Study links Phthalates Exposure to Hundreds of Thousands of Heart Disease Deaths

⁢ Updated June 08, ⁢2025
⁤

Exposure to ‍phthalates, chemicals widely used in plastic household items,⁤ may have contributed to more than 356,000 deaths from ⁣heart disease globally in 2018, according to a new ⁤analysis. The study highlights a disproportionate impact on the middle East,South Asia,East Asia,and ⁣the Pacific,which accounted for approximately three-quarters of the total deaths.

For years, experts have raised concerns ⁣about the health risks associated with phthalates, found in various products like cosmetics, detergents, and plastics. When ingested, these chemicals have been linked to obesity, ⁤diabetes, fertility problems, and cancer.

The⁤ recent study, led by NYU Langone ⁤Health researchers, ⁤focused on di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), ⁣used to enhance the adaptability of food containers and medical equipment. Prior ⁢research suggests DEHP exposure can trigger inflammation in heart ⁣arteries, ⁣increasing ⁣the risk of heart attack and stroke. The analysis estimates that DEHP exposure contributed to over 356,000 deaths, representing more than 13% of global heart disease mortality in 2018 among adults aged 55 to 64.

Sara Hyman,⁣ lead author and associate ⁢research scientist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, emphasized⁢ the significance of the findings, stating that thay “add to the vast body of evidence that these chemicals⁤ present a tremendous danger to human ⁢health.”

The economic burden resulting from these ⁢deaths is estimated between $510 billion and $3.74 trillion, according to the authors.

The research team previously linked phthalates to over 50,000 premature deaths annually‍ in older Americans, primarily from heart disease. Hyman, also a graduate student at NYU ‍School of Public Global Health, noted that this latest inquiry is the first global estimate of cardiovascular mortality resulting from exposure to these chemicals.

The findings where published⁤ online in Lancet eBiomedicine on April 29.

Researchers analyzed health and environmental data from numerous population surveys to estimate DEHP exposure across 200 countries and territories, including urine samples indicating the presence of chemical breakdown products from the plastic additive. Mortality data was sourced from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

The study revealed that East Asia and the Middle East accounted for about 42% of DEHP-linked heart disease deaths, while East Asia and the Pacific accounted for 32%.⁢ India had the highest death toll at over 103,000, followed by China ⁤and Indonesia. These higher risks persisted even after ⁤adjusting for population size.

The authors suggest that ‍higher exposure rates in these countries,possibly due to rapid growth in plastic production with fewer regulations,may explain the‍ disparity.

Leonardo Trasande, senior author and professor of pediatrics at NYU Grossman⁢ School of Medicine, highlighted the “clear disparity” in‍ the global distribution of heart risks from phthalates.He stressed the “urgent ‍need for global⁤ regulations to reduce exposure ‍to these toxins, especially‍ in areas most affected by rapid industrialization and plastic consumption.”

Trasande cautioned that the analysis does not ⁤establish a direct causal link between DEHP and heart disease and did not ⁢account ‍for other phthalates or mortality in other age groups. He ⁢suggests the overall‍ death toll from ⁣heart disease connected to these chemicals‍ is highly likely much higher.

Trasande plans to investigate how reducing phthalates exposure affects global mortality rates and to ⁤study other health concerns linked to these chemicals, such as preterm birth.

What’s next

Future research will focus on tracking the impact of reduced phthalates exposure on global ‍mortality rates and exploring other health issues related to⁣ these chemicals, including preterm birth.