Receipts from major U.S. retailers contain high levels of bisphenol S, a chemical linked to cancer and reproductive issues, prompting legal action under California’s Proposition 65.
Jordan Perkins reports for The Hill.
In short:
- The Center for Environmental Health found that thermal receipt paper at 50 major retailers, including AMC Theaters and Dollar General, contains bisphenol S (BPS) at levels that exceed California’s safety standards.
- Brief skin contact with some receipts — as little as 10 seconds — can result in enough BPS absorption to breach the state’s legal threshold for toxic exposure.
- The nonprofit has issued legal violation notices and proposes vitamin C-coated paper as a safer alternative; retailers have 60 days to comply or face potential lawsuits.
Why this matters:
Bisphenol S, a common substitute for the banned bisphenol A, is showing up in everyday items like store receipts — and not without consequence. Unlike sealed plastics, thermal paper puts BPS directly in contact with skin, allowing it to enter the body more easily. Once absorbed, BPS can disrupt hormones and mimic estrogen; it has been associated with breast cancer, infertility, and developmental problems. This is part of a broader problem: as companies phase out one harmful chemical, they frequently replace it with a close cousin whose risks are not well studied. Public health advocates warn that regulation must catch up to the science to protect both workers and everyday consumers from invisible, routine exposures.
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