Plasticizers have been detected all over the environment, including in the air and food

The Hidden Dangers of Plasticizers: How These Everyday Chemicals Could Impact Your Health Here's how they could impact your health—and how to avoid them

Plasticizers have been detected all over the environment, including in the air and food

• Plasticizers are synthetic chemicals that are added mainly to plastic to make it more flexible.
• These chemicals, which can leach out into food and the air, have been linked to a number of health concerns, including cancer.
• Experts said it's difficult to avoid plasticizers completely, but there are steps you can take to minimize your exposure.

By now, you may have heard about microplastics—tiny shards of plastic that don’t break down and have been linked with health problems. But what about plasticizers? 

Plasticizers are synthetic chemicals added to material—mainly plastic—to make a variety of items, from packaging to toys. However, they eventually migrate out of these products and end up in the environment, posing health risks.

According to a recent study, two plasticizers, DiNP and DEHP, were recently discovered in high concentrations in the air in two urban areas in southern California. Those substances, which fall into a category of plasticizers called phthalates, have been added to California’s Proposition 65 list, meaning they are chemicals known to cause cancer and reproductive issues. 

Other research has found plasticizer chemicals in the air—as well as in food, water, and dirt. 

But what are the potential effects of inhaling, absorbing, and ingesting plasticizers? And is there any way to avoid them? Here’s what you need to know.

What Are Plasticizers, Exactly—and Where Are They Found?

“Plasticizers are chemical additives used to increase the flexibility, workability, and pliability of materials, particularly plastics,” Raffaele Marfella, MD, PhD, a plasticizer researcher and professor in the Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, told Health. “By incorporating plasticizers, the molecular chains within materials like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) become more mobile, making the plastic softer and more flexible.”

There are roughly 30,000 chemicals with plasticizer potential, but manufacturers use only about 50 in commercial products. Of those, phthalates are some of the most commonly used, known, and well-studied.

Phthalates, in particular, “are found in many household items including furniture, food packaging, and cosmetics,” Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, a toxicologist at MedStar Health, told Health. She said they also “function as fragrance stabilizers” in personal care products like shampoo, lotion, and body wash.

Because plasticizers like phthalates aren’t chemically bound to the materials to which they’re added, they can leach, migrate, or evaporate into other sources.

In January, for example, a Consumer Reports study testing nearly 100 common packaged foods, from soda to yogurt to fruits and vegetables, found high levels of phthalates in almost all of them.

One 2013 study foundthat even people consuming dairy products and organic, imported spices that had never touched plastic were likelier to have high levels of DEHP in their bodies than people who ate a regular diet, suggesting that phthalates may have leached in from plastic during the production process.

In the United States, the federal government has banned children’s toys from containing more than a 0.1% concentration of 8 types of phthalates, including DEHP. In 2022, the Food and Drug Administration withdrew authorization to use 23 phthalates in food packaging and processing after being presented with evidence that they were no longer being used.

But in 2023, the FDA rejected a petition by several advocacy groups asking the agency to ban several other phthalates used as plasticizers and revoke the approved uses of other phthalates, saying that there wasn’t enough evidence that the substances are harmful to health.

Are Plasticizers Harmful to Health?

Researchers haven’t studied how every plasticizer affects the body, but Jamie Alan, RPh, PharmD, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, told Health that this isn't an understudied area of public health. “There is an abundance of research on the topic,” she said.

Some of the more researched plasticizers include DEHP, DnBP, DiNP, DBP, BBP, DIOP, and DNOP—and collectively, the substances have been linked with a host of health issues.

“Research suggests that even low dose exposure to [plasticizers] can result in endocrine disruption,” Alan said, “and they can also have adverse effects on the endocrine, reproductive, and neurological systems.”

Plasticizers may also increase the risk of cancer, Marfella said, citing DEHP as an example. “While evidence in humans is still limited, animal studies have suggested a potential link,” he added.

What makes plasticizers especially concerning is that they can remain in the body. A study published in March that was led by Marfella detected microplastics, which typically contain plasticizers, in the hearts of people with a higher risk of developing heart attack, stroke, or death. And another study from September found that these chemicals can infiltrate the brain.

“Certain plasticizers can accumulate in human tissues and the environment over time, leading to concerns about long-term exposure and potential health impacts,” Marfella said.

How to Avoid Plasticizers

Avoiding plasticizers can be tricky. “It’s very difficult, if not impossible, to entirely avoid exposure to plasticizers such as phthalates since they are found nearly everywhere in the environment,” Johnson-Arbor said. However, you can do a few things to try to lower your exposure.

• Read product labels. “Look for products labeled as ‘phthalate-free’ or ‘non-toxic,’” Marfella said. “Many manufacturers of toys, personal care items, and household goods now offer options that are free from harmful plasticizers.”
• Be mindful of food storage. “Stay away from plastic wrap and plastic food containers made from PVC, which carries the recycling label #3,” Alan said. “If possible, choose glass or stainless-steel food containers instead.”
• Limit fast food. “Research shows that people who ate more fast food had higher exposures,” Alan said.
• Try to avoid PVC products. PVC “is a common material that often contains plasticizers like phthalates,” Marfella said. “Choosing alternatives such as natural rubber, silicone, or polyethylene-based materials can help reduce exposure.”
• Consider fragrance-free personal care products. Scented products, like perfumes, shampoos, and lotions, tend to contain phthalates, Marfella said. “Opt for fragrance-free or naturally-scented products and check for ingredient lists that avoid terms like ‘fragrance’ or ‘parfum,’ which can be a way to hide phthalate content,” he said.
• Focus on indoor ventilation. “Phthalates can be present in household dust from vinyl flooring, furniture, and electronics,” Marfella said. “Regularly dusting and vacuuming with a HEPA filter, along with ventilating your home, can help reduce indoor levels of these chemicals.”

“By being mindful of the materials and products you bring into your home, you can significantly reduce your exposure to potentially harmful plasticizers,” Marfella said. “Additionally, supporting companies that use safer alternatives helps encourage a broader industry shift away from these chemicals.”

This story originally appeared on: Health News - Author:Korin Miller