Money and receipts may be an origin of BPA

A blended statement released by 2 advocacy groups has found Bisphenol A on money. Bisphenol A, a highly questionable substance, was found on more than 90 percent of $1 bills analyzed. The levels 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 might force a number of people to take out a payday loan for medical bills should they have too much exposure to the bills.

Info on BPA

Bisphenol A, otherwise known as BPA, is an organic chemical generally found in plastics. Usually BPA is used for hardening. Polycarbonate and epoxy resins are hardened. BPA is also used to line metal of cans of food, among other things. BPA mimics estrogen within the body. Bisphenol A is linked to things such as cancer, thyroid dysfunction, obesity and even neurological disorders in animal studies. DNA could be altered permanently by high enough BPA exposure also. In fact, Canada takes extreme caution with Bisphenol A. It is toxic there. BPA hasn't been regulated although it is a "chemical of concern" within the U.S.

Seeing BPA on receipts often

There is some "preliminary evidence" to suggest BPA is on receipts. Three studies released this year show this. A powder of ink and BPA blended together is used on Thermal receipts. This powder, when heated or pressed, releases the ink and prints. Numerous restaurants, retail stores and shops use thermal receipts. This powder can easily rub off the receipts and give a “microdose” of BPA. One study estimates that average individuals would not “receive more than about 2.5 percent of the tolerable daily intake of BPA from handling a single receipt.”

Discovering BPA on money

After the study that found BPA could be transferred from receipts, researchers turned their attention to money. The Washington Toxic Coalition conducted a study of 22 $1 bills, and found a “significant” amount of BPA on 21 of them. The theory is that BPA on money could be transferred from the BPA on receipts — but it is not yet proven. Just remember that the study is very small and needs to be researched more. 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.

Citations

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