A new global study has found that daily exposure to a chemical used in many plastic products may be linked to more than 365,000 deaths from heart disease in 2018 alone. The chemical, known as DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate), is one of a group of substances called phthalates.
These are used to make plastic softer and more flexible, and are commonly found in everyday items like food packaging, medical equipment, cosmetics, and cleaning products.
The study, led by researchers from NYU Langone Health and published in eBioMedicine, is the first to estimate how exposure to phthalates may be affecting heart health on a global scale.
The results are alarming. The research team estimates that DEHP exposure was connected to 368,764 deaths from heart disease among people aged 55 to 64 in 2018. That’s more than 10% of all heart-related deaths in that age group for that year.
The study also showed that certain regions of the world are more affected than others. About 30% of the deaths occurred in Africa, while 25% came from countries in East Asia and the Middle East.
India had the highest number of deaths (39,677), followed by Pakistan and Egypt. Researchers believe this may be due to higher exposure to phthalates in these areas, possibly because of growing plastic use and weaker regulations on chemical production and disposal.
Phthalates are known to break down into tiny particles that can enter the body through food, air, or skin contact. In past research, they’ve been linked to several health issues including obesity, diabetes, reproductive problems, and even cancer.
In this study, scientists focused on how DEHP affects heart health. Previous lab studies have shown that DEHP can cause inflammation in the arteries of the heart. Over time, this kind of inflammation may lead to heart attacks or strokes.
To measure how much DEHP people around the world are exposed to, the researchers used urine samples collected through dozens of population health surveys from over 200 countries.
These samples contained traces of chemical byproducts that show how much DEHP had entered the body. They then compared this data with global heart disease death rates provided by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a public health research group based in the U.S.
The team also calculated the economic impact of these deaths and found that DEHP-related heart disease may have cost the world as much as $3.74 trillion in 2018. Even their most conservative estimate put the cost at $510 billion.
The study authors stress that while this research shows a strong link, it does not prove that DEHP directly causes heart disease. There are other phthalates that were not studied, and the results are only for one age group. This means the real impact on global health may be even greater than what they found.
Dr. Leonardo Trasande, the senior author of the study, said the findings show a serious global health problem. He emphasized that phthalate exposure is not just a concern in one country or age group, but something that needs worldwide attention.
According to Trasande, reducing the use of phthalates in manufacturing—especially in countries facing rapid industrial growth—could help lower the number of deaths from heart disease in the future.
The team now plans to study whether lowering phthalate exposure can reduce death rates over time. They also want to examine other health effects of these chemicals, such as their role in preterm births.
This research sends a clear message: chemicals used in everyday plastic products may have serious long-term effects on human health. As plastic use continues to grow, stronger global regulations and safer alternatives may be needed to protect people, especially in the most vulnerable regions.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies about a big cause of heart failure, and common blood test could advance heart failure treatment.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about a new way to repair human heart, and results showing drinking coffee may help reduce heart failure risk.
The research findings can be found in eBioMedicine.
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