Exposure to BPA widespread in receipts

Checking your cash receipts can help keep your money safe, but did you know that it can also expose you to bisphenol A, also known as BPA? Recent research shows that the chemical can be absorbed through your skin by handling receipts. BPA is used in many cash register receipt papers as a color developer that emerges when heated.

BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that mimics estrogen in the human body. Exposure to BPA has been associated with reproductive problems, enlarged prostate, reduced sperm count, obesity, and diabetes in mice, and the proliferation of human breast cancer cells (from MPCA 2008 legislative report Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (leg-08sy1-02) . BPA is also being studied for potential effects on childhood neurological development, and is among the Minnesota Department of Health’s list of priority chemicals.

Human exposure to BPA is widespread. It is found in the urine of the vast majority of newborns, children, adolescents, and adults. About 8 billion pounds of BPA are produced each year, making it one of the highest-volume chemicals in production. Its presence in canned food linings and as an additive to bicarbonate plastics is well known. BPA is now banned from many children’s products both at the state and federal level.

Though BPA's use in thermal receipt papers is less well known, awareness is increasing. Preliminary research suggests that those who handle receipts as part of their employment have higher levels of BPA in their bodies than other people.

Why not just use a BPA-free paper?

BPA-free papers typically contain a closely related endocrine active chemical, bisphenol S (BPS).  This common substitute has shown the same sort of endocrine disrupting behavior in studies as BPA. No alternative thermal paper developer is known to be safer.  An increasing number of retailers are offering receipts digitally via email or text, instead of paper, and the MPCA is promoting the use of e-receipts which eliminate the need for thermal paper chemicals altogether.

Grant funding to reduce BPA exposure in hospitality - due April 15th

Minnesota hospitality businesses are invited to apply to MPCA’s “Hospitality Business Transition to Paperless Receipt Grant Project”. The available grants can be used to reimburse up to $1,000 of costs for digital receipt subscription services. Such subscription-based services allow receipts to be generated electronically and e-mailed or texted to customers. Depending on the provider and your business, this amount could cover up to 2-years of service.

Many businesses are already adopting e-receipts for financial and efficiency purposes. The MPCA is actively encouraging businesses to adopt these technologies to protect the environment and human health from unneeded exposure to chemical hazards. The goal is to reduce paper waste as well as the generation of and exposure to BPA.

Eligible applicants include: Any commercial enterprise in the hospitality sector which has a physical location in Minnesota where customers currently receive thermal paper receipts as standard operating procedure (including but not limited to restaurants, coffee shops, hotels and resorts, tourism and recreation facilities, etc.).

Applications are due April 15th. Find information and application forms here. Questions E-mail contracts.pca@state.mn.us (subject line: CR 7121 Paperless Receipt).

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) invites owners of heavy-duty diesel engines to apply for grants to reduce diesel emissions. This is an opportunity to upgrade fleets by installing idle reduction and pollution control devices, or by replacing engines, vehicles, or equipment.

Vehicles and equipment generally must be older than 2006 and trucks must be class 6 (19,500 lbs.) or larger to qualify and must be fully operational and not backup equipment.

Applications are due by 2 p.m. on April 23, 2014.

Over the last six years, the MPCA’s clean diesel grants have helped to fund emission-reducing improvements in over 2800 diesel engines in Minnesota. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that every dollar spent on diesel emission reduction nets $13 in health benefits.

In recent years, the MPCA has awarded grants to replace heavy-duty engines on construction cranes and a rock crusher, and for replacing delivery trucks and retrofitting a diesel particulate filter on a long-haul truck.

“This grant is not a free ride, but it provides a hefty discount,” said MPCA Clean Diesel Grants Manager Mark Sulzbach. “Public or private grant applicants need to match just 50 percent of the total cost of the upgrade, except for vehicle replacements which require a 75 percent match. Over the years, the application process has been simplified. We hope people aren’t concerned that we have too many applicants. Anyone with a qualifying proposal should step forward.”

New diesel engines have higher emissions standards and are 90 percent cleaner than pre-2007 engines, making clean diesel an easy choice. Older diesel engines can keep running for many years, and the EPA funding helps to make it profitable for owners to upgrade to equipment that is less damaging to the environment and public health.

Transportation contributes to 30 percent of the air pollution in Minnesota, and older diesel engines create a higher proportion of fine particulate and nitrogen oxide pollution than gasoline engines. Both fine particle pollution and ozone (generated, in part, by nitrogen oxide) can trigger respiratory problems. Clean diesel grants contribute directly to public and engine operator health, while helping the owner’s bottom line.

Applications can be requested by emailing contracts.pca@state.mn.us, with subject line “CR7309 DERA”. The clean diesel web page is at: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/wfhy4c4.