Consciously reducing the use of plastic products alone can lower the concentration of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the body by up to nearly 60 percent, according to a new study. The research also confirmed that improving dietary habits has a greater effect than replacing personal care products.
A research team at the University of Western Australia Medical School published the results of an experiment verifying the effects of plastic exposure reduction guidelines on 211 adults in the international journal Nature Medicine. Before the experiment began, plastic-related compounds such as phthalates and bisphenols were detected in the urine of all participants.
The research team divided participants into five groups and applied different guidelines for one week. Group 1 consumed food with minimized plastic contact from raw material production through cooking and packaging. Group 2, in addition to this, used kitchenware and tableware made of metal, glass, or uncoated wood. Group 3 switched personal care products such as shampoo, sunscreen, toothpaste, and sanitary pads to products with fewer plastic components. Group 4 followed all three sets of guidelines, while Group 5 was a control group that maintained their usual lifestyle.
In a follow-up urine test one week later, all groups that practiced the guidelines showed significantly lower levels of plastic-related compounds. Group 1, which only managed food, showed reductions of 31.5 percent in monobutyl phthalate, 46.7 percent in monobenzyl phthalate, and 58.3 percent in bisphenols compared to the control group. Group 2, which also replaced tableware, showed reductions of 37.5 percent in monobutyl phthalate, 53.5 percent in monobenzyl phthalate, and 59.7 percent in bisphenol A. Group 3, which only changed personal care products, showed only a 35.5 percent reduction in monobutyl phthalate, with no difference in bisphenol levels compared to the control group. Group 4, which practiced all four guidelines, showed the largest reduction in monobutyl phthalate at 44.1 percent, with bisphenols also falling by 50.5 percent.
Taken together, the results indicate that improving the food environment has a more direct impact on the concentration of plastic-related compounds in the body than replacing personal care products. In terms of practical application, this means that reducing consumption of plastic-packaged food and replacing cooking utensils should be higher priorities.
Michaela Lucas, the clinical professor who led the study, recommended, "Make a habit of checking for plastic packaging every time you shop, and avoid ultra-processed foods as much as possible." She added, "Individually packaged products or canned goods often have plastic-coated interiors, so caution is needed."
However, the research team acknowledged the limitation that this experiment measured exposure levels only through urine testing. To confirm whether substances actually accumulated in body fat tissue have decreased, fat tissue analysis would be more accurate. Urine collection was also limited to three times a day, making it less precise than a full-day collection method. Despite these constraints, the research team said the study is meaningful in that it presents specific behavioral guidelines that can be practiced in daily life.
Phthalates and bisphenols are endocrine-disrupting chemicals used as plasticizers and stabilizers in plastics. In Korea, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety regulates their use by setting standards for children's products, cosmetics, and food containers.
