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Toxic plastic chemical linked to 1 lakh heart deaths in India: Lancet study
India bears the highest burden globally, with nearly a third of DEHP-linked deaths
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A common plastic-softening chemical, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), caused 103,587 heart disease deaths in India in 2018, according to a Lancet eBioMedicine study. Found in food packaging, medical devices, and cosmetics, DEHP is fueling a health crisis in India, where plastic use is surging.
The global study estimates DEHP exposure caused 356,238 heart disease deaths worldwide in 2018, with India hit the hardest. DEHP, used to make plastics flexible, leaches into food, water, and air, entering the body through eating, breathing, or skin contact. The study links it to inflammation and stress in heart arteries, spiking risks of heart attacks and strokes, especially in adults aged 55 to 64.
In comparison to India, China, which is also a major producer and consumer of plastics, recorded 33,858 such deaths, placing it third after Indonesia, which had 52,219 deaths. This stark difference shows a disproportionate burden India faces, accounting for almost a third of the estimated 356,238 global deaths in this age group linked to DEHP exposure.
Lack of regulation in plastic packaging
While the study does not investigate the origins of exposure within each country and region, it attributes the higher exposure levels of DEHP to “the lack of regulation in products, high rates of plastic product use, and large amounts of plastic waste with underdeveloped waste management sectors.”
“Since 2018, the Chinese government reports it has banned 24 categories of foreign waste, including plastic waste, while India has incorporated DEHP restrictions into its food packaging sector, but these regulations have been very recent.”
DEHP exposure is connected to inflammation in the heart’s arteries, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes over time.
Although the study targeted adults aged 55 to 64, researchers warn that the total death toll from plastic-related chemical exposure could be significantly higher.
Beyond heart disease, DEHP is linked to serious health issues like obesity, diabetes, infertility, and cancer. The team called for urgent research to explore the wider impact of phthalates, including their potential role in causing premature births.
The study calls for an urgent need for global regulations to minimize exposure to these toxins, especially in rapidly industrializing countries.
Also read: https://firstcheck.in/black-plastics-cancer-risk-fact-check/
