Generations: Protecting yourself, your children, and their children

Protecting Yourself Protects Future Generations

Did you know that parents’ exposure to certain chemicals before conception and during fetal development can impact the risk of diseases throughout their own, their children and even their grandchildren’s lives? Learn about how and see below for things you can do. 

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) affect the ability of our glands and organs to coordinate body functions through hormones like estrogen. The endocrine system controls many things, including metabolism, reproduction, growth, and mood. EDCs can enter the body through ingestion (swallowing), skin (absorbing), and lungs (breathing). When the endocrine system is disrupted by chemicals, it can increase the risk of many diseases throughout the lifespan, such as childhood leukemia, obesity, and breast cancer.

Learn about how chemicals affect multiple generations

How can paper receipts be harmful?Poster for choosing ereciepts

Most paper receipts are printed on thermal paper, which contains bisphenol A (BPA) or a potentially harmful BPA alternative. To check if it’s thermal paper, scratch the receipt with your fingernail or leave it in the sun. If it turns dark, it likely has these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). When we touch these receipts, BPA can be absorbed into our bodies and disrupt our hormones. Learn more about EDC exposure through receipts.

How can we reduce our exposure?

  • Tell the cashier that you don’t want a receipt when it is unnecessary.
  • If you need a receipt, choose to have it emailed or texted to you, when possible. This still allows you to manage returns and exchanges.
  • Don't handle receipts with bare hands. Wear gloves if you have to touch them for work.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water after handling receipts.
  • Ask the cashier to place the receipt directly into your shopping bag.

Learn more about this campaign and the study that inspired it. 

 

RETURN TO OTHER SOURCES OF EXPOSURE

 

 

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