A new study suggests that eating from plastic takeout containers could increase your risk of heart disease. Even short-term exposure to particles that leach into food or drinks from plastic might cause changes in heart muscle tissue, which could be an early sign of cardiovascular issues.
The study, published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, involved rats that were given water exposed to boiling plastic containers for different amounts of time (1 minute, 5 minutes, and 15 minutes) over a span of three months. Researchers found that the rats showed changes in their gut microbiome and “extensive” damage to their heart tissue.
The study found that the rats’ gut environment was altered, with changes in the gut bacteria and metabolites that are linked to inflammation and oxidative stress. Additionally, the rats showed signs of heart muscle damage, along with increased markers for heart injury, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
One key takeaway from the study is that it didn’t matter how long the water had been in contact with the heated plastic—damage occurred with even brief exposure. This suggests that using plastic containers for hot food or drinks, even for short periods, could be a significant cardiovascular risk.
The researchers pointed to previous studies showing that plastics contain harmful chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and plasticizers, which have been linked to higher risks of cardiovascular disease.
While the study didn’t call for any immediate action, the authors suggested that more research is needed and recommended reducing the use of plastic containers for hot food and drinks. They also emphasized the importance of controlling plastic pollution to protect human health.
