You may be doing your best to avoid the hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA), but a study conducted by nonprofits Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and the Washington Toxics Coalition reports that there are two major BPA offenders that you’ll have trouble doing without.
BPA was found on 95 percent of dollar bills tested during the study. In just ten seconds receipts—which are already environmental misbehavers for contributing to landfill waste—can transfer 2.5 micrograms of BPA to your fingertips.
On the heels of the study, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families is lobbying Congress to adopt chemical policies that more strictly regulate chemicals like BPA, while the Washington Toxics Coalition is offering concerned consumers a list of ways to avoid exposure to BPA. Included on that list are such common sense approaches like frequent hand washing.
On a positive note, the fear of touching money and receipts may help compulsive shoppers curtail their habit.
