Plastic chemicals linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide

Hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of cases heart disease worldwide may be linked to chemicals in common plastic products, suggesting that stricter regulations on these toxins could benefit public health.

Maureen Cropper University of Maryland and colleagues assessed the public health impact of exposure to three chemicals commonly used in plastics: bisphenol A (BPA), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE). BPA and DEHP are found in plastic food packaging and PBDEs are flame retardants used in some household goods, such as furniture and electronics.

Based on more than 1,700 previously published studies, the team estimated exposure to these three classes of chemicals in 38 countries, which is about a third of the world’s population. Three of the countries – the US, Canada and South Korea – also have public databases that monitor the levels of these chemicals in urine and blood samples, providing even more accurate data.

Using medical records and toxicology reports, the researchers calculated the health outcomes associated with these chemicals. In 2015, 5.4 million cases of coronary heart disease and 346,000 cases were found. strokes About 164,000 deaths among people aged 55 to 64 were linked to BPA exposure and could be attributed to DEHP.

Thank you regulations Introduced in the late 2000s, the prevalence of these chemicals has since decreased in many countries such as the US, Canada and Europe. Researchers estimate that about 515,000 deaths could have been avoided if BPA and DEHP exposures in the US had been at post-regulatory levels since 2003. This calls for governments and manufacturers to limit the use of toxic chemicals in plastic products before they reach consumers. , says Cropper.

However, it is important to remember that these findings are only approximations. “I think one of the real limitations is actually the lack of exposure data on these substances,” Cropper says, meaning some countries’ estimates may be more accurate than others. “It would be a good idea if more countries would monitor these and other substances (exposures),” which would improve understanding of the public health burden, he said.