Paper money may contain trace levels of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in some plastics and other consumer products. But only small amounts of BPA are absorbed through our skin when we handle the money.
The study is published in Environmental Science & Technology. BPA is considered an endocrine disruptor, which means it looks or acts like a hormone in the body. It may be associated with behavioral and reproductive issues. Young children may be particularly vulnerable to these effects. As a result, many manufacturers have taken steps to eliminate the BPA in baby bottles and some sippy cups. The study analyzed BPA levels in 156 forms of paper money from 21 countries. All of them contained some BPA. The highest amounts of BPA were found in paper money from Brazil, the Czech Republic, and Australia. The lowest amounts of BPA were seen in paper money from the Philippines and Thailand. Levels of BPA in U.S. dollars were about average.
(Source: WebMD)
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