Why using recycled toilet paper is dangerous to your health, and three green, nontoxic and sustainable alternatives to consider instead.
Like many of you good little girls and boys out there trying to be responsible citizens of Planet Earth, I bought recycled toilet paper in an attempt to be more environmentally conscious.
Alas.
This method of going green in the bathroom is not such a good idea after all. In fact, it is a most decidedly BAD idea.
Green does not necessarily mean healthy!
Recycled Toilet Paper is Toxic
Two studies published in Environmental Science & Technology have shown that BPA and cousin chemical BPS used in “BPA free products” but also highly estrogenic in nature, are much more pervasive in our common, everyday products than we could have imagined.
Yeah, that BPA free stuff is no better and will mess up your hormones just as much. But then, you sensed that was the case already didn’t you? I know I did.
The term “safe chemical” is kind of an oxymoron. If a product contains chemicals, just assume they are toxic unless proven otherwise.
How does all this relate to recycled toilet paper?
Hormone Disruptors in Recycled Paper
These two studies involved examination of hundreds of samples of paper from everyday items such as toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, newspapers, magazines, tickets, and even business cards.
Most of the paper samples tested contained the hormone disruptors BPA, BPS or BOTH.
How and why the paper was so contaminated is a question that requires further study to ascertain.
But for now, the key is to avoid thermal paper as much as possible. This stuff is the worst offender perhaps because it is often recycled and may somehow become contaminated during the reclamation process.
The ink itself may also be a culprit in the overall toxicity of recycled toilet paper.
In fact, it is best to avoid touching all recycled paper period! Sister chemicals BPA and BPS absorb very readily through the skin.
You don’t have to eat it to have them enter your bloodstream.
If your job involves handling thermal paper receipts, for example, best to wear gloves. And, if you can turn down receipts and instead rely on an online itemization of your expenditures, that would be a good step as well.
TP Used for Thin Skin Near Reproductive Areas
As for your backside, opt for toilet paper made from virgin pulp or better still, bamboo toilet paper.
This is an especially important area to protect from BPA and BPS as the skin in these areas is thin and delicate.
This means that the chemicals can more easily enter the bloodstream with very close proximity to the reproductive organs.
Green AND Safe Options to Toilet Paper
If you don’t want to change habits right now, at least switch to bamboo toilet paper (I suggest this brand). It is nontoxic and sustainably produced.
If you really want to go green with your toilet habits, skip the toilet paper entirely and invest in a bidet attachment for your toilet. They are very reasonably priced and easy to install.
If this European method of saving trees doesn’t work for you, your other option is to go the reusable TP cloths route.
Any of these approaches makes for a sanitary, nontoxic and sustainable bathroom experience.
Reference
(1) Bottom Line Publications, Toxic Toilet Paper? You Got It
Sigh…that’s it. I’m moving to the forest, eating berries and bark and wiping with leaves.
Yes, those Japanese toilets are verrrry different! Try using one on a moving train! Better be steady on your feet or you are in BIG trouble.
i think the japanese have this one figured out
thanks!
An in-toilet bidet like the Hyjet fixes a lot of these issues. Rather than wipe with TP, you pat dry with it, using significantly less paper in the meanwhile. The Hyjet can be retrofit to practically any toilet. Springtime fresh. All day!
wow
What do you use instead?
Thanks for the great article
Yep, we’ve been using cloth wipes now for almost two years and are saving a TON of money – not to mention that it saves on not consuming plastic (wrapper) and fuel (to transport to the store). Interestingly, my kid’s friends initially think it’s weird, but they quickly adjust and don’t really have problems with them. Our adult friends, on the other hand, almost ALWAYS think we’ve gone a bit off the deep end. ; p
Here I was worried about the long term exposure to chlorine from using TP. I tryed using cloth diapers when my daughter was little because I didn’t want to contribute to the landfills. Then I realized that I was problerly harming the planet just as much by washing all the diapers. Now I am not willing to jump on the cloth bandwagon quite so easily. I can’t afford the bamboo TP, besides process bamboo uses lots of energy and water. It seems like the best solution is to spread the word about this problem. Hopefully public awareness will drive the manufacturers to avoid using paper containing these products.
Unless you’re suggesting that we should all completely give up doing any laundry, I don’t think the addition of maybe one load of family cloth a week is going to kill the environment. 🙂 Cloth does seem like best solution, since TP manufacturers really only have a choice between virgin fiber and recycled fiber (I don’t think they have a choice what kind of recycled content they get). Or are you thinking of paper manufacturers higher up in the supply chain taking out BPA so that it is not getting into recyclable goods at all?
The laundry issue (as far as impact) is very, very minimal. If you consider the fact that every sheet of paper requires 4 gallons of water to produce (I don’t know the # for toilet paper, but I’m sure it’s still a lot) the water that you are using to wash/reuse cloth is well spent. Plus you are eliminating the packaging and transportation associated with buying TP, and the BPA receipt you will get!
Good comment, Leah 🙂