4 Tips to Limit Exposure to Chemicals Linked to Heart Disease

Many household and personal care products list the chemical compounds phthalates among their ingredients. Phthalates are often referred to as “everywhere chemicals,” because they’re commonly used and continuously leach into the environment.  

They’re typically added to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics to soften products such as vinyl (furniture, flooring, shower curtains), plastic pipes and food storage containers. They’re also found in detergents, bug repellants, paint, fragrances (perfumes, home fragrances and air fresheners) and personal care products (shampoo, conditioner, nail polish, aftershave, lotions, hair sprays, deodorants and cosmetics) as microplastics.    

Exposure to phthalates is a problem because they break down into microscopic particles that can be ingested, absorbed through the skin or inhaled. You also can drink phthalate-contaminated water. Once in your system, they disrupt the endocrine system, potentially damaging the reproductive and neurological systems and causing developmental problems. As a result, they’ve been linked to fertility issues, obesity, type 2 diabetes, asthma, allergies, some forms of cancer and learning attention/behavioral difficulties in children.  

New research showed a specific type of phthalate (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate or DEHP), used in more flexible plastic products like food containers and medical equipment, triggers an inflammatory response, affecting the arteries of the heart, raising the risk for a heart attack or stroke, according to a study published in eBioMedicine/The Lancet.

Researchers from New York University Langone Health studied the relationship between heart disease and DEHP exposure by reviewing 2018 cardiovascular disease mortality data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and regional DEHP exposure from several sources. After analyzing data, researchers attributed 356,238 deaths globally to DEHP exposure – about 13.5 percent of heart disease related deaths between people ages 55 and 64. However, DEHP-related deaths were about 17 percent in areas of the world with heavy plastic production, like South Asia and the Middle East.  

But this isn’t the first study to find a connection between DEHP exposure and heart disease deaths. In 2022, researchers analyzed data collected on a cohort of more than 5,300 adults via the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2010 and phthalate metabolic measurements in urine samples. Results showed an association between phthalates exposure and all cause and heart disease mortality, according to a study published in Environmental Pollution.    

4 Tips to Lower Your Exposure to Phthalates

Choose glass or stainless-steel containers for storing food. Skip plastic wraps and plastic containers.  

Don’t reheat food in plastic wrap or plastic containers. Heat increases phthalate release into food.

Read labels of home cleaning products, fragrances and personal care items. Choose brands that don’t list phthalates among their ingredients. In addition to DEHP, other common phthalates, according to the Cleveland Clinic, include:

• Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) – used in personal and automotive care products and vinyl tiles.  
• Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) – used in nail polish.
• Diethyl phthalate (DEP) – used in personal care products.
• Di-isodecyl phthalate (DiDP) – used in garden hoses, raincoats and shower curtains.
• Di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP) – used in toys, children’s drinking straws and bath toys.
• Di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHP) – used in notebook covers, traffic cones and various toys.
• Di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) – used in cables, medical tubing, bottom coating of carpets.

Avoid fast food. People who eat higher quantities of fast food often have higher levels of phthalate exposure, according to the Environmental Work Group. Experts believe it’s because of the extensive use of plastic to produce, serve and eat fast food items.

If you’re concerned about your exposure to chemicals, talk to your primary care physician. They may not be able to control the phthalates in your environment, but they can help you stay on top of early detection screenings, particularly for your heart health.    

The MDVIP Wellness Program, for example, goes beyond heart health tests commonly covered by commercial insurance. The program includes advanced tests that can detect 40 percent more people at risk for heart disease than standard cholesterol tests. The program also tests for inflammation, a major contributor to heart disease.

If you don’t have a primary care physician, consider joining an MDVIP-affiliated practice. MDVIP-affiliated physicians have more time to help you in your pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. Find a physician near you and begin your partnership in health »