What is BPA ?

A: BPA is the abbreviation for Bisphenol A. This chemical compound is used in a number of everyday items, including plastics and cash register receipt paper. The coatings on direct thermal paper products contain phenol-based coreactants, either BPA, BPC, BPF, BPM, BPS or diphenyl sulfones, that react with heat to produce the dark image on paper.

Bisphenol is a synthetic hormone that mimics the female hormone oestrogen, binding to the same receptors in the human body (and the bodies of other mammals) as natural female hormones.

BPA, BPC, BPF, BPM, BPS acts as an environmental oestrogen and once it is ingested it can disrupt proper hormone functioning, alter genes leading to unwanted changes on the cellular level including effects on the brain, prostate gland and behaviour of infants and children. tests have shown that bisphenol A can promote human breast cancer cell growth, decrease sperm counts in rats, and cause erectile dysfunction and other sexual problems in men.