Some thermal paper receipts can contain BPA as a component of the heat sensitive coating that allows for inkless printing. This paper technology provides speedy, reliable and cost-effective printing.
It’s no secret that bisphenol A (BPA) has been controversial for quite some time and has received intense scrutiny from scientists, government agencies, the media and environmental groups. Such scrutiny has resulted in demand from consumers for alternatives to products that contain BPA, and hasty efforts from some manufacturers to provide “BPA-Free” products. While the controversy surrounding BPA may be interesting and important, the controversy by itself does not provide an answer to the key question addressed in this article – Why replace BPA?
BPA is regularly used to strengthen products for human health and safety. Products like bike helmets, police shields, reading glasses and bullet-proof glass are all shatter resistant because of BPA.
Polycarbonate plastic is used to make critical components of many medical devices and their housings. Its optical clarity allows direct observation of blood or other fluids to monitor proper flow. Health care providers depend on medical devices and equipment made with BPA for a transparent view within the human body so they can check for the presence of air bubbles or other obstructions during medical procedures.
BPA is used to make polycarbonate plastic and polymeric coatings called epoxy resins for food packaging and storage that are essential to enhance the safety of our food supply and contribute to healthy, modern life styles.