday products, and the majority of human exposure comes from food and beverage packaging rather than receipts. While it is wise to be aware of potential sources of endocrine disruptors, the evidence suggests that occasional contact with thermal paper receipts does not pose a significant health threat for the general public.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
