Chemicals found in everyday plastics linked to chronic diseases in men: Study

Scientists from the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute tested more than 1,500 men for the presence of potentially chemicals known as phthalates, which have been linked to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and type-2 diabetes.

Of the 1,500 men tested, phthalates were detected in urine samples of nearly every (99.6 per cent) of those aged 35 years and older, something Associate Professor Zumin Shi from the University of Adelaide said was due to consuming foods contained in plastics.

"We found that the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure increased among those men with higher total phthalate levels," Shi said in a statement on Thursday.

"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."

Shi said that it was typical that Westerners had higher levels of phthalates because many foods are now packaged in plastic.

He said previous studies had shown that those who drank soft drinks and ate pre-packaged foods had significantly higher phthalate levels in their urine compared to those who ate healthier.

"Importantly, while 82 per cent 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," Shi said.

"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 said while his study focussed primarily on men, the results were also highly likely to be relevant to females as well.

"While further research is required, reducing environmental phthalates exposure where possible, along with the adoption of healthier lifestyles, may help to reduce the risk of chronic disease," Shi said.