A new global analysis of population surveys has revealed a troubling link between daily exposure to phthalates, chemicals commonly found in household plastics and hundreds of thousands of heart disease-related deaths.
For years, scientists have raised concerns about certain phthalates present in products such as cosmetics, cleaning agents, plastic piping, insect repellents, and various solvents.
These chemicals, once broken down into microscopic particles and ingested or absorbed, have been associated with health issues ranging from cancer and fertility problems to diabetes and obesity.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health focused their latest study on di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, a type of phthalate widely used to soften plastics found in food packaging, medical supplies, and other everyday items.
Prior research has linked DEHP exposure to inflammation in the arteries of the heart, a condition that over time may raise the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes.
In this new global assessment, the team estimated that in 2018 alone, DEHP was responsible for around 356,238 deaths among individuals aged 55 to 64.
This represents more than 13% of all global heart disease fatalities in that age group.
“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 Sara Hyman, associate research scientist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the study’s lead author.
The economic toll of these deaths, the researchers found, could be staggering, estimated at roughly $510 billion, with a possible upper range of $3.74 trillion globally.
This builds upon a previous 2021 study by the same team, which linked phthalate exposure to more than 50,000 premature deaths annually in older Americans, mostly due to cardiovascular issues.
The current analysis marks the first known attempt to produce a global estimate of phthalate-related heart disease mortality or any related health consequence from these chemicals.
The study, published in Lancet eBiomedicine, relied on extensive data collected from dozens of population-level surveys in over 200 countries and territories. Researchers measured DEHP exposure by analyzing urine samples for chemical byproducts of the plasticizer.
The findings pointed to disproportionate impacts in certain regions, the East Asia and Middle East cluster, and the East Asia and Pacific cluster, accounted for approximately 42% and 32% of the DEHP-related heart disease deaths, respectively.
According to the study’s authors, this imbalance may stem from elevated levels of exposure in these regions, likely due to rapid industrial growth and limited environmental regulations around plastic manufacturing.
“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 industrialization and plastic consumption,” said Leonardo Trasande, senior author of the study.
