Do paper receipts cause cancer? New study raises questions

We’ve all been to a store to buy only an item or two, got our printed receipt and walked out carrying it all without needing a bag.

But new evidence from the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) says that carrying that printed receipt for as little as 10 seconds could be bad your health and potentially increase your risk of cancer.

CEH’s study showed thermal paper receipts used by dozens of U.S. retail companies contain high levels of bisphenol S (BPS), a chemical that mimics estrogen and is linked to several health issues related to metabolism, reproduction and even cancer.

CEH is now suing 90 U.S. retailers, including Subway, Walmart and Lowe’s, after it alleged investigators found high levels of BPS in the retailers’ receipt paper. BPS has been linked to multiple cancer types, including triple-negative breast cancer—an aggressive form of cáncer de mama—as well as Cancer de prostata.

“Based on these studies and testing by an independent lab, the concentrations were so high that touching only one receipt with BPS for 10 seconds resulted in exposure above the safe harbor level, which requires a clear and reasonable warning to consumers,” said Mihir Vohra, Science Lead at CEH.

According to Mihir Vohra, Science Lead at CEH, studies done by an independent lab found that touching one receipt for just 10 seconds could lead to exposure to BPS, which requires a clear and reasonable warning to consumers in accordance with California’s Proposition 65 law.

The state of California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) added BPS to its Proposition 65 list in 2023. Proposition 65 is a law requiring businesses in California to provide warnings to consumers about potential exposure to chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. According to this law, businesses must warn consumers about any detectable level of BPS—whether or not there is a clear and evidence-based health risk.

This sounds bad. How serious is it? 

There isn’t currently an agreed-upon amount of BPS exposure that is considered to cross the line from safe to unsafe.

A CDC-supported review found that BPS, “may exert similar adverse effects on the reproductive system” as bisphenol A (BPA), but noted more human studies are needed. Lawmakers added BPA, an endocrine disruptor and reproductive toxicant, to the Proposition 65 list in 2015.

The review also found that BPS was widely present in urine samples from U.S. adults. This indicates we are probably interacting with BPS from other sources in our environment.

In other words, the severity of the health risk associated with paper receipts is still unknown.

What can I do?

We still need more research to determine if BPS on receipts is a big health concern. But if you’re worried, you can take steps to lower your exposure.

Here are some suggestions:

• If you are able to so, decline printed receipts and opt for emailed receipts
• If you get a printed receipt, carry it in your shopping bag and not in your hand.
• If you do carry your receipt with your hands, wash your hands with soap and water when you get a chance.
• If you are a store worker or in a job where you handle a lot of receipts, consider wearing gloves.

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There’s a lot we don’t know about cancer risk, but there are also clear, evidence-based ways you can reduce your risk. Research shows up to 50% of cancer cases and about 50% of cancer deaths are preventable with the knowledge we have today. Here are some of the top ways to prevent cancer.

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