A new study published in The Lancet eBiomedicine has found that daily exposure to certain chemicals used in plastics—especially in food containers and medical equipment—may be contributing significantly to the global rise in heart disease-related deaths.
Researchers from New York University Langone Health focused on di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a common type of phthalate used to soften plastics. DEHP is found in numerous household and industrial products including food packaging, medical tubing, cosmetics, detergents, and even plastic pipes.
The study estimated that DEHP exposure was responsible for over 356,000 deaths from heart disease globally in 2018 alone, particularly among individuals aged 55 to 64. That’s more than 13% of all heart disease deaths 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, lead author and associate research scientist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Regions with the highest estimated toll included South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, and Pacific nations—areas that are undergoing industrial growth but often lack strict chemical manufacturing regulations.
Scientists warn that the actual number of deaths linked to DEHP could be much higher, urging immediate global policy reforms. “Our results underscore the urgent need for global regulations to reduce exposure to these toxins,” said Leonardo Trasande from NYU Grossman.
The research used health data and urine samples from across 200 countries and territories, measuring DEHP exposure through its chemical breakdown in the body.