Chemical bisphenol A found on receipts

Chemical "Bisphenol-A" was found on receipts in supermarkets. Bisphenol-A is suspected of causing cancer and adversely affecting the human hormone balance.

(22.06.2010) Bisphenol-A is a so-called "everyday chemical" and is used in numerous packaging and products as a so-called plasticizer. Recently, the Federal Environment Agency warned to use alternative substances instead of "bisphenol-A". So far, the industry has not moved to use other substances, after all, there was no ban. Bisphenol A (BPA) works in a similar way to the female hormone estrogen and is thought to negatively affect the development of children. In addition, the chemical is said to be cancer causing.

A research by TV broadcaster WDR found that cash registers from the supermarkets Aldi, Edeka, Lidl, Real and Kaiser's Tengelmann contain up to 1.5 percent bisphenol A. The chemical is located on the "thermosensitive" surface of the receipt. However, other companies such as Rewe renounce BPA and have already switched a year ago on bisphenol-A free cash register. This shows that the use of this chemical is completely unnecessary. The question is why other companies do not also switch to cash register free of Bisphenol-A, although the risks should be known long ago.

"Cashiers and consumers come into direct contact with the chemical," says Manfred Krautter of "EcoAid" compared to the "world". EcoAid is a company specializing in product safety. In addition, the interior of the chemical is very likely to be heavily loaded, since in supermarkets in very short time bills tickets are printed.

Bisphenol A (BPA) can not only be found on cash registers. The chemical is also used in children's toys, baby bottles, canned food and plastic utensils. Countries like France and Canada have long reacted and have banned Bisphenol A for at least use in children's toys.

Various studies have already found that bisphenol A can very well enter the human organism. The BUND, for example, found that bisphenol A enters the body via human saliva. In one study, a child sucked on a bisphenol A pacifier for about an hour and ingested 10 micrograms of the chemical.

But why is the chemical so dangerous? Bisphenol A acts in the human organism similar to the female hormone estrogen. Researchers and environmentalists suspect far-reaching consequences in the reproduction of humans. Among other things, it is assumed that girls become sexually mature due to BPA. In addition, male sperm quality has declined rapidly over the past 50 years.

The European organization "Women in Europe for a Common Future" also points out that bisphenol A can affect the hormone system in minimal doses and trigger diseases such as cancer, fertility or developmental disorders. Bisphenol A is still not required to be declared. Consumers therefore can not tell if this chemical is included in the product. Although there are limits to the use of this chemical, the limits set do not prevent the effects of this chemical on humans. Especially not when people are permanently in contact with the dangerous chemical. (Sb)

Also read:
Hormone-active chemicals threaten health
Study: Girls getting sexually mature sooner
Federal Environmental Agency warns of chemical bisphenol A
Image source: Harald Wanetschka.