The results: elevated levels of DINP and DIDP phthalates in urine samples from children and teenagers who were examined between 2009 and 2012 via a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey are linked to high blood pressure measurements.
"A significant association was found between high blood pressure and DINP/DIDP levels in study participants. This is not a cause-and-effect relationship but it suggests that phthalates may contribute to increased blood pressure," the researchers said.
Though lightweight and convenient, Tupperware and other brands of plastic food storage containers have been shown to leach toxic chemicals into food, particularly when used in the microwave. In 2010, Tupperware stopped using materials that contain Bisphenol A, which has been linked to neural and behavioral effects in children and an increased risk of obesity, among other concerns. But Transande's study points to other chemicals that, when heated, can lead to high blood pressure along with insulin resistance — two notorious factors of diabetes.
Your food storage containers could be putting you at risk for health problems: http://t.co/YZnsia3RLf pic.twitter.com/EUU6yr0ifb
— Cooking Light (@Cooking_Light) July 12, 2015
According to Transande, we must change our cooking habits if we don't want to harm our health. Avoiding plastic containers or plastic wraps when microwaving food is a matter of first importance. Plastic containers should also not be washed in dishwashers, and consumers should avoid plastic containers labeled 3, 6 and 7. Instead, paper plates, bowls, or other forms of dishware are safe for using.