Daily exposure to certain chemicals known as phthalates, commonly used to manufacture plastic household items, has been linked to hundreds of thousands of heart disease-related deaths worldwide, according to a new analysis of population data.
For decades, scientists have warned about the health risks associated with phthalates, which are found in products such as cosmetics, cleaning agents, plastic piping, insect repellents, and solvents.
“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 study senior author Leonardo Trasande. When these chemicals degrade into microscopic particles and are ingested, they have been associated with increased risks of obesity, diabetes, fertility problems, and various cancers.
The study, conducted by researchers at NYU Langone Health, focused specifically on di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a common phthalate used to soften plastic in items like food containers and medical devices. Previous research has shown that DEHP exposure can trigger inflammation in the arteries of the heart, heightening the risk of heart attacks and strokes over time.
Using global health and environmental data, including urine samples from 200 countries and territories, the researchers estimated that DEHP exposure contributed to 356,238 deaths in 2018—accounting for over 13% of heart disease mortality among individuals aged 55 to 64.
“This study reinforces the growing evidence that phthalates pose a serious threat to public health,” said lead author Sara Hyman, associate research scientist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
The economic impact of these deaths was estimated at approximately \$510 billion, potentially reaching up to \$3.74 trillion.
While a 2021 study by the same team linked phthalates to over 50,000 premature deaths annually in the U.S., this latest research is believed to be the first to offer a global estimate of cardiovascular mortality due to phthalate exposure.
Published in *The Lancet eBiomedicine*, the report highlighted that the East Asia–Middle East region and the East Asia–Pacific region accounted for 42% and 32% of the DEHP-related heart disease deaths, respectively. The researchers suggest that these higher figures may reflect increased plastic production in those areas, often with weaker regulatory controls.
