How do I recycle my credit card vouchers?
hidden danger
Do you know those little yellow papers we receive as proof of transactions issued by credit card machines at different times when we use this method of payment? They are known as thermosensitive papers and are so named because the data is printed thermally (ie, done by heating).
Although they seem harmless, this type of paper has in its composition bisphenol-A, or BPA, which is potentially harmful to health. According to information posted on the website of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism of the State of São Paulo (SBEM-SP), “it is worth noting that some of the harmful effects of bisphenol, such as altering the action of thyroid hormones, the release of insulin from the pancreas, as well as those of promoting the proliferation of fat cells, were observed with nanomolar doses, that is, extremely small doses, which would be lower than the supposed safe dose of daily intake. (Source: Melzer et al, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2011)”.
In general, BPA unbalances the endocrine system, modifying the hormonal system. The effect of BPA in the body can cause abortion, reproductive tract abnormalities and tumors, breast and prostate cancer, attention deficit, visual and motor memory deficit, diabetes, decreased sperm quality and quantity in adults, endometriosis, uterine fibroids , ectopic pregnancy (outside the uterine cavity), hyperactivity, infertility, changes in the development of internal sexual organs, obesity, sexual precocity, mental retardation and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Normally, contamination occurs through ingestion through the detachment of the BPA present in some of the plastic containers and contaminating the food. A survey published by Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry showed that, in the case of thermo-sensitive papers, contamination can occur through contact with the skin. According to the research, the contamination varies according to the amount of BPA present in the composition of the paper, and it is much smaller than the contamination by ingestion, but we must still be careful.
It is now possible to find BPA-free thermal paper. However, in its place is used Bisphenol-S, BPS, whose effects on human health are still a mystery, but which are beginning to worry.
As of 2010, Carrefour began using BPA-free receipts in Europe, but they do not provide information on the composition of the new paper used.
What to do?
Whenever possible, avoid printing extracts and vouchers. Before making a purchase or when checking your balance or bank statement, do this operation observing the values on the equipment screens, without printing anything. You can also use the digital versions (sent by email) or check transactions via debit via SMS, although they are not 100% secure operations - do them when you are at your cell phone or computer. Although it is possible to recycle card receipts, due to the presence of BPA in their composition, the Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC) recommends disposing of this type of paper in common waste to avoid contamination by BPA, which is released in the recycling process. According to the research, the recycling of thermo-sensitive paper can increase human exposure to BPA, since, during the process, there may be contamination from other recycled paper products. BPA has already been found, for example, in paper towels.
