A recent vote by Suffolk County Legislature has made Suffolk County, New York the first in the nation to implement a ban on retail receipts coated with the chemical BPA, which is linked to breast and prostate cancers and other disorders.
Paper for sales receipts is coated with BPA so that it reacts to heat to create a printed image. This paper is used at gas stations, retailers, and restaurants.
BPA is a synthetic estrogen which can alter the immune system, cause cancer risks, and cause hyperactivity and reproductive problems.
In 2009, Suffolk was the first in the nation to ban the use of BPA in baby bottles and children’s sippy cups. Last summer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated that BPA would no longer be allowed in baby bottles and cups.
Hopefully, other states will follow and ban BPA too.
sources:
New York Times
