Study links chemicals in plastic items to thousands of cardiovascular deaths

A study published in the Lancet eBioMedicine journal found that daily exposure to chemicals contained in household plastic items could be linked to over 350,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease worldwide in 2018. The study was led by researchers at NYU Langone Hospital in New York and focused on a phthalate chemical known as DEHP, used to make food containers and medical equipment. According to the research findings, DEHP exposure contributed to 356,238 deaths from heart disease in 2018 among men and women aged 55 to 64. Nearly 75% of these deaths were in Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific. India and China had the highest death tolls, potentially due to a boom in plastic production and few manufacturing restrictions. The researchers emphasized the need for global regulation to reduce the health risks associated with phthalates exposure. However, negotiations for an international treaty against plastic pollution have so far failed.
Phthalates have long been known to affect the endocrine system. They have been previously linked to obesity, heart disease, and fertility problems. They are used as a plastic softener in thousands of items, including beauty care products and toys.