Common Plastics Could Raise Your Risk of Heart Disease

A new study is shining a light on just how impactful phthalates — the chemicals used to make plastics more flexible — can be on human health. 

In late April, researchers from New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine published their findings in the journal eBioMedicine, showing that these common phthalates may be linked to hundreds of thousands of heart disease deaths in a single year.

Here’s what you need to know.

What are phthalates and what are they in? 

As the National Resources Defence Council explains, phthalates are a “family of chemicals” that are added to plastics that make them soft, malleable, or clingy (aka clingwrap). You’ll find them in just about everything, from food containers to cosmetics, as well as toys, toothbrushes, the coating of some medications, and even in cleaning products, since they help retain scent. 

But here’s the big issue: These phthalates don’t remain in place. According to Toxic-Free Future, “Because phthalates are not chemically bound to the plastic they are used in, they migrate out over time and contaminate indoor dust and air. People are exposed to phthalates through indoor dust and air, from using products such as cosmetics, and from food.” 

What exactly did the study find?

The NYU researchers focused on a specific phthalate, di‑2‑ethylhexyl phthalate, also known as DEHP, examining its impact on human health by analyzing population surveys that included urine samples collected in 2008 and cardiovascular death records from 2018. From here, they were able to build a “disease burden” model, estimating that DEHP exposure among 55–64 year olds accounted for more than 356,000 deaths worldwide in 2018, or about 13.5% of all heart‑disease fatalities in that age group.

So, just how dangerous are phthalates? 

“Phthalates contribute to inflammation and systemic inflammation in the coronary arteries, which can accelerate existing disease and lead to acute events including mortality,” Dr. Leonardo Trasande, a professor of pediatrics and population health at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine and senior author on the study, shared with CNN. “Phthalates are known to disrupt testosterone … low testosterone is a predictor of adult cardiovascular disease,” he added.

However, the authors also found that not all global regions were affected equally. South Asia and the Middle East suffered the most, with 148,500 deaths, while East Asia and the Pacific accounted for an additional 112,000.

The United States and Europe fared somewhat better, with the researchers finding that DEHP exposure contributed to approximately 10% and 8% of heart disease deaths, respectively. Overall, the study estimated that 10.47 million years of life were lost globally in 2018 due to DEHP’s impact on cardiovascular health.

“There is a clear disparity in which parts of the world bear the brunt of heightened heart risks from phthalates,” Trasande added in a statement.

This isn’t the only study linking phthalates to human health issues. A 2022 review study found “robust evidence for an association with lower semen quality, neurodevelopment and risk of childhood asthma, and moderate to robust evidence for impact on anogenital distance in boys.” It also found an association between phthalates and low birthweight, endometriosis, ADHD, Type 2 diabetes, as well as breast and uterine cancer.

Another study conducted in 2021 found that “chronic exposure to phthalates will adversely influence the endocrine system and functioning of multiple organs, which has negative long-term impacts on the success of pregnancy, child growth and development, and reproductive systems in both young children and adolescents.”

How can you protect yourself?

While eliminating plastics entirely is no easy feat, you can make a few small changes to reduce your exposure. This includes switching food storage containers to glass or stainless steel and avoiding microwaving plastic. Rethinking your use of single-use plastics can also help, such as avoiding plastic water bottles and straws.

You can also try a little “phthalate cleanse.” A 2011 study tracked 20 participants and asked them to eat only fresh, non-packaged foods for three days, testing their urine before and after the “diet.” Those who followed the protocol observed a 53–56% average reduction in DEHP metabolites over three days.

The authors noted that their findings “underscore the critical need for enhanced regulatory measures and international cooperation to mitigate the health impacts of phthalates, particularly in regions characterised by high levels of industrialisation and plastic consumption.” They note that their modeling “provides concrete estimates of only a small fraction of those risks, emphasising the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the health impacts of plastic exposure.” However, if you don’t want to wait for this change to happen, you can always take charge by taking the small steps outlined above.