Bisphenol S, a New Bisphenol Analogue, in Paper Products and Currency Bills and Its Association with Bisphenol A Residues

Abstract

As the evidence of the toxic effects of bisphenol A (BPA) grows, its application in commercial products is gradually being replaced with other related compounds, such as bisphenol S (BPS). Nevertheless, very little is known about the occurrence of BPS in the environment. In this study, BPS was analyzed in 16 types of paper and paper products (n = 268), including thermal receipts, paper currencies, flyers, magazines, newspapers, food contact papers, airplane luggage tags, printing paper, kitchen rolls (i.e., paper towels), and toilet paper. All thermal receipt paper samples (n = 111) contained BPS at concentrations ranging from 0.0000138 to 22.0 mg/g (geometric mean: 0.181 mg/g). The overall mean concentrations of BPS in thermal receipt papers were similar to the concentrations reported earlier for BPA in the same set of samples. A significant negative correlation existed between BPS and BPA concentrations in thermal receipt paper samples (r = −0.55, p < 0.0001). BPS was detected in 87% of currency bill samples (n = 52) from 21 countries, at concentrations ranging from below the limit of quantification (LOQ) to 6.26 μg/g (geometric mean: 0.029 μg/g). BPS also was found in 14 other paper product types (n = 105), at concentrations ranging from <LOQ to 8.38 μg/g (geometric mean: 0.0036 μg/g; detection rate: 52%). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of BPS, through dermal absorption via handling of papers and currency bills, was estimated on the basis of concentrations and frequencies of the handling of papers by humans. The median and 95th percentile EDI values, respectively, were 4.18 and 11.0 ng/kg body weight (bw)/day for the general population and 312 and 821 ng/kg bw/day for occupationally exposed individuals. Among the paper types analyzed, thermal receipt papers were found to be the major sources of human exposure to BPS (>88%). To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of BPS in paper products and currency bills.

Distribution and Preliminary Exposure Assessment of Bisphenol AF (BPAF) in Various Environmental Matrices around a Manufacturing Plant in China

“…21,22 BPS was found in human urine and paper products such as thermal receipts and paper currencies, which were estimated to be potentially one of the major sources of human exposure. 23,24 Recently, BPS and BPF were detected as main BP components along with BPA with concentrations in the range of 0.83−2.66 × 10 4 ng/g and below the limit of quantitation (LOQ) to 1.07 × 10 5 ng/g in indoor dusts from U.S. and several Asian countries. 13 As already partially replacing BPA in the industrial applications, the production of certain BPs such as BPS and BPAF are perceived to be increasing in recent years.…”

Thermal Reaction: The Spread of Bisphenol S via Paper Products

“…Although scientists are just beginning to analyze the safety of BPS, studies suggest this compound is already pervasive in the environment, 5 in paper products, 6 and in the human body.…”

“…6 According to a 2008 European Commission report, as much as 10% of thermal paper produced is recycled as scrap before it ever enters commerce, and an estimated 30% of used thermal paper also is recycled. 11 The amount of BPA released during recycling can vary widely, depending on the processes used.…”

Bisphenol Compounds on Human Reproduction Health

“…[47][48][49] Receipts, paper products, and many canned food and soft drinks were found to have BPS and BPF. [50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57] In USA, BPF and BPS were detected in most of the human urine samples, albeit less frequent and lower concentrations than BPA in the same sample. 58,59 Low concentration of BPS was detected in some serum samples of pregnant women and the cord blood of the sibling, 60 suggesting BPS could also cross the placenta.…”