Plastic Food Containers, Soap, Cosmetics May Increase High Blood Pressure Risk: Study

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Unknown to many, children and teens are at risk of high blood pressure, among other health problems.

According to a new research, increases in risk of such are linked to chemicals used in products as plastics (plasticizers). These chemicals can be used as solvents and plasticizers that make other substances more pliable.

Dr. Leonardo Trasande, NYU Langone Medical Center professor, said that their research has linked the said chemicals to contribute independently to insulin resistance, blood pressure elevation and other metabolic disorders.

Plasticizers and High Blood Pressure

Recently, Dr. Trasande and his team studied urine samples of children and teens and determining the levels of Diisononyl Phtalate (DINP) and Diisodecyl Phtalate (DIDP) in consonance to the respondents' blood pressure. Findings show a blood pressure increase of about 1 point in every 10-fold increase of the two chemicals, FoxNews says.

DINP can be applied indoor or outdoor, Plasticizers.Org documents. Most of them are used as plasticizer for flexible PVC such as wires and cables, films and sheets, flooring, industrial hoses and tubing, footwear, toys and food containers. A small percentage is used as applications in rubbers, adhesives, sealants, paints and lacquers and lubricants. 

DNOP, on the other hand, as explained by the Australian Department of Health, is necessary in the manufacturing of cosmetics, soaps, children's toys and childcare articles, including inflatable water products, hoppers and play and exercise balls. 

Plasticizers and Insulin Resistance

Another study published last May by the same researchers involved getting urine samples of adolescents aged 12 to 19 and correlating the levels of DINP and DIDP in terms of insulin resistance. They found out that 1 in 3 teens with high levels of DINP have insulin resistance, compared to 1 in 4 teens with the lowest chemical levels having insulin resistance.

Furthermore, LiveScience has also documented another study by the same researchers, which found out that these chemicals are associated with eczema in kids whose mothers were exposed to another plasticizer called Butylbenzyl Phtalate, or BBZP when they were still pregnant. This may also be attributed to insulin resistance due to the exposure of said chemicals.  

Plasticizers and Obesity

Using the method of gathering chemical levels found in urine sample collection, the study found out that children and teens exposed to higher levels of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), which is found in many plastic products and food containers, are more likely to be obese than those exposed to lower levels, according to LiveScience. 

The researchers are continuously looking for links between these chemicals and health problems but the data showed no clear connection yet. Conducting more studies that assess associations of these chemicals to health implications will yield more evidence in the future, the researchers are hopeful.