Explained the danger of plastic to the heart

Scientists at the University of California have found substances dangerous to the heart in plastic

Scientists at the University of California at Riverside have explained the mechanism by which substances contained in plastics – such as bisphenol A and phthalate plasticizers – increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. This is reported in an article published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Experiments in mice have shown that phthalate – a chemical used to increase the strength of plastic – is dangerous in that it increases plasma cholesterol levels … This is because one of these chemicals, called dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), binds tightly to the X-pregnane receptor (PXR). As a result, the expression of key proteins required for the absorption and transport of cholesterol is increased.

Scientists have also found in the intestines of mice exposed to DCHP, large amounts of circulating ceramides – lipid molecules associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in people.

DCHP is a widely used phthalate plasticizer that has been proposed by the US EPA as the highest priority for risk assessment. At the moment, its effect on people remains poorly understood.

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