A global study suggests that daily exposure to a common plastic chemical may be contributing to hundreds of thousands of heart-related deaths among older adults, prompting renewed calls for global regulation of plastics.
Imma Perfetto reports for Cosmos.
In short:
- Researchers at New York University linked di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) — a plastic additive used in food packaging and medical devices — to over 356,000 cardiovascular deaths globally in adults aged 55 to 64 in 2018.
- Some experts caution that the study’s methodology, while grounded in biomonitoring and prior data, can’t definitively prove causation; some argue the chemical’s presence may result from medical treatment rather than cause illness.
- Despite scientific debate, the findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting endocrine-disrupting chemicals in plastics pose serious health risks and should be more tightly regulated.
Key quote:
Taken together with an extensive literature on human health impacts, not just of phthalates, but of other chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) released from plastics and included in our Umbrella Review, these new findings add further support for the need for global plastics regulations."
— Dr. Christos Symeonides, paediatrician and a researcher at the Minderoo Foundation
Why this matters:
With plastics now ubiquitous in food packaging and medical care, scientists and advocates are emphasizing the importance of understanding the full range of their long-term health impacts. DEHP is just one of a whole class of endocrine disruptors embedded in our plastic-slicked world. As countries debate the final shape of a global plastics treaty, this study adds urgency to the negotiations.
Read more:
