How? Personal care products like hand sanitizer (as well as things like lotions or soaps) are made to be able to break down the skin’s protective outer layers so the products can be absorbed more effectively. But when it’s easier for hand sanitizer or lotion to penetrate your skin, its also easier for bad stuff—like BPA—to make its way in. A lot easier. When researchers measured levels of BPA (or its equally unsafe alternative, bisphenol-S) in people who had held a paper receipt after using hand sanitizer, they had 185 times more of the chemicals on their hands compared to receipt-holders who hadn’t used hand sanitizer. They also ended up with significantly higher levels of the stuff circulating through their blood or urine. Women tended to absorb the BPA faster than men—likely because they have thinner skin. “BPA levels at the concentrations we saw are related to increases in obesity, heart attacks, and type 2 diabetes,” says study co-author Frederick vom Saal, PhD. Which means that it’s a really smart idea to skip the hand sanitizer or lotion before buying something if you need the receipt. Even better? Whenever possible, just skip the receipt altogether, or ask about getting a paperless version via email (usually doable if the cashier swipes your card on an iPhone or iPad). And if your job requires you to work with receipts, wear gloves. MORE: 30 Ways To Make Your Day Healthier In 30 Seconds Or Less
