By Bunmi Yekini
Daily exposure to a common chemical found in plastic household items may have contributed to more than 356,000 deaths from heart disease in 2018 alone, according to a new global study led by researchers at NYU Langone Health.
The chemical, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), is widely used to make plastics softer and more flexible in products ranging from food containers to medical equipment. Researchers found that exposure to DEHP, especially in developing regions with high plastic production, was linked to a significant spike in cardiovascular mortality among adults aged 55 to 64.
“By highlighting the connection between phthalates and a leading cause of death across the world, our findings add to the vast body of evidence that these chemicals present a tremendous danger to human health,” said lead author Sara Hyman, a research scientist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
The study, published April 29 in Lancet eBiomedicine, marks the first global estimate of cardiovascular deaths linked to phthalate exposure. It found that countries in the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific accounted for nearly three-quarters of the global death toll from DEHP-related heart disease. India alone recorded more than 103,000 deaths, followed by China and Indonesia.
“There is a clear disparity in which parts of the world bear the brunt of heightened heart risks from phthalates,” said senior author Dr. Leonardo Trasande. “Our results underscore the urgent need for global regulations to reduce exposure to these toxins, especially in areas most affected by rapid industrialization and plastic consumption.”
DEHP is known to trigger inflammation in the heart’s arteries, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Researchers used data from 200 countries, analyzing urine samples and environmental health records, alongside mortality statistics from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
The financial burden of DEHP-related deaths was also staggering, estimated at $510 billion globally and potentially as high as $3.74 trillion.
Trasande cautioned that the study focused only on DEHP and adults between 55 and 64 years old, meaning the true health impact of phthalates could be far greater. “The overall death toll is likely underestimated,” he noted. “Future studies will explore how reducing exposure to these chemicals might lower global mortality rates.”
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and Beyond Petrochemicals. The authors say their next steps will include expanding their research to other age groups and health risks tied to plastic-related toxins, such as preterm birth.