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Global Study Links Plastic Additive DEHP to Over 356,000 Heart Disease Deaths in 2018

Research highlights significant geographic disparities, economic costs, and calls for international regulations to reduce exposure to the harmful chemical.

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Young woman sitting in a park, eating salad
Storing food in plastic containers exposes you to potentially dangerous chemicals that can lead from the plastic into the food, experts say.
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Overview

  • The study, led by NYU Langone Health, found DEHP exposure contributed to 356,238 heart disease deaths globally in 2018, accounting for over 13% of cardiovascular deaths among people aged 55–64.
  • Regions including the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific bore 75% of the burden, with India experiencing the highest death toll at 103,587, followed by China and Indonesia.
  • DEHP, a phthalate used to make plastics flexible, is found in food containers, medical equipment, and consumer products, and has been linked to inflammation in heart arteries, increasing risks of heart attack or stroke.
  • The economic cost of DEHP-related heart disease deaths was estimated between $510 billion and $3.74 trillion annually, underscoring the scale of its public health impact.
  • Researchers emphasize the need for global regulations to limit DEHP use and plan to study how exposure reduction may influence mortality rates and other health outcomes like preterm birth.