we all know about the bpa in plastic. but seriously, receipts?

• high levels of bpa in urine is correlated with a 49 per cent increased risk of mortality
• handling receipts can cause an increase in bpa absorption
• bpa can be absorbed through handling receipts and from eating food out of certain plastics or metal food and drink cans
• plastic containers that have a three-sided triangular arrow surrounding the number 7, or have the markings “pc” or “polycarbonate” may contain bpa

a recent study published in the journal of the american medical association (jama) network open suggests that bpa exposure — a man-made polycarbonate found in many kinds of plastics, receipts, and coating metal food and drink cans — is linked to increased mortality among u.s. adults.

researchers from the university of iowa looked at health survey and urine data from 3,883 adults collected through the u.s. national health and nutrition examination survey (nhanes) between 2003 to 2008. they then connected this information to mortality data over the next decade.

“this is another puzzle piece that compellingly speaks to the seriousness of the threat posed by these chemicals used in can linings and thermal papers,” study author dr. leonardo trasande, director of environmental pediatrics at nyu langone health, told cnn .

research is still in the dark about what, exactly, may cause this increased mortality rate, or if bpa is simply an indicator for something else. bpa is thought to be an “endocrine disruptor” — interfering with the natural functioning of testosterone, estrogen, various thyroid hormones, and weight-controlling hormones like leptin, according to university 世界杯决赛2022 .

bpa is in some surprising places

in a 2014 study published in jama network open, 24 participants handled thermal receipts for two continuous hours with bare hands and then a week later repeated the exercise while wearing nitrile gloves. after handling thermal receipts without gloves, participants had an increase in bpa levels in their urine for at least 24 hours. there was no significant increase after the experiment was conducted with gloves.

extra precautions taken during the pandemic can also make things worse. in a study completed by the university of missouri, when participants used alcohol-based hand sanitizers and then touched a receipt immediately after, there was an increased transfer of bpa from the receipt onto the hands. in some cases, it was a much as 100 times the level that would normally transfer.

bpa in canned food packages

in 2010, researchers from health canada released a paper where they had evaluated how much bpa leached into food from the packaging. seventy-eight different samples of canned food were picked up at various grocery stores throughout ottawa. of the 78 food products, bpa was detected in all but one sample (tomato paste).

a similar study conducted by the fda in the united states also had researchers pick up various brands of the 16 most-bought canned food items in the u.s., comprising more than 65 per cent of american canned food sales. samples included chili (the most highly consumed canned food according to neilson sales data from 2007 to 2009), ravioli, pork, and beans.

what are canada’s laws about bpa?

the government of canada has acknowledged that bpa’s presence in our general environment has the potential to harm humans and recommends that individuals ingest no more than 25 µg (25,000 ng) per kilogram of bodyweight per day. however, it is unclear if this recommendation, set in 1996 and re-affirmed in 2008, still holds true in light of recent information.