US report indicates BPA in thermal paper contaminates money

A study released by Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and the Washington Toxics Coalition indicates that unbound bisphenol A (BPA) from thermal paper receipts might be contaminating money. Half the receipts tested had large quantities of unbound BPA; 95% of the dollar bills tested positive for lower amounts. The groups say unlike BPA in baby bottles and other products, BPA on thermal paper is not chemically bound: “It is a powdery film on the surface of receipts. Data from this report indicate that this highly toxic chemical does not, in fact, stay on the paper, but rather easily transfers to our skin and likely to other items that it rubs against."

• Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families statement

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