A combined statement launched by two advocacy groups has found Bisphenol A on money. A very questionable substance, Bisphenol A has been found on receipts and paper. The levels of Bisphenol A that most would be exposed to is “well within” limits set by the United States. It is, however, well outside limits set by other countries. Those $1 bills could potentially force many individuals to get a personal cash loan for healthcare expenditures if they have too much contact with the bills. Article resource – BPA chemical found on money possibly transferred from receipts by MoneyBlogNewz.
All the facts about BPA
Plastics usually have Bisphenol A, or BPA, in it as an organic chemical. Typically BPA is used for hardening. Polycarbonate and epoxy resins are hardened. BPA is also used to line metal of cans of food, among other things. Bisphenol A is comparable to estrogen within the body. It does the same thing. In animal studies, BPA has been linked to everything from cancer to thyroid dysfunction to obesity and neurological disorders. If there is enough BPA exposure, other things can happen. Permanently altering DNA is one of these items. Canada controls BPA as a toxic substance. The United States implies that BPA is defined as a "chemical of concern." It isn't regulated much though.
Receipts have BPA
There is some "preliminary evidence" to suggest BPA is on receipts. Three studies released this year show this. Thermal receipts use a powder of BPA blended with ink to work. This powder, when heated or pressed, releases the ink and prints. Receipts that are thermal are used in many places. A lot of shops including retail stores and restaurants use them. This powder can easily rub off the receipts and give a “microdose” of BPA. One study estimates that average individuals would not “receive more than about 2.5 percent of the tolerable daily intake of BPA from handling a single receipt.”
Discovering BPA on money
After discovering Bisphenol A was transferred from receipts, it was decided to look other places. Money had been the next study. There were "significant" amounts of Bisphenol A on 21 out of the 22 $1 bills the Washington Toxic Coalition worked with in a study. Money would have gotten the BPA on them from being with receipts. This isn't proven yet and is just a theory. Just bear in mind the study is very small and needs to be researched more. You need to make an effort to minimize your exposure to Bisphenol A by handling money less. It is possible that an act like the Toxic Substances Control Act making BPA a toxic substance may be passed by Congress soon though.
Articles cited
Science News
sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/61764/title/Receipts_a_large_%E2%80%94_and_largely_ignored_%E2%80%94_source_of_BPA
Time
healthland.time.com/2010/12/08/dirty-money-traces-of-bpa-found-on-currency/
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A#World_Health_Organization
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