A plastic-softening chemical hiding in shampoo bottles, food wrappers, and even medical supplies may be doing more than just making plastic flexible, it might be silently increasing the risk of heart disease around the world.
In a startling new study, researchers estimate that over 350,000 cardiovascular deaths in 2018 could be linked to a chemical called di-2-ethylhexylphthalate, or DEHP. This common phthalate is found in a wide range of household and industrial products, and new data suggest its impact on human health is deeper than previously understood.
The research team, led by Sara Hyman from NYU Langone Health, focused on global exposure to DEHP and its potential link to cardiovascular disease, still the world’s leading cause of death. Using global data, they matched estimated exposure levels in 2008 with heart-related deaths a decade later. Their analysis revealed that more than 13 percent of cardiovascular deaths in people aged 55 to 64 might be connected to DEHP.
The numbers were particularly shocking in regions such as South Asia, East Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East, where the plastics industry is rapidly expanding. Globally, the percentage of cardiovascular deaths linked with DEHP exposure is “quite alarming,” said Changcheng Zhou, a biomedical scientist at the University of California Riverside who was not part of the study.
Phthalates like DEHP are known as endocrine disruptors, meaning they can mess with the body’s hormone systems. Past studies have already linked them to obesity, diabetes, and reproductive issues. But this new research suggests their potential to harm the heart may be far greater than previously thought.
Still, Hyman and her team caution that their findings show an association, not direct causation. Other contributors to heart disease, such as diet and exercise, weren’t included in their model. “More research is needed that accounts for these factors,” Hyman said.
Another big challenge? Most countries don’t have centralized systems to monitor how much of these chemicals people are actually exposed to. While places like the U.S. and Canada track these data through national health surveys, large parts of Latin America, Africa, and Asia are still in the dark on the subject.
Even more concerning is the reality that we’re not just exposed to one chemical. People regularly come into contact with mixtures of phthalates, and their combined effects could be unpredictable. “You do need to study the effect of the mixture,” said Mahua Choudhury, an epigeneticist at Texas A&M University.
The study adds to growing calls for a global rethink of how we use and dispose of plastic. As Zhou puts it, “We’re going to become the plastic planet. We need to start to really address this serious issue.”
This new research leaves us with a haunting question: could the same plastics that wrap our food, hold our shampoo, or deliver lifesaving medicine also be harming our hearts? Science is still uncovering the full picture but the evidence so far suggests it’s time we take a much closer look.
For more details, refer to this article published in the Lancet.
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