Stop, you must not touch those printed receipts — here’s why

Yes, you read the headline correctly and we indeed are asking you to avoid touching those paper receipts you get after shopping or eating at your favourite outlet. Why you ask? That is because “the shiny, plasticky paper that is used for receipts is called thermal paper and it uses the application of heat to print characters,” informed Mugdha Pradhan, functional nutritionist, CEO and founder, iThrive.

The main chemicals of concern are bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS), which are used in the thermal coating of this type of paper. “Both BPA and BPS are endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with the hormone system in humans,” Dr Aniket Mule, consultant internal medicine, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, Mumbai, told indianexpress.com.

Adding, Pradhan said this is why many companies mention “BPA-free” in the packaging and marketing of a lot of plastic products. “This is because the harmful effects of such toxins have been very well documented in the medical literature by now. But little do people know one of the biggest sources of BPA and other harmful phenols are these printed receipts,” said Pradhan.

Demonstrating the same in an Instagram reel, certified yoga and nutrition coach Adithya Nataraj used the heat from a hair straightener over a few paper receipts — which instantly turned black. “Avoid touching your paper receipts! They contain an unregulated amount of BPA, which is a toxic chemical produced during the production of plastic,” cautioned Nataraj.

Why is it risky?

That is because the surface of thermal paper contains phenols in an unbounded form that readily absorbs into your skin. “Studies show that just touching them briefly can raise levels of BPA in your bloodstream. It’s also been shown that cashiers have significantly higher levels of BPA and BPS. The fetuses of pregnant women who work in jobs that involve touching toxic receipts may be at alarmingly high risk,” Pradhan said.

Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to various health problems, such as reproductive and developmental issues, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases, said Dr Mule. “For individuals who have a habit of putting random receipts in their mouth, the risks are heightened as direct ingestion of these chemicals could lead to more immediate health consequences,” said Dr Mule.

Thermal paper contains phenols in an unbounded form that readily absorbs into your skin (Source: Freepik)

What can you do about it?

*Avoid handling receipts and ask for digital receipts if possible.

 

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*Raise awareness and email your favourite retail stores asking them to switch to phenol-free receipt paper. “Some retailers in the US such as Trader Joe’s and Best Buy have already done this after many people complained. But awareness in India remains low,” said Pradhan.

*If you have to hold the receipt, try to avoid touching the printed side. The unprinted side usually does not have the toxic coating, said Pradhan.

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