Plastics react to the hot liquid in the food or during reheating in the microwave. Next time, think twice about ordering food in or spooning out your favourite dish from takeout plastic containers.
A new study from China has found that chemicals from plastics can migrate into the sealed and packed hot food and, upon ingestion, enter the human body. Then they damage tissue, the heart being the most susceptible.
The study, which was conducted on rats, found that the chemicals had leached into the food and damaged heart tissue, altered gut microbes responsible for well-being of the cardiovascular system and impacted metabolites or substances that are produced when the body breaks down food.
According to Dr Richa Chaturvedi, senior consultant, endocrinology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, plastics contain numerous chemicals, including bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates, which can lead to heart failure or when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.
Chemicals such as BPA and phthalates are known endocrine disruptors, interfering with hormonal balance and potentially leading to reproductive health issues, including reduced fertility and developmental problems in offspring. Emerging studies have also detected microplastics in human tissues, including the brain, raising concerns about potential neurological effects.