A new study published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety has found that eating from plastic takeout containers could increase the risk of congestive heart failure and cause heart muscle damage, even after short-term exposure to heated plastics.
Researchers conducted an experiment where rats were fed water that had been exposed to boiling plastic for 1, 5, and 15 minutes over a three-month period. The results showed extensive heart tissue damage, as well as altered gut microbiota and increased markers of inflammation and oxidative stress—all of which are closely linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD).
“The study shows plastic exposure as a significant CVD risk factor regardless of duration,” the authors wrote, meaning even minimal exposure to heated plastic containers may be harmful.
Plastics contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which have already been linked to higher cardiovascular disease risk in previous research. While the study does not call for immediate policy changes, it urges caution, suggesting that people should avoid plastic containers for high-temperature food and reduce plastic use in daily life to prevent potential harm to human health.
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