Should You Be Concerned?
Health experts emphasize that brief, occasional contact with a receipt is unlikely to cause immediate harm. However, repeated exposure over months or years may be more relevant, especially for people who handle receipts throughout the workday, such as cashiers and retail employees.
Young children and pregnant women may also benefit from minimizing unnecessary exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals whenever possible.
How to Reduce Your Exposure
Fortunately, reducing your exposure is simple:
- Choose digital or emailed receipts whenever available.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after handling multiple receipts.
- Avoid using alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately before or after touching thermal paper.
- If your job requires frequent receipt handling, consider wearing protective gloves when appropriate.
- Keep receipts away from children, who are more likely to put their hands in their mouths.
The Bottom Line
Thermal paper receipts may contain Bisphenol S (BPS), a chemical that continues to be studied for its potential effects on human health. While a single brief exposure is unlikely to pose a significant risk, reducing repeated contact is a sensible precaution—particularly for individuals who regularly handle receipts as part of their work.
As research continues, simple habits like choosing digital receipts and washing your hands can help minimize unnecessary exposure without disrupting your daily routine.
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