You know that 12-foot-long receipt you get from CVS? Turns out it’s not just wasting paper — it might actually be messing with your body.
A new report from the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) says that thermal paper receipts (the kind most stores still use) can be loaded with a chemical called BPS, short for Bisphenol S. It’s a “forever chemical” that’s similar to BPA, and it doesn’t just chill on the surface — your skin can absorb it in 10 seconds or less.
And what does BPS do? It mimics estrogen and can throw off your hormones, affecting everything from your metabolism and growth to reproductive health. Yeah… just from holding a receipt.
Wait... seriously?
Yep. This isn’t a TikTok rumor. Scientists have been studying BPS for years. In fact, researchers in Germany warned back in 2021 that BPS could cause serious brain damage after testing it on goldfish. (So… probably not something you want in your bloodstream.)
It’s back in the spotlight because CEH just tested a bunch of receipts from retailers and found BPS levels that were way too high. They’re now looking to sue stores that don’t warn people about it.
What You Can Do:
- Opt for digital receipts if they’re available
- Say “no thanks” to paper receipts at checkout
- Employees who handle them a lot? Consider gloves
- Pro tip: Create a spammy email just for digital receipts
Also, if you ever wondered why receipts aren’t recyclable — it’s because of this. Thermal paper + BPS = landfill forever.
So next time someone offers you a receipt, just hit ‘em with a confident “I’m good” and keep it pushin’. Your hormones will thank you.
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