Latest news with #SaraHyman
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists reveal stunning death toll linked to products we use every day: 'A tremendous danger to human health'
A new report linked the 356,000 global deaths due to heart disease in 2018 to exposure to a chemical found in common plastic items. Researchers from New York University Langone Health conducted an analysis that focused on the chemical di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, or DEHP, which is used in food containers, medical equipment, and other soft, flexible plastic products. The researchers analyzed population surveys from 200 countries and territories, which contained data about urine samples contaminated with byproducts left by DEHP. "Exposure has been shown in other studies to prompt an overactive immune response (inflammation) in the heart's arteries, which over time is associated with increased risk of heart attack or stroke," they said. Results from the study, published in the journal Lancet eBioMedicine, estimate that DEHP exposure accounted for 356,238 deaths, over 13% of the world's mortality from heart disease in women and men between the ages of 55 and 64 in 2018. About three-fourths of that death toll came from East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific, likely because they are in a manufacturing boom in plastic production and don't have as many regulations as other regions. "By highlighting the connection between phthalates and a leading cause of death across the world, our findings add to the vast body of evidence that these chemicals present a tremendous danger to human health," said Sara Hyman, lead author and associate research scientist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. The study didn't include other age groups or look at other phthalates. Because of this, senior author Leonardo Trasande believes the death rate connected to DEHP could be much higher. Phthalates are often digested when they break down into microplastics. Experts have warned that this causes a range of health issues, including fertility issues, obesity, diabetes, and some cancers. According to CNN, the chemicals are "often called 'everywhere chemicals' because they are so common." Do you worry about having toxic forever chemicals in your home? Majorly Sometimes Not really I don't know enough about them Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Unfortunately, you can come in contact with these chemicals in many ways, including food and drinks that come in contact with plastic and the air you breathe. "Our results underscore the urgent need for global regulations to reduce exposure to these toxins," said Dr. Trasande. While regulations are catching up, you can use less plastic to limit your exposure to these toxic chemicals. For example, ditch the plastic water bottles for a cute reusable bottle. It will help keep you and your family safe and healthy. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Common household chemical found linked to heart disease deaths
Daily exposure to chemicals used in common household plastic products could be behind hundreds of thousands of heart disease-related deaths every year, according to a new study. Scientists have long warned of health problems linked to this class of plastic chemicals called phthalates, typically found in cosmetics, detergents, solvents, plastic pipes, and bug repellants. Previous studies have linked the chemicals to increased risks of obesity, diabetes, hormone and fertility issues, and cancer. Now, a new study has linked the plastic ingredient to more than 356,000 global deaths from heart disease in 2018 alone. Researchers from New York University Langone Health studied Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, or DEHP, which is used to make food containers, medical equipment, and other plastic products softer and more flexible, and found that prolonged exposure to the chemical could cause inflammation in the arteries of the heart, which, over time, could heighten heart attack or stroke risk. The latest study, published in the journal EBio Medicine, found that DEHP exposure contributed to 356,238 deaths in 2018, nearly 13 per cent of all global mortality from heart disease among men and women aged between 55 and 64 that year. Researchers estimated the economic burden from the deaths at around $510 billion but noted that it could reach as high as $3.74 trillion. 'By highlighting the connection between phthalates and a leading cause of death across the world, our findings add to the vast body of evidence that these chemicals present a tremendous danger to human health,' study co-author Sara Hyman said. In the study, scientists assessed health and environmental data from dozens of population surveys to estimate DEHP exposure across 200 countries and territories. The data also included urine samples containing chemical breakdown products left by the plastic additive. India had the highest death toll linked to phthalates at 103,587, followed by China and Indonesia, the study concluded. Scientists suspect the high mortality linked to DEHP exposure in these countries could be due to a boom in their plastic production but with fewer manufacturing restrictions than in other regions. 'There is a clear disparity in which parts of the world bear the brunt of heightened heart risks from phthalates,' study senior author Leonardo Trasande said. While researchers cautioned that the findings did not imply DEHP caused heart disease directly or alone, they said the overall death toll from heart disease connected to these chemicals could be much higher. 'Our results underscore the urgent need for global regulations to reduce exposure to these toxins, especially in areas most affected by rapid industrialization and plastic consumption,' Dr Trasande said.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Heart disease death risk raised by common household products, study finds
Chemicals found in plastics have been linked to a multitude of health risks — and now heart disease mortality has been added to the list. In an analysis of population surveys, researchers at NYU Langone Health discovered that daily exposure to chemicals in common household items could have been a factor in more than 356,000 heart disease deaths in 2018 alone. That number equates to more than 13% of heart disease-related deaths worldwide for people between 55 and 64 years of age. Study Finds Evidence Of Microplastics In Brains And Other Organs The study, which was published in the journal Lancet eBioMedicine on April 29, explored the risks of chemicals called phthalates, which are found in cosmetics, detergents, solvents, plastic pipes, bug repellents and other products, according to an NYU press release. In this research, the focus was a specific type of phthalate called di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which is used to make softer, more flexible plastics like food containers and medical equipment, the release stated. Read On The Fox News App DEHP has been linked to inflammation in the arteries of the heart, making people more susceptible to heart attack or stroke. Chewing Gum May Release Thousands Of Microplastics Into The Saliva, Study Says To determine levels of DEHP exposure, the researchers analyzed dozens of population surveys spanning 200 countries and territories. Mortality data was obtained from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a research group in the U.S. that collects medical information worldwide to identify trends in public health. "By highlighting the connection between phthalates and a leading cause of death across the world, our findings add to the vast body of evidence that these chemicals present a tremendous danger to human health," said study lead author Sara Hyman, BS, an associate research scientist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in the release. The regions with the highest heart disease death tolls linked to phthalates include the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific. "Our results underscore the urgent need for global regulations to reduce exposure to these toxins, especially in areas most affected by rapid industrialization and plastic consumption," said senior study author Dr. Trasande, the Jim G. Hendrick, MD, professor of pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in the release. Inflammation is a known cause of coronary artery disease, according to Dr. Jasdeep Dalawari, an Illinois-based interventional cardiologist and regional chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company. Blood Pressure And Dementia Risk Share Surprising Link, Study Suggests "Our bodies release chemicals and hormones that give directions to the artery to open, close or change diameter," Dalawari, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "This study suggests that microplastics may interfere with those internal signals, so the artery doesn't perform the way it should." "Microplastics are widely present in a variety of products we use every day, and it's crucial to understand their long-term effects on human health," he added. Renato Apolito, M.D., medical director of cardiac catheterization at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, agreed that manmade plastic products have long been known and suspected to be health risks. This Odd Dental Habit Could Spark Heart Health Risks, Experts Warn "These often use highly engineered chemicals where the goal is not quality and safety, but instead cost-effectiveness and convenience," Apolito, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. The doctor shared that he stopped using non-stick pans long ago, and mostly uses glass storage and avoids eating and drinking from plastic containers. Apolito noted, however, that the "longitudinal and observational" nature of the study comes with limitations. "It is generally used to see if there's any correlation between exposure and health risk, which is then used to study the topic further in a more controlled fashion," Apolito, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "It cannot control for unidentified variations in lifestyles among the people followed." Senior author Trasande also pointed out the potential limitations. The analysis does not establish that DEHP caused heart disease and that higher death risks did not take into account other types of phthalates, he stated. The study also did not include death rates in other age groups, the doctor pointed out, which means the overall death toll is "likely much higher." Looking ahead, the researchers plan to investigate how reducing phthalate exposure affects mortality rates. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter They will also measure the chemical's potential role in other health concerns. "These studies are typically what are used to study the next step of elucidating cause and effect," Apolito said. "This can lead to the FDA and other policymakers banning or outlawing the use of such products." The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dalawari suggested that the researchers may want to look at other contributing factors, including air pollution, which has proven to be a "novel non-traditional risk factor" for coronary disease. For more Health articles, visit "The intersection of pollution, regulation and genetic predisposition provides a complex landscape, and further research is necessary to unravel these connections, paving the way for more informed public health policies and preventive measures," he article source: Heart disease death risk raised by common household products, study finds
Fox News
02-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Heart disease risk raised by common household products, study finds
Chemicals found in plastics have been linked to a multitude of health risks — and now heart disease mortality has been added to the list. In an analysis of population surveys, researchers at NYU Langone Health discovered that daily exposure to chemicals in common household items could have been a factor in more than 356,000 heart disease deaths in 2018 alone. That number equates to more than 13% of heart disease-related deaths worldwide for people between 55 and 64 years of age. The study, which was published in the journal Lancet eBioMedicine on April 29, explored the risks of chemicals called phthalates, which are found in cosmetics, detergents, solvents, plastic pipes, bug repellents and other products, according to an NYU press release. In this research, the focus was a specific type of phthalate called di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which is used to make softer, more flexible plastics like food containers and medical equipment, the release stated. DEHP has been linked to inflammation in the arteries of the heart, making people more susceptible to heart attack or stroke. To determine levels of DEHP exposure, the researchers analyzed dozens of population surveys spanning 200 countries and territories. Mortality data was obtained from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a research group in the U.S. that collects medical information worldwide to identify trends in public health. "Our results underscore the urgent need for global regulations to reduce exposure to these toxins." "By highlighting the connection between phthalates and a leading cause of death across the world, our findings add to the vast body of evidence that these chemicals present a tremendous danger to human health," said study lead author Sara Hyman, BS, an associate research scientist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in the release. The regions with the highest heart disease death tolls linked to phthalates include the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific. "Our results underscore the urgent need for global regulations to reduce exposure to these toxins, especially in areas most affected by rapid industrialization and plastic consumption," said senior study author Dr. Trasande, the Jim G. Hendrick, MD, professor of pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in the release. Inflammation is a known cause of coronary artery disease, according to Dr. Jasdeep Dalawari, an Illinois-based interventional cardiologist and regional chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company. "Our bodies release chemicals and hormones that give directions to the artery to open, close or change diameter," Dalawari, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "This study suggests that microplastics may interfere with those internal signals, so the artery doesn't perform the way it should." "Microplastics are widely present in a variety of products we use every day, and it's crucial to understand their long-term effects on human health," he added. Renato Apolito, M.D., medical director of cardiac catheterization at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, agreed that manmade plastic products have long been known and suspected to be health risks. "These often use highly engineered chemicals where the goal is not quality and safety, but instead cost-effectiveness and convenience," Apolito, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. The doctor shared that he stopped using non-stick pans long ago, and mostly uses glass storage and avoids eating and drinking from plastic containers. Apolito noted, however, that the "longitudinal and observational" nature of the study comes with limitations. "It is generally used to see if there's any correlation between exposure and health risk, which is then used to study the topic further in a more controlled fashion," Apolito, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "It cannot control for unidentified variations in lifestyles among the people followed." Senior author Trasande also pointed out the potential limitations. The analysis does not establish that DEHP caused heart disease and that higher death risks did not take into account other types of phthalates, he stated. The study also did not include death rates in other age groups, the doctor pointed out, which means the overall death toll is "likely much higher." Looking ahead, the researchers plan to investigate how reducing phthalate exposure affects mortality rates. They will also measure the chemical's potential role in other health concerns. "These studies are typically what are used to study the next step of elucidating cause and effect," Apolito said. "This can lead to the FDA and other policymakers banning or outlawing the use of such products." "Microplastics are widely present in a variety of products we use every day, and it's crucial to understand their long-term effects on human health." The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dalawari suggested that the researchers may want to look at other contributing factors, including air pollution, which has proven to be a "novel non-traditional risk factor" for coronary disease. "The intersection of pollution, regulation and genetic predisposition provides a complex landscape, and further research is necessary to unravel these connections, paving the way for more informed public health policies and preventive measures," he added.
News24
30-04-2025
- Health
- News24
Study links chemicals in plastic to cardiovascular deaths
Daily exposure to chemicals used for many plastic household items, could be linked to more than 356 000 deaths from cardiovascular disease worldwide in 2018, a study shows. The research focuses on chemicals used to make food containers and medical equipment to softe plastc. About 75% of the deaths occurred in the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, the study found. Daily exposure to chemicals used for many plastic household items, could be linked to more than 356 000 deaths from cardiovascular disease worldwide in 2018, according to a study published on Tuesday. The study published in the Lancet eBioMedicine journal, led by researchers at NYU Langone Hospital in New York, focused on a phthalate chemical called DEHP, used to make food containers, medical equipment and to soften plastic. "DEHP exposure contributed to 356 238 deaths, or more than 13% of all global mortality from heart disease in 2018 among men and women ages 55 through 64," a statement said. About 75% of the deaths occurred in the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, the study found. The authors said countries such as India and China had higher death tolls, potentially due to "rapid industrialisation", "a boom in plastic production but with fewer manufacturing restrictions than other regions". They stressed the need for global regulations to reduce exposure. "By highlighting the connection between phthalates and a leading cause of death across the world, our findings add to the vast body of evidence that these chemicals present a tremendous danger to human health," said Sara Hyman, lead author of the study. Phthalates have been known for decades to be "hormone disruptors" which affect a person's endocrine system. They have been previously linked to obesity, heart disease, some cancers and fertility problems. They can be found in thousands of consumer items including plastic containers and wrapping, beauty care products and toys. "When these chemicals break down into microscopic particles and are ingested, studies have linked them to an increased risk of conditions ranging from obesity and diabetes to fertility issues and cancer," they said. Negotiations for an international treaty against plastic pollution have so far failed, following one meeting in December in Busan, South Korea. A new session is to be held on 5-14 August in Geneva.
