A global analysis conducted by researchers at NYU Langone Health found DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) exposure to be responsible for over 356,000 deaths from heart diseases across the world in 2018. This high number representing over 13% of heart disease fatalities among adults of that age group that year, has sparked action and concern in public health and environmental groups.
Phthalates like DEHP are chemical compounds that give plastic things their flexibility. Officials have been paying close attention to phthalates because they occur in many things, for example, food packaging, medical supplies, and ordinary items in our homes. This latest work reveals that this exposure may have severe effects, especially on the health of your heart.
A Global Burden with Unequal Distribution
It is particularly concerning that the number of DEHP-related heart disease deaths is not equal in all areas. East Asia, South Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East suffered the most: Three-fourths of the deaths from the chemical came from these regions. The majority of deaths occurred in India, as 103,000 lives were lost, including in China and Indonesia.
There are many industrializing nations and because of rapid growth, regulations on using chemicals in factories are not very strict. In turn, daily contact with DEHP puts their populations more at risk of developing heart-related illnesses.
According to Dr. Leonardo Trasande, the senior author, not all groups face the same heart risks from exposure to phthalates. He called for worldwide rules to control exposure, with a focus on countries facing heavy pollution from industries and waste of plastic.
What the Science Says About DEHP and Heart Disease
When DEHP triggers inflammation in arteries, it increases the risk of suffering heart attacks or strokes. While DEHP was not proven to be a main heart disease cause, the study does contribute to evidence that phthalates might seriously impact the heart.
The inclusion of environmental exposures in the assessments of cardiovascular consultants is growing, making the importance of this research very clear. The study used details on the environment and health from 200 countries, counted detectable chemicals in urine and accessed death statistics from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. As a result, the first estimate of heart disease deaths caused by DEHP exposure was made, opening the door to understanding more about the health effects of industrial chemicals.
For more details on the research work, make sure to go through the research article: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2352396425001744
A Hidden Cost: Trillions in Economic Impact
Apart from the loss of lives, the study determined that these deaths caused a financial burden of approximately $510 billion, though possible estimates go much higher at $3.74 trillion. This includes payments for healthcare as well as lower work productivity and effects on society. It is now apparent from these findings that there may be an invisible issue hurting the results of cardiovascular care in strained healthcare sectors for cardiology physicians.
The Road Ahead: Regulation and Prevention
Scientists now are focusing on solutions for stopping this negative trend. The group will examine whether a lowering of phthalate exposure could reduce future deaths from heart disease. Another purpose of these studies is to investigate how phthalates may affect other health issues, for example, preterm birth.
One thing is sure: chemicals such as DEHP can harm everyone, mainly older adults. It is important for governments, industries and both cardiology physicians and Cardiovascular Consultants to team up to minimize vulnerability to exposure, mainly in at-risk areas.
With more strong evidence, we can clearly see that environmental issues are linked to heart disease. Taking steps to improve regulations and educate the public is not enough anymore; we need to address our heavy use of plastic-based substances.
Since plastic is everywhere now, people are starting to notice the high cost of convenience for our environment, and the heart can’t afford this. For more information on the link between plastic chemicals and heart disease, contact our team at the Advanced Cardiovascular Center.
