A new global study has raised serious concerns about chemicals called phthalates, commonly used in plastics and personal care products. According to researchers at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, exposure to these chemicals may have contributed to over 356,000 cardiovascular-related deaths in 2018 alone. The findings highlight an urgent public health concern, especially in regions like South Asia, the Middle East, East Asia, and the Pacific.

What Are Phthalates?

Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and durable. They are found in a wide range of everyday items—from food packaging and medical devices to cosmetics, perfumes, and even children’s toys. Because of their widespread presence, scientists often refer to them as “everywhere chemicals.” One type in particular, called di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), is commonly used in plastic food containers and IV tubing.

How Do Phthalates Harm the Heart?

The new study focused on DEHP and its impact on the heart. Researchers found that exposure to this chemical may lead to inflammation in blood vessels, which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. This inflammation can trigger an overactive immune response in arteries, making it harder for blood to flow freely. Over time, this can contribute to serious heart conditions and, ultimately, death.

According to estimates, DEHP exposure alone may be responsible for nearly 13.5% of cardiovascular-related deaths among people aged 55 to 64. That amounts to over 356,000 deaths globally in 2018.

Regions Hit Hardest

The study found that around 75% of the deaths linked to phthalate exposure occurred in South Asia, the Middle East, East Asia, and the Pacific. India, in particular, had the highest number of DEHP-related deaths, with over 103,000 cases. This high toll is likely due to India’s growing plastics industry and widespread use of PVC (a type of plastic) in everyday consumer products.

Beyond Heart Disease: Other Health Risks

Phthalates are not just harmful to the heart. They are also known as endocrine disruptors, which means they can interfere with the body’s hormone system. This disruption has been linked to a range of health issues, including obesity, ADHD, reproductive problems, and pregnancy complications. Scientists are especially concerned about long-term exposure, which may begin as early as childhood.

Why This Matters

This study adds to a growing body of research that connects plastic chemicals to serious health risks. Experts stress that the danger lies not just in one single product, but in the overall exposure from multiple sources over time.

What Can You Do?

While it’s nearly impossible to avoid phthalates entirely, there are steps you can take to reduce exposure:

• Choose glass or stainless steel containers over plastic
• Avoid microwaving food in plastic containers
• Read labels and choose phthalate-free personal care products
• Use fresh or frozen foods instead of heavily packaged items

Understanding what’s in the products we use every day is the first step toward protecting our health. As this study shows, what seems like a harmless material can have a much bigger impact than we realize.

Metagenomics, a cutting-edge diagnostic technique that uses genetic sequencing to identify harmful microbes, is transforming medical science worldwide. According to its developers, this tool can identify all bacteria, fungi, or parasites present in a sample by comparing them against a vast database of millions of pathogens—offering unprecedented accuracy and speed.

In a recent case, a team at Moorfields Eye Hospital arranged for a fluid sample to be taken from inside a patient named Ellie's eye and sent to the metagenomics labs at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). This lab is the only one in the UK officially recognised to carry out metagenomic diagnostic tests for patients and is one of just a few globally.

Currently, standard diagnostic methods for bacterial infections involve growing the sample in a Petri dish. For viruses, PCR tests are commonly used, which became widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic, when millions took swab tests at home to detect infection. However, PCR tests have limitations. Speaking to the BBC, Dr Julianne Brown, principal clinical scientist at the GOSH metagenomics service, explains, "The trouble with PCR is that you have to think of the viruses that might be causing an infection and do a separate test for each and every one. So if you've got an infection with something that's unexpected, rare or not previously known, you won't find it."

In Ellie’s case, metagenomics revealed she had a rare strain of bacterial infection called leptospirosis, typically found in South America. It’s believed she contracted it while swimming in the Amazon River during a 2018 trip to Ecuador and Colombia. Receiving the test results was an emotional experience. She was prescribed three weeks of antibiotics, and within days, her vision began to clear and the inflammation subsided.

Metagenomics Is Expensive Than Normal Diagnostics

A single metagenomics test currently costs around £1,300—considerably more than conventional diagnostic methods. However, as the technology advances and becomes more accessible, experts believe these costs will decline significantly. Regardless, it has unmatched advantages:

No culturing required: It bypasses the need to grow organisms in a lab, saving time and potentially uncovering unculturable microorganisms.

Comprehensive analysis: It can detect a wide range of organisms in a single test.

Rapid results: Faster than traditional methods of isolating and identifying pathogens.

Metagenomics Is The Future

Virologist Professor Judy Breuer, who has been developing metagenomics at GOSH and University College London (UCL) for over a decade, says her team now receives three or four samples per week from hospitals across the UK. These are in addition to the tests carried out on their own patients. She notes that many of these samples come from sterile parts of the body, like the eyes or brain, where traditional testing methods often fail due to the inaccessibility of the bacteria. With the promise of quicker, more accurate results, especially for hard-to-detect infections—metagenomics is proving to be a powerful tool in modern medicine.

In adolescence, it is common to have skin problems due to the sudden influx of hormones. Your skin turns bumpy and red due to pimples and white heads. Acne occurs when the hair follicles in the affected area get clogged with oil and dead skin cells. A lot of people believe that people who have acne just need to wash their face properly. While hygiene is an essential part of skin care, acne can occur due to many factors like bacteria trapped in clogged pores that can cause inflammation, stress, medication etc.

While it is more commonly associated with teens, these can carry into adulthood as well. While adult acne is common, researchers have found a concerning link between it and eating disorders. The study found that people with adult acne are 2.4 more likely to have an eating disorder.

The Link Between Acne and Eating Disorders Explained

The research team, whose work was published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, found a difference in the likelihood of having acne depending upon their eating disorders. They disocvered that adult participants who had acne were about two and a half times more likely to also have an eating disorder compared to adults who did not have acne. The study looked closely at their information to see this higher chance, and it suggests that people with acne might be more at risk for eating problems. This is something that doctors should pay attention to.

How Can Acne Affect Eating Habits?

The researchers noted that the increased risk of an eating disorder linked to acne remained even after the researchers took into account other things that could potentially influence eating habits. Things like whether there is a history of mood disorders like depression or anxiety, or pre-existing concerns about body image.

After closely observing these points, the researchers suggested that acne itself might play a more direct role in increasing someone's susceptibility to an eating disorder. Even after considering these things, having acne on its own still made it about 65% more likely that someone would have an eating problem. This means that acne itself might play a role in making someone more likely to develop unhealthy eating habits as an adult.

How Was This Study Done?

For their research, the team studied almost 7,400 grown-ups who had been told they had acne. Then, they compared this group to a much bigger group of over 207,000 grown-ups who did not have acne. By looking at both groups and comparing them, the scientists could see if there were more eating problems in the group that had acne. This big comparison helped them find a strong link between having acne and being more likely to also have an eating problem as an adult.

What they found shows that having acne can really be something that makes it more likely for grown-ups to have eating problems. They think that if someone is already worried about things, having acne might make them worry even more about how they look. This could lead to thinking too much about their body and doing unhealthy things with food, like not eating enough.

Experts explain that the study only looked at grown-ups, and he thinks it would be good to study kids and teenagers too, since they often get acne and can also have eating problems. He really wants anyone who thinks they might have an eating problem to get help from a doctor, even if they don't have acne.

Health experts are raising alarms as H5N1 bird flu spreads rapidly across US dairy farms. Since March 2024, over 1,000 dairy herds have been affected across the country, leading to over 70 infections and at least one confirmed death. H5N1 is a strain of the influenza virus that primarily infects birds, but can also infect humans.

Global Virus Network (GVN) warns that a continued presence of this virus in mammals increases the risk of mutations that could be human-to-human transmission. They emphasise the urgency of the enhanced surveillance, standardising testing and vaccination strategies for both animals and farmworkers. "Understanding the current landscape of H5N1 infections is critical for effective prevention and response," said Sten H Vermund, MD, PhD, chief medical officer of the GVN and dean of the USF Health College of Public Health at the University of South Florida, USA. "The virus's ability to infect both animals and humans, combined with recent genetic changes, underscores the importance of proactive surveillance and rapid response measures," he added.

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CDC Asks Residents To Follow Precautions

Despite the outbreak, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the risk to the general public remains low.

However, they stress the importance of precautions, especially for those in close contact with infected animals. As per the CDC, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or bird flu is widespread in birds and is causing outbreaks in poultry and US dairy cows. While the current public health risk is low, the CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures. CDC is using its flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5 bird flu activity in people.

What To Do To Protect Yourself

• As a general precaution, whenever possible, people should avoid direct contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, dairy cows and other animals and observe them only from a distance.
• If you must have direct/close contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry, or other animals, wear recommended personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Do not touch surfaces or materials (e.g., animal litter or bedding material) contaminated with saliva, mucus, or animal feces from wild or domestic birds, dairy cows, or other animals with confirmed or suspected avian influenza A virus infection.
• Do not touch or consume raw milk or raw milk products, especially from animals with confirmed or suspected avian influenza A virus infection or in areas known to have infected herds.

What Do You Do When You Find A Dead Animal Or Bird?

• If you find a sick or dead wild bird or other animal
• First, check with your local and State governments about their policies for collecting dead and testing sick or dead animals.
• You can contact health departments or state wildlife agencies for information about reporting animals that look sick or dead in your area.
• People should avoid unprotected (not using respiratory and eye protection) exposures to sick or dead animals, including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds, and other wild or domesticated animals.
• Wildlife agencies regularly investigate reports of sick or dead animals. This type of reporting could help with the early detection of illnesses like West Nile virus or H5N1 bird flu.
• If local authorities tell you to throw away the bird's carcass (body), don't touch it with your bare hands. Use gloves or a plastic bag turned inside out to place the body in a garbage bag, which can then be thrown away in your regular trash.