Daily exposure to chemicals in plastics may be responsible for hundreds of thousands of heart disease deaths annually, according to a new global study led by NYU Langone Health. Researchers call for urgent regulations to reduce these toxins, primarily affecting regions with high plastic consumption.
Daily exposure to phthalates, chemicals commonly used in producing plastic household items, may be linked to over 356,000 global deaths from heart disease in 2018 alone, a new analysis indicates. This study, led by researchers at NYU Langone Health, sheds light on the significant dangers these chemicals pose to human health.
Phthalates, found in a variety of products such as cosmetics, detergents, plastic pipes and medical equipment, can break down into microscopic particles that are ingested or inhaled.
Previous research has linked these particles to numerous health issues, including obesity, diabetes, fertility complications and certain cancers.
The current study focuses on a specific phthalate called di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), known to be used in food containers and medical supplies to make them more flexible.
“By highlighting the connection between phthalates and a leading cause of death across the world, our findings add to the vast body of evidence that these chemicals present a tremendous danger to human health,” lead author Sara Hyman, an associate research scientist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said in a news release.
The study found that regions such as the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific saw the highest mortality rates attributable to DEHP, accounting for about three-fourths of the global death toll linked to these chemicals. India, China and Indonesia reported the highest death counts — with India alone seeing over 103,000 deaths connected to DEHP exposure.
“There is a clear disparity in which parts of the world bear the brunt of heightened heart risks from phthalates,” added senior author Leonardo Trasande, the Jim G. Hendrick, MD, Professor of Pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and a professor in the Department of Population Health. “Our results underscore the urgent need for global regulations to reduce exposure to these toxins, especially in areas most affected by rapid industrialization and plastic consumption.”
The researchers estimate the economic burden resulting from these deaths could be as high as $3.74 trillion. This figure emphasizes the need for immediate global policy actions to mitigate exposure to these harmful chemicals.
In a previous 2021 study, the same team connected phthalates to over 50,000 premature deaths per year in older Americans, mainly due to heart disease.
The current study is groundbreaking as it provides the first global estimate of cardiovascular mortality caused by exposure to these chemicals.
As countries undergo rapid industrialization and increasing plastic production, exposure rates to phthalates like DEHP are higher, particularly in regions with less stringent manufacturing regulations, according to the authors.
Addressing this global health issue requires coordinated international efforts and stringent regulatory frameworks.
While the study opens a crucial dialogue about the dangers of phthalates, the researchers emphasize that their analysis was not designed to conclusively establish that DEHP directly or solely causes heart disease.
Future research aims to investigate how reductions in DEHP exposure may impact global mortality rates and explore other health concerns linked to these chemicals.
The study, published online today in The Lancet eBiomedicine journal, was funded by various sources, including the National Institutes of Health and Beyond Petrochemicals.
With global health at stake, the findings of this study underscore the urgent need for stricter regulations on phthalates, aiming to safeguard populations, especially in vulnerable regions undergoing industrial and economic transformations.
Source: NYU Langone Health