Plastic products are part of daily life for most people.
We store food in plastic containers, use cosmetics packaged in plastic, and rely on many medical and household products made from plastic materials.
Because these products are so common, few people think about the chemicals they may contain.
However, a new study suggests that some of these substances could be affecting heart health on a global scale.
The research was led by scientists from NYU Langone Health in the United States. The findings were published in the journal Lancet eBiomedicine. The study focused on chemicals called phthalates.
These chemicals are widely used to make plastics softer, more flexible, and more durable. Phthalates can be found in food packaging, medical equipment, detergents, cosmetics, plastic pipes, and many other everyday products.
Over time, phthalates can break down and enter the environment. People may swallow them through food and water or absorb them from products they use. Previous studies have linked exposure to these chemicals to a variety of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, fertility issues, and certain types of cancer.
The researchers concentrated on one particular phthalate called di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, or DEHP. This chemical is commonly used in food containers and medical devices.
Earlier research suggested that DEHP may trigger inflammation in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Long-term inflammation in blood vessels can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
For this study, scientists analyzed health and environmental information from dozens of population surveys covering about 200 countries and territories.
They examined urine samples that contained breakdown products of DEHP, allowing them to estimate how much exposure people experienced. The team then combined these findings with mortality data collected by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
The results were striking. The researchers estimated that exposure to DEHP may have contributed to 356,238 deaths from heart disease in 2018 alone among adults aged 55 to 64 years. This represented more than 13 percent of all global deaths from heart disease in this age group.
The study also revealed major regional differences. About three-quarters of the estimated deaths occurred in the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific region. India had the highest estimated number of deaths, followed by China and Indonesia.
The researchers suggest that these regions may have higher exposure levels because plastic production has expanded rapidly while regulations on manufacturing and chemical use may be less strict than in some other parts of the world.
The financial impact could also be enormous. The researchers estimated that the economic burden associated with these deaths was at least 510 billion dollars and could be as high as 3.74 trillion dollars.
The study has important strengths because it examined global data from many countries and used biological measurements rather than relying only on estimates of plastic use.
However, the researchers emphasized that the study cannot prove that DEHP directly caused heart disease. Other types of phthalates and additional environmental factors may also contribute to health risks. In fact, because the study looked only at one age group and one phthalate, the true health burden could be even larger.
Reviewing the findings, this research adds to growing evidence that chemicals used in everyday products may have long-term effects on human health.
The study does not prove cause and effect, but it raises important questions about the widespread use of plastic-related chemicals and highlights the need for more research and stronger efforts to reduce unnecessary exposure.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that apple juice could benefit your heart health, and Yogurt may help lower the death risks in heart disease.
For more information about health, please see recent studies that Vitamin D deficiency can increase heart disease risk, and results showing Zinc and vitamin B6 linked to lower death risk in heart disease.
