Plastic food packaging may be making men ill

A CHEMICAL found in everyday plastic such as food packaging may raise the risk of high blood pressure and other chronic conditions in men.

Researchers from the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute took urine samples from 1,500 men and found chemicals called phthalates in 99.6 per cent of those aged 35 or over. Those with the highest levels were more likely to have heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

The theory is that phthalates affect the release of hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism.