Today, the Alliance for Natural Health USA is filing a Citizen Petition with the Consumer Products Safety Commission to have bisphenol-A (BPA) banned from cash register receipts, the little-known but most common pathway into your body. Please help make the CPSC pay attention to the latest science.
As we have reported numerous times, there are serious health risks from exposure to the endocrine-disrupting chemical BPA. As a result, there have been nationwide efforts to ban it from food and beverage containers, especially those used by babies and children. Animal tests show that BPA, a plastics hardener that is also a synthetic estrogen, can cause reproductive and behavioral abnormalities and lower intellectual ability, and sets the stage for cancers, obesity, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease.
ANH-USA filed a Citizen Petition with the US Food and Drug Administration last year, asking the FDA to study and warn the public of the effects of BPA in children’s dental treatments and devices, an area that has received almost no attention. Children’s teeth are commonly coated with BPA, which is absurd. The FDA acknowledged receipt of our petition, but has otherwise responded with silence.
This spring, researchers at the Environmental Working Group collected samples of “carbonless” and thermal cash register receipts from fast food restaurants, big retailers, grocery stores, gas stations and post offices in seven states and the District of Columbia and had them tested by a renowned lab. The lab found that 40 percent had high levels of BPA. And just last week, a new study by John C. Warner, acclaimed as the co-founder of “green chemistry,” found measurable levels of BPA in receipts from eight out of ten suburban Boston-area grocery stores.
We now need your help with a two-pronged Action Alert. Please contact the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) in support of our petition, and ask them to make a rule that bans BPA in register receipts. Then please contact the FDA and ask them to address the petition we submitted to them eighteen months ago. As always, we’ve drafted sample letters to help you. Please TAKE ACTION now!
| TO SEND YOUR MESSAGE TO THE CPSC Click THIS LINK to go to the CPSC Action Alert page. Once there, fill out the form with your name and address, etc., and customize your letter. We have a suggested message for you, but please feel free to add your own comments to the letter. After taking action on this alert, you will automatically be redirected to our FDA Action Alert. |
TO SEND YOUR MESSAGE TO THE FDA Click THIS LINK to go to the FDA Action Alert page. Once there, fill out the form with your name and address, etc., and customize your letter. We have a suggested message for you, but please feel free to add your own comments to the letter. |
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We’d also love to hear your comments about this article—just add your thoughts below—but remember that the messages below are only seen by our ANH-USA readers and not Congress, the FDA, etc. |
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“Animal tests show…” that animals are a poor indicator of adverse effects in humans. Please take a stand against animal testing. It’s cruel, faulty, and wastes public health dollars.
Stanley: I am also against animal cruelty. However, tell that to the giant corporate chemical companies who do the animal testing. But until they can find a better way of testing their chemicals, why don’t you request to help them and have the chemicals tested on you. That way no animals will be hurt and you can tell them first hand how it effects people.
I don’t spend much time fondling my cash register receipts, so I’m just not gonna worry about this one until someone demonstrates that the amount of BPA absorbed through the skin of an average consumer is significant.
@Karen Selick – Are you unconcerned, then, about the people in your life who serve you by checking out your groceries, etc? Imagine how many times/day they have to handle these receipts. You should also be aware that we usually absorb more toxins through our skin than by ingestion.
The science so far suggests that that the amount absorbed through the skin is significant, that it is indeed the primary pathway that BPA gets into our bodies. The form of BPA used in coating receipts is an unstable form compared to that used in plastic bottles and liners, and because it absorbs directly through the skin it bypasses the liver and goes directly into the bloodstream. Remember that your skin is your body’s largest organ and readily absorbs hormones into the bloodstream (the principle upon which the birth control patch and nicotine patches operate). Keep in mind that even a small amount is dangerous. Ironically, even the ultrasound print outs that mothers get of their babies generally contain BPA. So when mothers admire the ultra-sound images, they may be sending BPA to the unborn child. There are alternative to BPA in coated paper; we just need to use them.
Well said
I would just add that since the BPA is having hormone like effects on the human body only EXTREMELY small amounts are required. The steroid hormones have a molecular weight of about 300 daltons. One dalton has a mass of one hydrogen atom.
If you were to devise a plot for modifying the hormonal systems of the US population you would have to work to find one better than putting BPA on checkout receipts.
This reminds me of the nation that sent men to the moon and yet CANNOT remove mercury, the second most neuro-toxic substance on this earth, from the common “Flu Vaccination”. Mercury is also a substance that need only be present in trillionths of a gram, as long as it is directly injected into your blood, to seriously reconfigure your brain and digestive tract, which also has its own “brain”. Strangely Autistic Kids have neuro-degenerative problems both in their brains and digestive tracts.
Folks we need to wake up, the BPA and mercury are being put in your body for a reason. Discover this reason; it will help you wake up.
And what about all the people who work as cashiers handling that receipt tape all day? Someone has to do that job and especially in todays economy beggers cannot be choosers when it comes to jobs. Should working at Walmart to feed and clothe your children come at a health cost? Just because it does not affect you personally does not mean it does not affect hundreds of thousands of good people who bag your groceries.
there is enough cancer going around so get it out of our brecietrs
Demand the removal of the BPA from foods, and drinks. Do the right thing for a change. Stop worrying about your greed for the almighty dollar and care about the children and adults with this toxic chemical. Stop this nonsense at once.
Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention (and of course all others). This is a stunning revolation to me. I didn’t know but now that I do, can you please provide us with info (or direct me to where it can be found) about how to avoid this type of reciept.
Thank you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come you “supposed” employees of the American People, give it up, and do the right thing for a change. Many of us know that you intentionally allow chemicals into our food, water, air etc. because you work for special interests and not the welfare to the county you are paid to protect and serve. This should be a no-brainer. Whoops, is that the problem!
What can you conclude when the people in charge always do the WRONG thing and allow poisons to remain in our food and drink.
The toxin fluoride has been added to our water for 50 years despite almost 3000, at last count, fluoride related PhDs and doctors petitioning for a critical examination of the so called benefits.
How can we the people clearly see what all the HHS PhDs cannot?
The game is fixed folks the poisons are in our food to please our political masters who want less people in this country and world.
Why the fuss about BPA in cash register receipts? We don’t eat the receipts, we throw them away.
Charles, The science so far suggests that that the amount absorbed through the skin is significant, that it is indeed the primary pathway that BPA gets into our bodies. The form of BPA used in coating receipts is an unstable form compared to that used in plastic bottles and liners, and because it absorbs directly through the skin it bypasses the liver and goes directly into the bloodstream. Remember that your skin is your body’s largest organ and readily absorbs hormones into the bloodstream (the principle upon which the birth control patch and nicotine patches operate). Keep in mind that even a small amount is dangerous. There are alternative to BPA in coated paper; we just need to use them.
Why the fuss about BPA in cash register receipts? We don’t eat the receipts, we throw them away.
Why the fuss about BPA in cash register receipts? We don’t eat the receipts, we throw them away.
Why the fuss about BPA in cash register receipts? We don’t eat the receipts, we throw them away.
Why the fuss about BPA in cash register receipts? We don’t eat the receipts, we throw them away.
Why the fuss about BPA in cash register receipts? We don’t eat the receipts, we throw them away.
Why the fuss about BPA in cash register receipts? We don’t eat the receipts, we throw them away.
please stop the use of this harmful chemical.
Another attempt to stop the poisoning of America- one of the most unhealthy countries on the planet!
the risk simply isn’t necessary or acceptable
Please get rid of BPA from every consumer product.
Am I right in thinking that BPA is the stuff that makes grocery receipts smell so bad? I figure that anything with a bad “chemical” smell like that has got to be harmful to my health! I would love to see that awful smell GONE!
Don’t ya get tired of begging agencies you pay to keep all this trash out of our health lives to just do their jobs? I’m personally sick to death of it. Either 1) they get on their jobs and do the work, or 2) we send them packing and hire someone who will. The fact is, social action groups are doing more to make us aware of the facts we need to keep our health than those we are paying in government and quasi-governmental agencies. We’re in a time when a free ride isn’t economically viable, so getting a new crew who will work makes sense. Besides, if these folks haven’t been doing the safety-check jobs, do we even know if they are capable and qualified to do so? If they were, wouldn’t they be pushing their jobs to save their own families? And if they’re hiding information that is known, it’s pure fraud, and it ought to be prosecuted and citizens then need to hire someone who’s honest. Our oversight agencies (FDA, EPA, USDA, etc.) have shown themselves to be working against their stated purposes and are in fact working FOR drug companies, not consumers; against clean environment in favor of corporate polluters; working FOR the Monsantos, DuPonts, slaughterhouses and against the health of consumers. And they are on a double take: once from the corporations, and again from the tax-payers/consumers. These agencies are NOT powerless, just not interested in their stated mission. As a tax-payer, I’m interested in their mission, which could be done better by someone honest! Really, really sick of it!
We dearly need to eliminate American’s exposure to toxic chemicals. Our lives and bodies are being bombarded with uncontrolled toxins. PLEASE do your part to make our lifes safer.
I am afraid these jerks do not understand please. And why should we beg for simple logical regulation? IMO we need to scream loud enough to wake up the hundreds of millions of us watching tv.
Magnificent.
We do not need more health risk, we have plenty.
IMO we need an HHS who cares about the public and NOT a depopulation agenda.
If depopulation is so damn important how about a national lottery. Starting with the US Senate. All 100 Senators will draw lots 95 white sticks, 5 black sticks. This MUST be done on national TV. Each Senator drawing a black stick will have 90 days to get his affairs in order and help the depopulation of this country.
After the depopulation issue is settled perhaps our food and drink can be made safe.
GOOD JOB !!!
Over the years I have found that insurance will not cover most alternative or integrative treatments but they work, have fewer side effects and cost less in the long run. If insurance companies and medicare would only see the light healthcare costs would go down .
I had no idea that this was so bad to save all the reciepts for business and tax and expenses purposes. I would like to see a return to the old style reciepts cause they last longer. These BPA receipts usually fade away rapidly where you cannot see the amounts, dates and other necessary infos without parts of it fading away. Very frustrating to show how much you paid for an item when it does not show up or hte barcodes. I haave had to deal with customoer services about this problem. T hank you for listening to our concerns.
Just because government is slow & inept, we cannot let these details go unchallenged. Every single instance of lax oversight, of corrupted officials and careless chemistry must be brought to the front of media attention if we are to find integrity in this country.
Everyone should be concerned & do their part.
This is scary stuff. My grand daughter is a cashier at Wal-Mart and obviously handles cash register receipts throughout her work day. To say that I’m concerned for her health is an understatement. Thank God for organizations such as ANH who shed light on such dark issues.
Citizens need to be activists in this society and not assume that our government is all knowing and looking out for our best interest. Thank You.
Report it correctly or don’t report it at all. John Warners study found BPA in THERMAL paper reciepts NOT CARBONLESS – they are worlds apart – Apples and zebras. “Carbonless” refers to the ability to make duplicate copies without carbon paper using chemical coating. Thermal paper makes only one copy – there is no duplicate at all just one copy. Yet you wrote the following that is grossely misleading: “This spring, researchers at the Environmental Working Group collected samples of “carbonless” cash register receipts.”
The worst part is that carbonless two part paper, typically white/yellow (the yellow is the copy that self images) is also used for receipts, often for charge cards that you sign where the merchant keeps a copy and gives you one. Also widely used in restaurant checks. So the article becomes extremely misleading and just an abissmal piece. Please set the record straight with your readers immediately.
John,
You are correct that EWG’s site only mentions thermal paper receipts. However, as noted in ScienceNews.org’s review of Warner’s work (see http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/48084/title/Concerned_about_BPA_Check_your_receipts), BPA is found in both thermal and carbonless receipts. We’ve corrected our article above to reflect this. Thank you for alerting us.
Please ban this BPA substance from all cash register receipts. This allows too easy an access into the body. Thank-you.
I want BPA baned. Our children need better protection.
Thanks for being concerned about our saftey and doing something constructive!.
WHEN YOU USE SOMETHING THAT IS HARMFUL TO HUMANS AND YOU KNOW IT IS HARMFUL, DOESN”T THAT MAKE IT A CRIME? AND MAYBE LIBLE TO A LAW SUIT? JUST A QUESTION!
Sadly there are laws you and I must obey or we go to prison.
The president and his lackeys in congress do not follow our Constitution the supreme law of the land. What they do is often a crime but who will hold them to account? The DOJ has been covering up for criminals in both political parties for as long as I have been alive.
It got real bad after JFK was murdered.
Folks have we ever found ANYTHING put in our food and drink that makes us more FERTILE? Why do these “accidental” additives always DECREASE healthy fertility. This when 20% of married couples are having trouble conceiving and often spending many tens of thousands to have a beloved child.
It reminds me of the vote counting in 2004 when the exit polls said Kerry had won by 4 million votes. In Ohio there were 77 “voting irregularities” 77 were in Bush’s favor, 0 were in Kerry’s favor.
Time to wake up folks to our food fraud and voting fraud. By their fruits you shall know them. Who is putting this crap in our food and who is rigging our elections? I posit it is the same people.
Having worked with those with Environmental Illness and MCS-Multiple Chemical Sensitivites this is a BIG issue, although only the tip of the iceberg, as they say. Those interested in the pathway to complete health recovery, use and misuse of supplements (calcium toxicity), and pharmication of the health care industry, please check into the work of DR Carolyn Dean, MD, ND at her http://www.drcarolyndean.com website. Mahalo!
So Canada’s banned BPA from water bottles, right? But what about canned goods? And what about this?
WHERE do I sign the petition to ban BPA from my cash register receipts?
Ty,
In the last sentence of the article, you can click the words “TAKE ACTION” to reach the petition. Or, in the blue box that follows the article click where it says “Click THIS LINK to go to the CPSC Action Alert page.”
Thank you for your work on this issue. BPA needs to be removed from consumer products, in my opinion. People don’t realize it’s in many small kitchen appliances, storage containers, etc. Also, studies have shown that very small amounts of BPA can have a significant effect.
Television + marketing + inferior food + costly diagnostics + chronic drugs instead of treatment + toxic, scary environment + regressive tax policies + government payment for chronic drugs/expensive diagnostics + big-business subsidies + the occasional, gratuitous nod to the Bill of Rights = modern-day America – The Land of the Free Prescription Drug Sample and the Home of the Caved.
The Clintons fooled me back in ’92, and what we ultimately got were the HMOs. Obama fooled me in ’08, and now we are in a free-fall into becoming the most drugged society in recorded history. We currently have more Rx addicts than street-drug addicts, if you can wrap your mind around that. You can get your RDA of toxic substances in many ways, a lot of which are totally hidden, like this receipt chemical stuff. My thanks to organizations like ANH to step up and figh!
“Children’s teeth are commonly coated with BPA…”
A few years ago my daughter’s dentist highly recommended coating her molars with a “miracle” hardener which would protect her from cavities. Was this BPA????
Good Lord, what is wrong with the FDA??