Nearly two years after EWG published a study documenting high concentrations of the toxic plastics chemical bisphenol A in cash register receipts, scientists are finding that manufacturers have substituted bisphenol S, which may pose similar concerns.
A new study led by Kurunthachalam Kannan, a research scientist at the New York State Department of Health, detected BPS in 16 types of paper from the United States, China, Japan, and Korea. Kannan and his team assert that people may be absorbing BPS through their skin in larger doses than they ingested BPA. BPA can mimic the hormone estrogen in the body and disrupt the endocrine system, a danger to developing humans and animals. BPS is structurally similar to BPA. The only difference is that BPS uses sulfur to link two molecular structures called phenol rings. The two phenol rings in BPA are linked by carbon. Whether or not this substitute is a safe alternative has yet to be determined. Eleven states have banned BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups. Yet people are already being exposed to another potential hormone disruptor.
