Are there toxic chemicals in your grocery store receipt?
Receipts are printed on thermal paper, which often contains bisphenols. alvarez/E+ via Getty Images “Would you like your receipt?” It’s a question you’re likely to hear every time you pop into the grocery store or stop for a latte on the way to work.
Grocery store and other receipts are printed on thermal paper, a special type that contains chemicals called bisphenols. These chemicals act as developers, reacting to heat to create the black print on receipts. The most common bisphenols in receipts are bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS). BPA has been widely used since the 1950s in products like hard plastic water bottles, food containers, and even baby bottles, though many manufacturers have phased it out. BPS is a newer alternative often used after BPA was restricted in some products. Thermal paper receipts use these chemicals because they are heat-sensitive, allowing printers to create text without traditional ink. Fax machines also used this technology in the past.
Bisphenols are classified as endocrine disruptors, meaning they interfere with the body’s endocrine system, which regulates vital functions like growth, reproduction, and metabolism. The endocrine system includes organs such as the thyroid, pancreas, and pituitary gland, which communicate through hormones. BPA, the most studied bisphenol, disrupts hormone messaging, particularly estrogen, which is important for fetal development. Exposure to high levels of BPA has been linked to preterm birth, abnormal fetal brain development, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and oxidative stress (damage to cells). Some research suggests BPA may also alter gene activity, with effects potentially passed to future generations. BPS, the alternative to BPA, shares many of these toxic traits.
Bisphenols are used in many everyday products beyond receipts. They are found in polycarbonate plastics, such as hard plastic water bottles, food storage containers, and eyeglass lenses. They are also used in epoxy resins, which coat the inside of metal food and drink containers, like canned goods. While BPA has been banned in baby bottles and in Europe for many uses, it is still allowed in the United States for most products. Many manufacturers have voluntarily replaced BPA with alternatives like BPS or other bisphenols, though concerns about all bisphenols have led some companies to eliminate them entirely. The primary source of bisphenol exposure for most people, however, is from food or beverages packaged in containers made with these chemicals.
A 2025 study by the Center for Environmental Health claimed that touching a receipt for just 10 seconds could expose a person to unsafe levels of BPS. However, a 2023 study estimated that the average person’s daily exposure to BPA from receipts is between 5,000 to 50 million times lower than safety standards set by the European Food Safety Authority. This is roughly equivalent to less than one drop of BPA in an 8-ounce glass of water. For most people, handling receipts is a low-risk activity. However, workers who handle many receipts daily may be exposed to doses about 100 times higher than the average person, though still likely below safety levels. The study emphasizes that the dose of a chemical determines its toxicity, a principle known as 'the dose makes the poison' from the Swiss physician Paracelsus.
While handling receipts is generally low-risk, certain groups may want to take precautions. Pregnant people, infants, children, and individuals with **endocrine diseases** are more sensitive to the effects of bisphenols. These groups may wish to avoid prolonged contact with thermal paper receipts. Workers who handle receipts regularly, such as cashiers, could reduce exposure by avoiding skin care products like hand sanitizer or moisturizer before work, wearing gloves, or using bisphenol-free thermal paper. For the general public, opting for emailed receipts or tucking receipts into a bag or pocket instead of holding them can minimize exposure. The article’s author, a **medical toxicologist**, personally avoids paper receipts to reduce waste.
