A study from New York University has suggested that 100,000 deaths in the United States alone are being caused each year due to exposure to a chemical commonly found in plastic containers, makeup, and a host of other products.
Phthalates are also used in products such as shampoos and conditioners and are thought to create deadly issues as a result of their ability to disrupt hormones.
The chemicals are thought to disrupt the body's endocrine system, which controls our hormones, leading to obesity, diabetes and cardiac disease, which in turn lead to millions of premature and otherwise avoidable deaths, particularly among the elderly. There is also growing concern that these chemicals can also affect unborn children leading to chemical and hormonal disbalance throughout their lives.
New York University's Grossman School of Medicine evaluated 5,000 adults aged 55 to 64 and found that the increase in phthalates in the urinary system was correlated to a much greater increase in deadly diseases. On a positive note, the team did find that the chemical had no link to cancer.
Head of the study, Leonardo Trasande, told journalists:
"Our findings reveal that increased phthalate exposure is linked to early death, particularly due to heart disease. Until now, we have understood that the chemicals connect to heart disease, and heart disease in turn is a leading cause of death, but we had not yet tied the chemicals themselves to death."
"Our research suggests that the toll of this chemical on society is much greater than we first thought… is undeniably clear that limiting exposure to toxic phthalates can help safeguard Americans' physical and financial wellbeing."
The study also found that it is likely that the effects of phthalates also contribute a negative economic impact of between $40 billion and $47 billion per year.
Phthalates have long been known to affect the production of testosterone in men. Some have suggested that the rise in the use of the chemical is also linked to smaller penis sizes and a fall in sperm counts across the Western world, though some scientists have chalked this up to other factors, such as an unhealthy diet and an increase in sedentary lifestyles.
[h/t: science alert]
COMMENTS