Recent Study On BPA Exposure From Thermal Receipt Paper Is Of Limited Relevance To Consumers

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Oct 22, 2014, 08:58 ET

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Chemistry Council (ACC) offers the following comments regarding the release of the study published today in the journal PLOS ONE on exposure to BPA from handling thermal receipt paper. Quotes from the following may be attributed to Steven G. Hentges, Ph.D. of ACC's Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group.

"Due to the use of unrealistic experimental conditions, much of the data presented in this new study has very limited relevance to the potential for human exposure to BPA from handling thermal receipt paper. Although downplayed in the publication, the most relevant data shows very little BPA exposure under conditions most representative of real-life contact with thermal receipt paper.

"Notably, a recent study from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (Porras et al., 2014) found no significant exposure to BPA from handling receipt paper using real-life exposure scenarios. Included in the Finnish study were conditions representative of cashiers (i.e., repeated handling of receipts throughout a workday) and more intensive short-term handling considered to be beyond normal handling of paper receipts.

"Consistent with these measurements of low exposure from handling thermal receipt paper, recent biomonitoring data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) demonstrate that consumer exposure to BPA – from all sources – is extremely low. Typical BPA exposure from all sources is about 1,000 times below safe intake levels set by government bodies in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said unequivocally that BPA is safe for use in food contact materials. FDA's current perspective is based on its review of hundreds of studies, as well as its comprehensive research on BPA."

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The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care®, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is an $812 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is the nation's largest exporter, accounting for twelve percent of all U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure.

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SOURCE American Chemistry Council