Certain chemicals used to make plastic household items present a “tremendous danger to human health”, new research has claimed.
In 2018, phthalates contributed to more than 356,000 deaths from heart disease, a global survey has found.
Found in common household items made from plastic, phthalates can trigger the development of several health conditions, such as obesity, cancer and type 2 diabetes, prior studies have revealed.
During this trial, the team of researchers examined the impact of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) – a phthalate used to make food containers, medical equipment, and other plastic softer and more flexible.
They found that in 2018 DEHP exposure contributed to 356,238 global deaths from heart disease.
First author Sara Hyman said: “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.”
As part of the study, the researchers assessed the health and environmental data from several population surveys to determine DEHP exposure across 200 countries.
India, China and Indonesia had the greatest number of heart disease deaths that were caused by DEHP exposure, the study has reported.
The authors stated: “These countries face higher rates of exposure to the chemicals, possibly because they are undergoing a boom in plastic production but with fewer manufacturing restrictions than other regions.”
Joint author Dr Leonardo Trasande noted: “There is a clear disparity in which parts of the world bear the brunt of heightened heart risks from phthalates.
“Our results underscore the urgent need for global regulations to reduce exposure to these toxins, especially in areas most affected by rapid industrialisation and plastic consumption.”
The study was published in the journal Lancet eBiomedicine.
