Phthalates, commonly found in plastic food containers and cosmetics, found to pose dangers
An NYU/Langone researcher and professor of pediatrics, Dr. Leonardo Trasande, conducted a study of phthalates, chemicals that are commonly used in the manufacture of plastics, cosmetics, and many other items in daily use.
Daily exposure to phthalates may lead to roughly 100,000 premature deaths among older Americans each year, a new study shows. The resulting annual economic burden is between $40 billion and $47 billion, a value more than quadruple that of previous estimates.
For decades, phthalates have been shown to pose a potential danger to human health because the chemicals can interfere with the function of hormones, which are signaling compounds made in glands that circulate to influence processes throughout the body, experts say. Exposure is believed to occur through buildup of these toxins as consumer products break down and are ingested, with exposure linked to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.