Plastic chemicals have been suspected of affecting weight, hormones, and metabolism. A recent study has confirmed that these chemicals, known as endocrine disruptors, do indeed promote the growth of fat cells. According to the World Health Organization, the number of overweight people globally has tripled since 1975, primarily due to changes in lifestyle and diet. However, studies suggest that other unknown factors may also be contributing to the rapid increase in obesity worldwide. Endocrine disruptors, such as Bisphenol A and phthalates found in plastics, are among the suspects. A new study by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) provides further evidence that plastic components may be partly responsible for the rise in obesity.
The researchers examined 34 plastics from everyday products using cultures of mouse cells. Eleven of the 34 samples led to the growth of new fat cells in the cell cultures. The effect was even stronger in four samples than in the comparison substance Rosiglitazone, which is used to promote targeted weight gain. The results suggest that chemicals in everyday products may play a role in the global increase in obesity. However, it is still unclear which of these plastic components actually promote obesity. This is partly due to the difficulty in identifying the causative substances. An analysis of the various samples using high-resolution mass spectrometry yielded 55,300 chemical signatures. The researchers were able to assign these signatures to 629 substances, of which at least eleven affect metabolism.
The known effects of these eleven substances are not sufficient to explain the results of the study. However, the diversity of the chemicals found and their mostly unknown mechanisms of action clearly indicate that plastic products can have strong effects on health. The study highlights the need for further research into the effects of plastic chemicals on human health and the environment. It also underscores the importance of reducing plastic use and finding safer alternatives.
