Bisphenol A is again a concern

C&EN has reported on a recent paper appearing in Reproductive Technology which re-inforces the suspected link between low levels of human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and adverse health affects.

Although finding use in other industries (eg plastics and epoxy resin manufacture), BPA is used as a low-cost colourformer developer in thermal papers and has been under the magnifying glass with the growing evidence of toxic effects in lab animals. Manufacturers of insist that their product is safe, particularly after the European Food Safety Authority reported no adverse effects of BPA. The EU study followed an earlier agreement by Japanese thermal paper producers to stop using BPA.

Exposure to BPA is not only of concern in the production and use of thermal papers, but also in the recycling of thermal paper where the BPA can build up in the recycling process or be discarded with effluent of sludge. For more information on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in thermal printing please click on and read the following article.

There are alternatives to BPA such as bisphenol S (BPS) which can bring improved image qualities but at a price.