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Cash Register Receipts May Be Tainted With BPA

By HERWriter
 
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Environmental Working Group (EWG) has tested samples of cash register receipts from a variety of stores and other places of business. Results of this testing indicated that 40 percent of these cash register receipts had high levels of BPA.

BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemical found in many food and beverage containers.

"The tests also showed that the BPA on the receipts could easily rub off onto the hands of anyone who handles them. That’s a potential worry for shoppers but even more so for the tens of thousands of store and restaurant workers who handled hundreds of receipts daily. Federal data analyzed by EWG shows that retail workers carry an average of 30 percent more BPA in their bodies than other adults."

The good news is, not all receipts showed BPA, so that means it's possible for businesses to purchase and provide paper that doesn't contain BPA.

Since BPA-tainted receipts are still being distributed however, you can identify whether or not your receipt has BPA. Rubbing it with a coin will cause a BPA receipt to discolor. The color of a clean cash register receipt won't be changed.

http://www.ewg.org/kid-safe-chemicals-act-blog/2010/07/a-little-bpa-along-with-your-change

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Anonymous

Appleton Papers, which makes more than 50 percent of the receipt paper sold in the U.S., stopped using BPA in 2006. After reviewing available science we concluded removing BPA from our thermal products was the responsible thing to do. In doing so, we gave retailers and restaurants a safe, easy and cost-competitive choice. Our BPA-free thermal receipt paper is available globally.

We realize that many of our competitors continue to use BPA despite mounting concerns about its safety. We are actively participating in the EPA’s BPA Alternatives in Thermal Paper Partnership. We hope the remainder of the thermal paper industry moves away from potentially harmful BPA. More information about the partnership is available on the EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/bpa/index.htm

For more information about Appleton and our BPA-free thermal paper products, visit www.appletonideas.com.

August 9, 2010 - 8:51am

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Jody Smith
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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