Chemicals found in common food packaging plastics like cling film and snack pouches may interfere with the body’s natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle, increasing the risk of sleep disorders, diabetes, immune problems and even cancer, new research shows.
Published this month in Environment International, the study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology is the first to show that everyday polyurethane (PUR) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics contain compounds that can disrupt the body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm) by quickly interfering with a specific cell signal (A1R) linked to sleep and light.
Unlike previous research that focused on slow, hormone-related effects, this study reveals a faster, direct impact on key “clock genes” through a different kind of biological pathway.
That means plastic chemicals may contribute to serious health problems like diabetes or cancers in more ways than scientists currently know, the researchers say.
