Household plastics caused more than 356,000 cardiac deaths in 2018.

Daily exposure to certain chemicals commonly used to make plastic items used in the home may be linked to more than 356,000 deaths from heart disease worldwide in 2018.

The research, published in the journal ' Lancet eBiomedicine ,' focuses on certain chemicals called phthalates, which are used worldwide.

Health problems have long been linked to exposure to certain phthalates found in cosmetics, detergents, solvents, plastic pipes, insect repellents , and other products.

When these chemicals break down into microscopic particles and are ingested, some research has linked them to an increased risk of conditions ranging from obesity and diabetes to fertility problems and cancer.

Led by researchers at NYU Langone Health , the current study focused on a type of phthalate called di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which is used to make food containers, medical equipment and other plastics softer and more flexible.

So far, some studies have shown that exposure to DEHP triggers an overactive immune response (inflammation) in the heart's arteries, which, over time, is associated with an increased risk of heart attack or stroke.

In this new analysis, the authors estimated that DEHP exposure contributed to 356,238 deaths, or more than 13% of global heart disease mortality in 2018 among men and women aged 55–64 years.

"By highlighting the connection between phthalates and one of the leading causes of death worldwide, our findings add to the evidence that these chemicals pose a tremendous danger to human health," said senior author Sara Hyman, a research associate at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

In a previous 2021 study, this team had already linked phthalates to more than 50,000 premature deaths per year, primarily from heart disease, in the US.

The authors believe this new research represents the first global estimate to date of cardiovascular mortality, or indeed any other health problem, resulting from exposure to these chemicals.

The study analyzed health and environmental data from dozens of population-based surveys to estimate DEHP exposure in 200 countries and territories. The data included urine samples containing the chemical degradation products of the plastic additive. Mortality data were obtained from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

The study reveals that East Asia and the Middle East, and East Asia and the Pacific, account for 42% and 32% of DEHP-related heart disease deaths, respectively, with India being the most affected country. Even when adjusting the data for population, the mortality risk remains high, likely due to increased exposure to phthalates due to the unregulated plastic boom.