Noman Mosharef :
The thermal paper’s cash recipient, which is mostly used by the country’s banks and super shops, contains toxic Bisphenol A (BPA) and develops cancer and Diabetes in human body and decrease reproduction capacity, says a study.
In a recent research titled ‘Transaction with Toxins: Bisphenol A (BPA) in Cash Receipts’ jointly conducted by Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO), Financial Industry Public Interest Foundation and South Korean Wonjin Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health (WIOEH) have revealed the information.
The study findings reveal BPA chemical in
country’s 97 per cent of thermal cash receipt mostly used by super shops, bank and others institutions. BPA chemical is responsible for Brest and Prostate Cancer, Diabetes, Infertility and obesity and so on.
On the other hand, ESDO said they have collected 67 samples from 40 different places across the country and found 97 per cent cash receipt are made by thermal paper and of them 67 per cent are containing BPA and 26 are BPS.
The research further said the samples are containing 0.83-1.71 per cent BPA and 0.61-0.96 per cent BPS which is more than European Union (EU) standard level.
According to the research, BPA and BPA are one kind of Endocrine Disrupter which affects the human body’s hormone like Estrogen and Thyroid and destroy the usual activities. These chemicals exists cash receipt as power and easily come to touch of human fingers.
Researchers said they have found the existence of these chemicals of the human urine after two hours later of the touching of these chemicals.
It also showed that those who are working as a cashier or other position and thermal paper use frequently are more vulnerable than others. Even though the pregnant employees those are working as a cashier or nearby have possibility to affect the womb’s fetus.
In this regard, ESDO’s research team head Dr Shariar Hossain said, Thermal paper is usually used for cash receipts in restaurants or food stores, as a result of which BPA enters the human body through human hands. BPA from the thermal paper is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, increasing the risk of diseases such as diabetes, nervous imbalance and even cancer.
Over the issue, Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Project Coordinator, Environmental Intervention Unit, icddr,b said EDC is the new matter of worried as it is harmful for pregnant women and her fetus and also for kids.
He further said now it is time to stop use of EDC.
Dr. Yun-Kein Lee, Executive Director of WIOEH, said BPA is a hormone-like substance that is involved in reproductive problems in fetuses, children, adolescents and adults. If even a small amount of exposure to EDC, the body’s response is seen. In other words, there is no minimum boundary of EDC in human body.
Syed Margub Morshed, President of ESDO and former Secretary of Bangladesh, expressed concern over the issue, saying, “The health threat posed by BPA from cash receipts should not be ignored at all.
He called upon the government to work hard to create awareness and enforce strict laws.
