Recent studies have discovered dangerous amounts of bisphenol S (BPS), another toxic chemical, lurking in paper receipts. Whether it’s Amazon or other big-box retailers, this is a problem facing America’s largest retailers across the county. This class of ubiquitous chemicals, deployed in many consumer products from cosmetics to food wrappers, has become better-known in recent years as a major health threat. In many instances, BPS has become the replacement for bisphenol A (BPA). This substitution is important because BPA has faced a deluge of attention for its deleterious impacts.
Animal studies have shown that under certain circumstances, BPS can be just as toxic as its notorious predecessor BPA, sparking alarm among health advocates and regulators. The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that protects public health and the environment. In response, they have been the leading voice to call out BPS as dangerous. Researchers recently found that just 10 seconds of holding a paper receipt printed with BPS is enough time for the skin to absorb this toxic chemical. Alarmingly, the absorption can exceed California’s safety guideline.
Here CEH has gone further, issuing violation notices to a list of about 50 of the largest national retailers. Notable brands on this list are Burger King, Chanel, Dollar General, AMC Theaters, GameStop, Subway, Foot Locker, and Ace Hardware. These notices are meant to focus companies that have been found to permit their receipts to be printed with illegal levels of BPS. The organization emphasizes that it’s time for retailers to move beyond BPS to safer alternatives. Failure to act may have them legally liable under California’s Proposition 65.
Under Proposition 65, companies must use safer alternatives. If not, they need to be upfront and fully disclose to consumers that their products contain harmful chemicals. As you can imagine, if the companies that have been notified don’t respond in 60 days, the CEH intends to move forward. They are determined to take legal action in California state court.
Mihir Vohra, science lead at the CEH, remarked on the findings:
“They really speak to just how high the concentrations of BPS are in these receipts.”
In doing so, regulators have primarily zeroed in on BPA—already banned for food-related uses in Europe. Now the public health spotlight has turned to BPS, with alarming public health implications. BPS and BPA are part of a larger class of chemicals. You can find these in a wide range of consumer goods—from food packaging to toys to cookware.
The extreme toxicity of BPS creates critical health hazards for those who often interact with paper receipts. Our CEH’s Right to Know campaign seeks to do more than just raise awareness about these dangers, but to advocate for safer consumer products in general. This has led people to learn more about the dangers that these chemicals can cause. It is time for retailers to boldly act and do their part to protect the public health.