Cancer-causing bisphenol found in cash receipts: Study

Bisphenol A (BPA) and Bisphenol S (BPS) which can disrupt the human body's normal functioning and develop cancer have been found in cash receipts, says a study.
The foetuses of pregnant workers who handle toxic receipts may be most vulnerable to exposure, it added.
BPA and BPS are endocrine disruptors that mimic hormones like estrogens and thyroid hormone, disrupting the body's normal functioning. In receipts, they are present in loose powder which easily leaves a very high concentration of the chemical on people's fingers, said the study.
Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) conducted the follow-up study titled 'Transaction with Toxins: BPA in Cash Receipts' in association with Financial Industry Public Interest Foundation and Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health-WIOEH, Seoul, South Korea.
ESDO shared the findings of the study at an event held virtually on Monday.
According to the study, about 97 per cent of cash receipt samples collected from 40 places was made of thermal paper and 69 per cent of them include Bisphenol A and 26 per cent has Bisphenol S.
A total of 67 samples were collected. Only two samples from one local franchise store were detected as "not thermal paper". All the receipt samples exceeded the EU standard, the study revealed.
The samples were collected from public offices, local franchise stores, small and large supermarkets, bank number tickets and delivery receipts or general retail shops.
Earlier in 2019, ESDO conducted its first study on it and found BPA in all 36 samples.
Besides, a baseline survey was conducted physically on 1,350 people and it was found that zero per cent surveyed population was unaware of BPA-containing thermal paper and its harmful effects.
Prof Dr. Mohammad Robed Amin, a line director at Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said BPA is mostly used in polycarbonate plastics, epoxy resins and thermal papers.
People should use glass and stainless steel instead of plastic (for water bottles, storage containers, and baby bottles) to avoid BPA, he suggested.
Guest speaker of the event Dr. Yun-Keun Lee, Executive Director, Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health (WIOEH) said, "BPA is a hormone-like substance that has been linked to reproductive problems in foetuses, infants, adolescents and adults."
Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Project Coordinator, Environmental Intervention Unit, icddr,b said, "EDC is a new concern and it is critical to focus on removing EDCs that disproportionately harm most vulnerable, such as women of reproductive age, unborn foetus and children."
ESDO study team leader Dr. Shahriar Hossain said BPA and BPS from thermal paper can pass into bloodstream more quickly. At the levels seen in this study, the risk of diseases such as diabetes, neurological imbalance and even cancer escalates.
While speaking as the chief guest, Syed Marghub Murshed, Chairperson of ESDO, urged immediate regulatory actions.

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