A recent study ties exposure to a widely used plastic additive, DEHP, to more than 350,000 cardiovascular deaths globally in 2018.
Korin Miller reports for Women’s Health.
In short:
- Researchers linked di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), a plastic softener found in many household products, to 13.5% of cardiovascular deaths among people aged 55–64 in 2018.
- DEHP is commonly present in flexible plastics such as vinyl flooring, takeout containers, and personal care products, making exposure difficult to avoid.
- Though the study was observational, experts say the cumulative effect of phthalate exposure over time could drive heart disease risk and emphasize the need for reduced plastic use.
Key quote:
“The findings underscore the need for urgent global and local regulatory interventions to [curb] mortality from DEHP exposure.”
— Study authors, eBioMedicine
Why this matters:
Phthalates like DEHP are used to make plastic flexible, and they’re nearly impossible to avoid. They’re in your food packaging, water bottles, shower curtains, and cosmetics. While regulators have long suspected health risks tied to these chemicals, mounting evidence now links them to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and hormone disruption. DEHP, in particular, can leach from plastics into the food you eat or the air you breathe. That exposure builds up over time and may interfere with the endocrine and cardiovascular systems. With plastic production projected to double by 2050, understanding the human health costs is becoming more urgent — especially for vulnerable groups like children, seniors, and people with chronic health conditions.
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