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Receipts are everywhere — in your wallet, purse, or pocket after nearly every purchase. But handling receipt paper may pose serious consequences.

Most stores use a type of receipt paper called thermal paper. Thermal paper is coated with chemicals, including bisphenol A (BPA) or bisphenol S (BPS). These chemicals make the paper change color when heated, allowing it to be printed without the use of ink.

Exposure to BPA and BPS has negative impacts on health, most notably on hormones, which are chemical messengers that regulate various bodily functions.

What Is Thermal Paper?

Thermal paper is made from a base layer of regular paper that’s coated with a mix of chemicals. This coating usually includes a leuco dye, which turns dark when heated, a color developer like BPA or BPS, and stabilizers to preserve the image.

The heat-sensitive layer enables fast and ink-free printing. When the paper passes through a thermal printer, heat causes parts of the paper to become black, creating the text or image.

Are Thermal Receipts Harmful to Your Health?

Scientists continue to study the effects of BPA and BPS on the body, particularly at low doses over extended periods. One area of interest is how these chemicals may affect hormone-sensitive tissues, such as the brain, breasts, and prostate.

BPA and BPS are known as endocrine disruptors. That means they can interfere with how your body’s hormones work. Hormones play a crucial role in regulating essential bodily functions.

Your endocrine hormones influence growth, development, metabolism, reproduction, mood, and the way organs function. They also play a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis, or the body’s internal balance.

Hormone disruption can lead to a wide range of health problems, including:

• Fertility issues.
• Increased risk of some cancers.
• Learning and behavior problems.
• Problems with thyroid or metabolism.

Can BPA from Receipts Be Absorbed Through the Skin?

BPA can enter the body through skin contact — even handling a receipt for just a few seconds can transfer small amounts of BPA to your skin. The longer a receipt is in contact with your skin, the more exposure you will have.

Using hand sanitizer immediately before handling receipts can make things worse. The alcohol in hand sanitizer breaks down your skin’s natural barrier, allowing more BPA or BPS to get through.

While one receipt probably won’t hurt you, small exposures over time can add up —especially for people who handle receipt paper every day, like retail store workers or restaurant staff.

Is BPS Safer than BPA?

When BPA began receiving negative attention in the media, some companies switched to BPS. However, BPS may be just as harmful, as it behaves similarly to BPA in the body.

In some cases, BPS may linger longer in the environment and in human tissues.

While not all receipt paper contains BPA or BPS, most still do. Without clear labeling, it is difficult for consumers to know the chemical ingredients to which they are being exposed.

It is safe to assume thermal paper contains bisphenols unless a business has verified it is using safer receipt paper.

How Much BPA Is in a Receipt?

A single receipt may not seem significant, but the amount of BPA or BPS on thermal paper is much higher than what is found in other sources, including canned food or plastic bottles.

The European Union has warned that individuals, such as cashiers, who handle receipt paper all day, may be exposed to BPA at unsafe levels. That’s a concern, especially for pregnant workers or young adults.

Even for regular consumers, exposure can accumulate over time. Touching receipt paper often, then touching your face, phone, or food, can spread the chemicals even more.

Are There Safer Alternatives to Thermal Paper Receipts?

Some businesses now offer BPA-free receipt paper, but that doesn’t always mean the paper is nontoxic. Many BPA-free options still use BPS or other bisphenol-based developers.

Nontoxic receipt paper

Look for receipts labeled both “BPA- and BPS-free,” or ask businesses directly what type of thermal paper they use. True safer alternatives to thermal paper use developers like Pergafast® 201.

Digital receipts

Digital receipts are becoming more common in retail, restaurant, and service businesses for good reason. These eco-friendly receipts reduce paper waste, eliminate clutter, and most importantly, limit exposure to harmful chemicals like BPA and BPS.

Since digital receipts don’t require thermal paper, they completely eliminate the risk of skin absorption and airborne toxins associated with printed receipt paper. They can also make returns easier and improve recordkeeping.

Is Receipt Paper Toxic to Burn?

Burning thermal paper is unsafe and contributes to both air pollution and chemical exposure.

Thermal paper is coated with BPA or BPS, which are synthetic chemicals. When burned, these chemicals don’t disappear. They can become airborne as toxic particles or vapor and settle on nearby soil or water.

Exposure to BPA emissions has serious consequences, including:

• Contaminating indoor air (if burned in a fireplace or stove).
• Creating toxic ash that is unsafe for compost or garden use.
• Increasing risk to children, pets, and those who are sensitive to pollutants.
• Polluting outdoor air and local ecosystems.

Avoid using thermal receipt paper to start fires, burn trash, or heat wood stoves, even in small amounts. Receipt paper should be placed in the regular trash, not recycling bins or fire pits.

Is Thermal Sticker Paper Toxic?

Thermal sticker paper, including shipping labels or barcode tags, often uses similar coatings to other thermal paper and should be handled with care. Thermal sticker paper may contain BPA, BPS, or related chemicals unless specifically labeled otherwise.

Always wash your hands after handling thermal sticker paper and avoid burning any type of thermal sticker paper.

How Can I Avoid BPA Exposure from Receipts?

There are easy ways to protect yourself from chemicals in receipt paper:

• Ask for a digital receipt by text or email.
• Don’t use hand sanitizer before handling a receipt.
• Keep receipt paper in an envelope or bag and avoid letting it touch other items, such as food or personal products.
• Say no to receipts if you don’t need one.
• Wash your hands after touching receipt paper, especially before eating.
• Wear gloves if you work in a job where you often handle receipt paper.