You do it without thinking. You open a yogurt, microwave leftovers, or drink from a plastic bottle. It’s all part of modern life.
It feels harmless—because plastic is just plastic, right? But what if it’s not as safe as we assume? What if something in your everyday routine is quietly taking a toll on your health?
A new global study from NYU Langone Health, published in Lancet eBiomedicine, shines a spotlight on a serious and often overlooked health risk.
The researchers investigated a chemical you’ve likely never heard of but almost certainly come into contact with every day: DEHP, a type of phthalate used to make plastics soft and flexible. It’s found in food packaging, medical devices, toys, and even clothing.
A Chemical With a Long Reach — and Serious Risks
The concern with DEHP isn’t just how common it is, but what it might be doing to the body. Previous studies have linked it to hormone disruption, fertility problems, obesity, and cancer.
The new research adds something even more alarming: a potential connection to hundreds of thousands of heart-related deaths.
The team analyzed data from over 200 countries, combining urine samples and health statistics to estimate population exposure to DEHP.
The results are sobering. They estimate that in 2018 alone, DEHP exposure may have contributed to over 356,000 deaths from heart disease among adults aged 55–64.
Not All Regions Are Hit Equally
While DEHP is used globally, the death toll is far from evenly distributed. Regions like the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia accounted for about 75% of the estimated deaths, with India, China, and Indonesia leading the list.
Researchers believe this may be due to higher plastic production in those regions, often without the strict regulations seen elsewhere.
That means the health cost of the world’s growing plastic dependence is falling hardest on populations in rapidly industrializing countries.
Everyday Habits With Long-Term Costs
The study suggests DEHP may contribute to inflammation in arteries around the heart, which can increase the risk of heart attacks or strokes over time. This is especially worrying for adults nearing retirement age.
While the exact level of exposure that becomes dangerous is still unclear, the global patterns speak loudly enough. The researchers are now calling for urgent action and stricter international regulations to reduce exposure.
What Can You Do?
Avoiding plastic entirely is nearly impossible, but there are steps you can take to reduce your daily exposure:
- Use glass or stainless steel containers instead of plastic
- Avoid heating food in plastic packaging
- Look for phthalate-free labels, especially on children’s products
- Reduce consumption of packaged and processed foods
The study was led by Sara Hyman and Leonardo Trasande at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. They now plan to expand the research to include other health risks linked to these chemicals and to investigate whether reducing phthalate exposure could lower future death rates.
This article is based on information from ScienceDaily