A recent study published by The Lancet Planetary Health examined the public health risks of exposure to a mixture of common plasticizer chemicals, including bisphenol A (BPA) and eight phthalates.
In short:
- Exposure to the mixture of nine plasticizer chemicals was associated with an increased risk of death from all causes, as well as an increased risk of death from cancer and cardiovascular disease.
- Reducing overall population exposure to this mixture could prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths in the U.S. each year.
- These risks were only found in people who had lower concentrations of vitamin D and vitamin B9 (folate) in their blood, suggesting that vitamins may help play a role in mitigating harm from exposure.
Key quote:
“Human exposure to mixtures of plastic-associated chemicals poses an enormous health burden. Efforts are needed to intervene and reduce exposure levels, as well as regulate chemicals on a mixture basis.”
Why this matters:
Of the 16,325 chemicals known to be used in plastic, over 25% qualify as “chemicals of concern” and more than 66% have never been tested or assessed for potential hazards by regulatory agencies or industry groups. A recent study estimated that plastic chemicals cost the U.S. healthcare system nearly $250 billion in 2018 alone. Exposure to common plasticizers like the ones examined in this study is widespread, but very few of these chemicals are regulated and health risks are typically only considered on a chemical-by-chemical basis, ignoring cumulative harm from chemical mixtures. The authors of this study emphasize the importance of regulating mixtures — not just individual chemicals — in order to meaningfully protect public health.
Related EHN coverage:
- Plastic chemicals are more numerable and less regulated than previously thought: Report
- Plasticizers linked to changes in kidney function
More resources:
- The Washington Post: These kitchen items may be contaminating your food with chemicals. See the thousands of plastic chemicals in what we eat.
Zhang, Yu et al. for The Lancet Planetary Health vol. 9, 12. Dec. 2025
