A new global study led by Dr. Leonardo Trasande and researchers at @nyulangone reveals a surprising—and alarming—link. 🧪 A common chemical used in plastic products, DEHP, may have contributed to over 356,000 deaths from heart disease in 2018 alone. DEHP is found in many plastic food containers, medical equipment, and household items. As these plastics break down, microscopic particles are released and may enter our bodies where experts believe they can cause inflammation in blood vessels and disrupt hormones vital to heart health. The toll isn’t equally shared. India, China, and Indonesia had the highest death counts. Altogether, nearly three-fourths of DEHP-related deaths occurred in the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific, regions undergoing rapid industrial growth with fewer plastic regulations. 🧠 “Our results underscore the urgent need for global regulations,” says Dr. Trasande, a pediatrician and public health expert who has spent his career studying how envi...