Plastics found in medical devices linked to male chronic diseases

Links between plastics found in consumer products and chronic diseases in men have been discovered by researchers.

Researchers from the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) found that diseases such as type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, could be linked to potentially harmful chemicals found in plastics.

The chemicals, known as phthalates, are used to make plastics more rigid and difficult to break. They are found in common household products and are widely used in polyvinyl chloride plastics.

The researchers tested 1,500 South Australian men and detected phthalates in the urine of 99.6% of those over 35. The researchers found that those with higher levels of phthalates had higher rates of disease.

Senior author of the study, professor Zumin Shi said: “We found that the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure increased among those men with higher total phthalate levels.

“While we still don’t understand the exact reasons why phthalates are independently linked to disease, we do know the chemicals impact on the human endocrine system, which controls hormone release that regulate the body’s growth, metabolism, and sexual development and function. In addition to chronic diseases, higher phthalate levels were associated with increased levels of a range of inflammatory biomarkers in the body.”

Whilst the study was conducted using men, the findings should be relevant to women, professor Shi said.

Shi continued: “Importantly, while 82% of the men we tested were overweight or obese — conditions known to be associated with chronic diseases — when we adjusted for this in our study, the significant association between high levels of phthalates and disease was not substantially altered.

“In addition, when we adjusted for socio-economic and lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol, the association between high levels of phthalates and disease was unchanged.”

Shi stated that further research is required to understand exposure to phthalates. Reducing environmental exposure to phthalates and living healthier lifestyles, could help reduce the risk of chronic disease, Shi said.