BPA Free Thermal Paper

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In 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency ruled that a chemical compound known as Bisphenol A (or BPA more commonly) can harm the body’s natural ability to produce enzymes which facilitate certain developments in the nervous system. The exposure to BPA is most dangerous in pregnant mothers and young infants who are still developing their nervous system. Additional testing though has linked exposure to BPA as causing increased risks for sterilization, breast cancer, thyroid malfunctions, and other health issues.

BPA was not a unique compound just to the development of thermal paper, but it was in fact a widely used chemical found in many manufactured plastics. It was estimated that the world produced over 2.2 million tons of BPA in 2009. The most common exposure risks to humans of BPS came through the use of plastic lining for canned foods and some soft drinks. BPA was even found in infant formula bottles.

The highest concentrations of free BPA were found in thermal paper and carbonless copy paper which were both coated in a light plastic spray to improve the durability of the product. Although testing does not show that BPA can be easily absorbed through the skin, it is highly likely that BPA residue could reside on the hands and then become ingested over time with food and drink products.

You would think that more than 3 years later, the marketplace would have replaced all of the BPA products out there. In reality though there are still a wide variety of thermal papers in the world that do still contain a high level of the BPA compound. In fact, a recent random sampling of thermal papers found that 11 out of 13 brands still contained on average 8 – 17 g/kg of BPA. Exposure to this paper can reside on the skin for over 2 hours.

This is why it is important to review the packaging for the specific designation of a BPA free thermal paper. If a paper has been designated as a BPA free thermal paper, then you can rest assured that you are not subjecting yourself or your loved ones to any of the potential negative side effects associated with BPA compounds.

There are some producers of BPA free thermal paper who are starting a campaign to weave a red fiber into the thermal paper roll, so the consumer can easily see that they have a BPA free thermal paper designation. Appleton was one of the first producers to begin this initiative when they dropped the use of BPA in 2006. Other producers have also decided to jump on the red fiber bandwagon.