Beware of BPA-tainted receipts

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Cash register receipts, ATM receipts, the receipts the gas pump spits out, and even baggage claim checks -- if they're printed on thermal paper, they probably contain bisphenol A, known as BPA. It's a chemical that raises safety concerns because it's linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease, and reproductive abnormalities.

The BPA in thermal-paper receipts readily transfers to the skin, where it can penetrate quickly. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that volunteers who were handling BPA-coated receipts for just 2 hours had significantly higher levels of BPA in their urine.

Fortunately, it's easy to spot thermal-paper receipts by rubbing the printed side with a coin or paper clip. If a dark mark appears, it is thermal paper. Consumer Reports has this advice for avoiding BPA in receipts:

-- Get e-mail receipts when possible.

-- If you must keep paper receipts, don't just stuff them into your wallet. Store them in a plastic bag. Not only does BPA rub onto your hands but it also comes off onto anything it comes into contact with, including paper money.

-- For people who handle a lot of thermal paper, cashiers, for instance, wear nitrile gloves -- the type you see in doctor's offices or in the hospital.

-- And everyone should wash his or her hands after handling thermal paper.

Some manufacturers of thermal paper have switched from BPA to a similar chemical, BPS. But a government study shows that BPS may pose the same health hazards and also can transfer easily to the skin. An important note: Pregnant women and children are especially vulnerable to the health risks from thermal paper.