This widely used chemical may cause 100K premature deaths every year

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This widely used chemical may cause 100K premature deaths every year

This widely used chemical may cause 100K premature deaths every year.

In a new study published in “Environmental Pollution”, researchers from New York University and the University of Iowa found that synthetic chemicals called phthalates may cause about Between 91,000 and 107,000 people died prematurely. People with the highest levels of phthalates in the body have a higher risk of all-cause death, especially from cardiovascular disease.

This widely used chemical may cause 100K premature deaths every year

Phthalates are a kind of widely used plasticizers that modify or soften plastics and are found in hundreds of consumer products, such as food storage containers, shampoos, cosmetics, perfumes and children’s toys And in the paint.

This study estimates that these deaths may cause about 40 to 47 billion U.S. dollars in lost productivity in the U.S. economy each year.

Professor Leonardo Trasande, the corresponding author of the study and director of the New York University Center for Environmental Medicine and Population Health, and Environmental Hazard Investigation, said: “This study adds more and more data on the impact of plastics on the human body, and is designed to reduce or eliminate the use of plastics. Public health and business cases provide support.”

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), phthalic acid interferes with the human endocrine system and is related to development, reproduction, brain, immunity and other problems. NIEHS points out that even minor hormonal disorders can lead to “significant developmental and biological effects.”

Previous studies have shown that phthalates are related to reproductive problems, such as male infant genital malformations and cryptorchidism, and lower sperm counts and testosterone levels in adult men. Previous research has also linked phthalates to childhood obesity, asthma , cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

Trasande said: “There have been many records of the adverse effects of this chemical. The truth is that when you look at all the evidence, it provides a worrying pattern.”

Eileen Conneely, senior director of chemical products and technology at the American Chemistry Council (ACC) told CNN via email: “Many of the latest research by Trasande et al. is clearly inaccurate.”

She added that the study classified all phthalates into one category, but did not mention that high molecular weight phthalates such as DINP and DIDP that the industry said are more toxic than other phthalates. Low formate.

“Chemical Substances Everywhere”

Phthalates are often referred to as “ubiquitous chemicals” because of their widespread use. It is added to consumer products such as PVC pipes, vinyl flooring, rain and antifouling products, medical tubing, gardens Hose and some children’s toys to make the plastic more flexible and harder to break.

Other common sources of exposure come from phthalates used in food packaging, detergents, clothing, furniture, and automotive plastics. Phthalates are also added to personal care products such as shampoos, soaps, hair sprays and cosmetics to make the fragrance lasting.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people are contaminated when they breathe polluted air or eat or drink food that comes in contact with plastics.

CDC said: “Children crawl around, touch a lot of things, and then put their hands in their mouths. Because of this hand-to-mouth behavior, the risk of phthalate particles in dust may be greater for children than adults. .”

“Just a snapshot of time”

Trasande said the new study measured the phthalate concentration in the urine of more than 5,000 adults aged 55 to 64 and compared it with the average risk of premature death over a 10-year period.

The researchers controlled for factors such as pre-existing heart disease, diabetes , cancer and other common diseases, poor eating habits, physical activity and weight, and the levels of other known hormone disruptors (such as bisphenol A or BPA).

Trasande said that this is not a definitive study, it is a snapshot of time and can only show correlations.

He believes that an accurate understanding of the effects of phthalates on the human body requires a gold standard double-blind randomized clinical trial . However, such research can never be carried out, he added: “Because morally, we cannot randomly expose people to potentially toxic chemicals.”

Trasande said: “But we already know that phthalates interfere with the male sex hormone, testosterone, which is a predictor of cardiovascular disease in adults. These exposures can lead to a variety of mortality-related diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. .”

BPA, a chemical substance, is also associated with abnormalities in the reproductive system of male babies and infertility in adult males, as well as obesity, heart disease, cancer, and premature death from any cause. This synthetic compound was previously found in most baby bottles, straw cups and infant formula containers until parents boycotted these products more than a decade ago. In 2012, the FDA banned the use of this chemical in bottles and straws.

Trasande said that we can minimize exposure to phthalates and other endocrine disruptors (such as BPA), although these substances are still present in some food packaging and supplies.

Trasande advises: “First of all, avoid using plastic as much as possible. Never put plastic containers in a microwave or dishwasher, because heat will break down the plastic coating and make it easier to absorb. In addition, cook at home and reduce processed foods can reduce the level of exposure to chemical substances. “

This widely used chemical may cause 100K premature deaths every year

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