Receipts and fertility: What the science really says

Social media claims that touching cash register receipts harms fertility are causing widespread concern, but scientists say consumers do not need to panic. The receipts are coated with BPA, a chemical linked to hormonal disruption, but evidence suggests the exposure from a single receipt is too low to be harmful. BPA is an endocrine disruptor that can be absorbed through the skin, and laboratory tests show it can reduce testosterone production. However, experts compare the risk to alcohol, noting that a single receipt is unlikely to have an effect, and even eating one would not cause a problematic concentration. BPA receipts are already banned in the EU and UK, with many manufacturers replacing BPA with the similar chemical BPS. While reducing exposure through gloves or email receipts is harmless, experts say receipts are not a major factor in reproductive health compared to other controllable risks.