Do paper products like napkins, toilet paper, and tickets contain bisphenols?
Yes. Testing of various paper products found bisphenol analogues in receipts, napkins, toilet paper, and other everyday items, even in products not made with thermal coatings.
What's actually in it
Most people know that thermal receipt paper contains BPA or BPS. But bisphenols show up in other paper products too: napkins, toilet paper, paper towels, food wrapping paper, and even tickets. These chemicals enter paper during manufacturing, through recycled paper content, or from ink and coating processes.
You touch paper products constantly throughout the day. Your skin absorbs bisphenols on contact, especially when hands are warm or damp.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Environ Int tested a wide range of paper products sold in Korea for bisphenol analogues. The researchers measured BPA, BPS, BPF, and other bisphenol variants in each product type.
Thermal receipt paper had the highest levels, as expected. But napkins, toilet paper, and food wrapping paper also contained measurable amounts. The bisphenols came from recycled paper fibers and from the coatings applied during manufacturing.
The study calculated daily exposure estimates based on typical use patterns. While each individual product contributed a small amount, the cumulative dose from handling multiple paper products throughout a day added up to a meaningful exposure.
Reducing contact is straightforward: decline receipts when possible, choose unbleached or bisphenol-tested paper products, and wash your hands after handling receipt paper, especially before eating.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Occurrence and human exposure assessment of bisphenol analogues in various paper products from Korea. | Environ Int | 2026 |
What to use instead
Browse our vetted, non-toxic alternatives. Every product is third-party certified.
Shop Non-Toxic Home-textiles