A growing body of evidence reveals that chemicals found in common plastic products may be responsible for millions of cases of heart disease and strokes worldwide, alongside hundreds of
thousands of deaths annually.
Maureen Cropper and her team from the University of Maryland carried out a study examining the public health effects of three chemicals frequently found in plastics.
The study emphasizes the dangers linked to bisphenol A (BPA), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which are mainly present in plastic food packaging, electronic devices, and home furnishings.
Researchers analyzed data from 38 countries and found that in 2015, BPA was linked to 5.4 million cases of coronary artery disease and 346,000 strokes. Additionally, exposure to DEHP may have led to 164,000 deaths among people aged 55 to 64.
Cropper highlighted the need to restrict these harmful substances “before they reach consumers,” pointing out the effectiveness of regulations in nations such as the US and Canada, which have greatly decreased exposures over the last ten years. The researchers estimate that “approximately 515,000 deaths could have been prevented” in the US if BPA and DEHP levels had been controlled sooner, starting from 2003.
Cropper warned that deficiencies in global monitoring affect the precision of exposure assessments. She emphasized that it would be beneficial for more countries to actively monitor exposure to these and other substances, advocating for enhanced international initiatives to oversee and manage toxins associated with plastics.
The findings suggest that stricter policies worldwide, combined with improved exposure monitoring, could play a crucial role in protecting public health.
