Are Paper Receipts Toxic? And Is It Safe to Touch Them?

Today, some safer alternatives like ascorbic acid appear to be gaining some traction, says Shannon Fitzgerald, PharmD, a toxicologist and pharmacist based in Haverfordwest, Wales. But “too often the more scrutinized BPA and BPS are merely substituted with other similar chemicals,” she says.

“Both chemicals act as endocrine disruptors, meaning they can mimic hormones and potentially interfere with reproductive, developmental, and metabolic processes,” says Dr. Galbadage. “The evidence is strong for BPA and increasingly convincing for BPS, raising concerns that replacing one with the other has not solved the problem.”

“For most consumers, occasional handling of receipts is a small and avoidable source of exposure,” says Galbadage. “The greater concern is for cashiers, servers, and other workers who handle receipts throughout the day. Their repeated, cumulative contact can result in much higher exposure, especially if their hands are moist or if they use sanitizer frequently.”

“Holding receipts with moist or greasy fingers and using hand sanitizers or lotions prior also enhances skin absorption of BPA and BPS,” says Dr. Fitzgerald.

There are environmental concerns with these chemicals, too, given that bisphenols also pose health risks to wildlife. “Depending on factors including water flow, temperature, and the nature of the material that they adhere to, these harmful chemicals can quickly spread throughout an ecosystem and persist for days in an aquatic setting,” says Fitzgerald.

By taking steps to reduce your exposure, you can limit the amount of BPA and BPS you’re potentially absorbing. “While we can’t eliminate every exposure, being informed allows us to reduce unnecessary risks, especially those with invisible, long-term health effects,” says Galbadage.

Receipts are a part of life for most people, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept the risks. With a few simple steps, you can avoid the toxic effects of receipts.

1. Ask for digital receipts. “These are expected to become the standard in the future, with many speculating a vast decrease in thermal printing within the next five years due to environmental concerns,” says Fitzgerald.
2. Strategize your handwashing. Don’t use hand sanitizer before handling a receipt, but do wash your hands afterward, says Galbadage. A widely cited study found that when applied before handling a thermal receipt, some common hand sanitizers can increase absorption of BPA by up to 100 times.

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3. Take precautions if you work with receipts regularly. “Workers can reduce risk by using protective finger cots or gloves when changing receipt rolls and washing hands before meals or breaks,” says Galbadage.
4. Support retailers that use alternate types of receipts. “You can help shift the market by supporting retailers that use safer alternatives, like phenol-free paper or electronic receipts, and advocating for transparency and safer chemical policies from manufacturers,” says Galbadage. Learn more about retailers that are (or are not) using BPS- or BPA-free receipts with the Green America Skip the Slip report.
5. Avoid receipts if you’re pregnant or spend time around children. “Pregnant people and children are considered more vulnerable because their developing systems are more sensitive to hormone-disrupting chemicals,” says Galbadage. “For this reason, it’s best to limit unnecessary contact in these groups.”

• Paper receipts often contain the bisphenol chemicals BPA and BPS, which may disrupt hormone function. This may impact reproductive, developmental, and metabolic health.
• Even brief contact can transfer these chemicals to your skin, and use of hand sanitizers can significantly increase absorption. Workers who frequently handle receipts, such as cashiers, face the highest exposure risks.
• You can reduce exposure by choosing digital receipts, washing hands after handling paper receipts, supporting businesses that use safer alternatives, and avoiding contact, especially if you’re pregnant or caring for children.