Just 10 Seconds Holding a Paper Receipt Could Be Bad News for Your Health, Experts Warn

Health experts are warning that holding a paper receipt for as little as 10 seconds could be enough to put your well-being at risk.

The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) has issued a notice of violation to 32 major retailers after detecting high levels of Bisphenol S (BPS) in their receipt paper. BPS, which the organization calls a "lesser-known but harmful cousin to BPA," is an endocrine disruptor that can potentially mess with your hormones, metabolism, and even reproductive health.

According to the CEH, just a brief touch—think 10 seconds—can allow enough BPS to seep into your skin to exceed the so-called safe harbor level. If that doesn't make you want to go full digital, I don't know what will.

"BPS, like Bisphenol A, mimics estrogen and can disrupt normal body functions including growth and development," the CEH emphasized. Studies confirm BPS is absorbed through the skin even during short interactions with receipt paper.

The organization is threatening legal action unless retailers take steps to warn customers or switch to safer alternatives. And yes, there are potential financial penalties on the table for companies that don't comply.

Consumers are being advised to skip paper receipts whenever possible. For store employees, the advice is to wear gloves or at least avoid alcohol-based hand sanitizers before handling receipts, since those can actually make absorption of BPS worse. Apparently, thermal receipt paper is not only a health hazard but also a recycling nightmare, as it can contaminate the recycling stream with chemicals like BPA and BPS.

Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst, pointed out that digital receipts are becoming the norm anyway—a small win for both convenience and health. He also noted that BPA can creep into our lives in unexpected places, such as phone cases, even if you thought your iPhone was a safe zone.

The bigger picture? Experts say we need more research on "forever chemicals" like BPS, especially given worries about fertility and brain health. In fact, a 2021 German study found BPS could "seriously damage" human brains after seeing its effects on fish nerve cells. (Goldfish, but still—yikes!)

Until reform happens, maybe think twice before grabbing that paper receipt. Your hormones will thank you.