News Chemistry A chemical in plastics is tied to heart disease deaths In 2018, more than 350,000 excess heart disease deaths were linked to phthalates Some plastic food packaging contains phthalates, which are chemicals added to make the plastic flexible. One phthalate, known as DEHP, could be responsible for 13.5 percent of deaths from cardiovascular disease in 2018, according to a new study. DigiPub/Getty Images By Skyler Ware 1 hour ago A common chemical in household plastics has been linked with heart disease deaths. In 2018, about 13.5 percent of the more than 2.6 million deaths from cardiovascular disease among people ages 55 to 64 globally could have been related to exposure to a type of chemical called a phthalate, researchers report April 28 in eBioMedicine. Phthalates are a group of chemicals found in shampoos, lotions, food packaging and medical supplies including blood bags. The chemicals are often added to plastics to make them softer and more flexible. Sign up for our newsletter We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.