Why You May Want to Limit Contact With Thermal-Paper Receipts

A biomedical scientist is drawing attention to a source of chemical exposure that most people encounter during everyday shopping: thermal-paper receipts.

Thermal-paper receipts can contain bisphenol chemicals that may transfer to the skin during handling.

Dr. Rhonda Patrick, a biomedical scientist known for her work on nutrition, aging and disease prevention, discussed the issue during an appearance on The Diary of a CEO. She highlighted concerns about bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical historically used as a developer in thermal paper.

Thermal receipts are not ordinary paper. They contain a heat-sensitive coating that produces printed images when exposed to heat.

BPA has historically been used in that coating, although some manufacturers have replaced it with alternative chemicals such as bisphenol S (BPS).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has documented the use of BPA as a developer in thermal paper and the potential for exposure through skin contact.

Scientific studies have found that BPA can transfer from thermal receipts to the skin.

One study found that handling a thermal receipt for five seconds transferred measurable amounts of BPA to the fingers, with substantially greater transfer when the skin was wet or greasy.

Researchers have also found that hand sanitizer can significantly increase BPA transfer from thermal paper. In one experiment, researchers found that certain hand sanitizers containing dermal-penetration-enhancing chemicals increased the amount of BPA transferred to the skin by as much as 100-fold under experimental conditions.

Another study found that using hand sanitizer immediately before handling thermal paper increased BPA transfer to the skin by factors ranging from 22 to 200 times, depending on the conditions.

The findings do not mean that touching a receipt briefly is necessarily dangerous or that everyone who handles receipts will suffer health effects.

Exposure depends on the type of thermal paper, the amount of contact, skin condition and other factors.

People who handle receipts frequently, such as cashiers, can have substantially greater occupational exposure than occasional shoppers. The EPA has identified cashiers and other workers who frequently handle thermal paper as groups that may experience greater exposure.

The practical takeaway is relatively simple: limiting unnecessary contact with thermal receipts and washing hands after handling them can reduce exposure, particularly when the hands have recently been treated with products that may enhance dermal absorption.