Response to BPA and till receipt claims
An article in the Guardian on Tuesday 21st July stated that “A number of studies looking at the BPA on receipt paper have revealed that large amounts of the chemical enter the bloodstream from just holding a receipt.” However, results from studies vary with some showing little to no effect, and what volunteers put on their hands first also affects the outcome of the study.
Prof Andy Smith, MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, said:
“These comments on BPA absorption from handling till receipts should be treated with caution. In one study published in 2014, 10 volunteers handled till receipt paper containing BPA immediately after using hand sanitizers which contained chemicals to enhance skin penetration. They then consumed French fries by hand. Blood levels of BPA in these volunteers were up to 100-times higher than where a larger group of volunteers held receipts with dry hands, did not consume fries and the BPA levels differed little from base line levels. Even so, just because a chemical is found in the blood, does not mean it is bad for you.”
Document type: For The Record
Published: 30 July 2015
Source: Sense About Science
