Bisphenol A chemical discovered on cash possibly shifted from receipts

2 advocacy groups have released a statement on sources of BPA. A study has discovered Bisphenol A on both receipts and money. BPA, an extremely questionable substance, was found on greater than ninety percent of $1 bills tested. The amounts of Bisphenol A that most would be exposed to is “well within” limits set by the United States. It is, however, well outside limits set by other countries. Those $1 bills could potentially force many individuals to obtain a personal cash loan for healthcare expenditures if they have an excessive amount of contact with the bills. Article source – BPA chemical found on money possibly transferred from receipts by MoneyBlogNewz.

The basics of BPA

Plastics generally have Bisphenol A, or BPA, in it as an organic chemical. BPA is generally used to harden polycarbonate and epoxy resins. BPA is also used to line metal of cans of food, among other things. Estrogen in the body is being mimicked by BPA. In animal studies, BPA has been linked to everything from cancer to thyroid dysfunction to obesity and neurological disorders. It has also been found that BPA exposure at high enough levels can permanently alter DNA. Canada controls BPA as a toxic substance. In the U.S., BPA is a “chemical of concern,” though not yet heavily regulated.

Receipts have BPA

In three studies released earlier this year, scientists found “preliminary evidence” that there are significant amounts of BPA on receipts. All thermal receipts use BPA in them with ink. It is blended into a powder. Heating or pressing on the powder causes the ink to release. That causing printing to happen. Many restaurants, retail stores and shops use thermal receipts. A "microdose" of BPA is given if the powder rubs off the receipts. One study estimates that average individuals would not “receive more than about 2.5 % of the tolerable daily intake of BPA from handling a single receipt.”

Money having Bisphenol A too

Researchers looked at money after finding in a study that BPA is transferred from receipts. The Washington Toxic Coalition conducted a study of 22 $1 bills, and found a “significant” amount of BPA on 21 of them. It isn't proven yet, although the idea would be that BPA on receipts would be transferred to money. This is, of course, a very small study that should not be considered authoritative without further research. If you are trying to minimize your exposure to BPA, manage money and thermal receipts as little as possible — at least until Congress passes a bill like the Toxic Substances Control Act, which would classify BPA as a toxic substance.

Info from

Science News

sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/61764/title/Receipts_a_large_%E2%80%94_and_largely_ignored_%E2%80%94_source_of_BPA

Time

healthland.time.com/2010/12/08/dirty-money-traces-of-bpa-found-on-currency/

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A#World_Health_Organization