TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A study from Taipei Medical University (TMU) reported plasticizer levels in Taiwanese people are two to seven times higher than those in Europe and the U.S., posing serious health risks.

Plasticizers, which are substances added to materials to make them softer, can affect sex hormones, thyroid hormones, insulin, and other hormonal functions, School of Food Safety Professor Liao Kai-wei (廖凱威) said at a press conference at TMU on Thursday (June 6), per CNA.

Phthalates, a kind of plasticizer, are used in a variety of products like lotion and nail polish, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). 

“Effects include reduced testicular function, disrupted menstrual cycles, impaired child development, increased infertility, and heightened cancer risks,” Liao explained.

Liao cited a study conducted by TMU following the 2011 phthalate scandal, which found between 2013 and 2016, the concentration of phthalate metabolites in the urine of Taiwanese was higher than in many other developed countries such as Germany, the U.S., and Canada, per UDN.

“Given that phthalates are excreted from the body within a few days, this indicates that daily exposure to them is very common in Taiwan,” Liao said.

To reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting substances, Professor Hsiao I-lun (蕭伊倫), also from the School of Food Safety, stressed the importance of using reusable glassware and understanding tableware materials. 

“For example, disposable paper tableware is often made of composite materials, usually with a layer of waterproof plastic film, which poses hidden risks,” Hsiao said.