Plastics in everyday objects may disrupt sleep in same way as caffeine, study finds | Findings show for first time how plastic chemicals throw off the body’s internal clock by up to 17 minutes

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1. From the article: Chemicals in everyday plastics may disrupt the body’s natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythm in a way similar to coffee, which increases the risk of sleep disorders, diabetes, immune problems and cancer, new in vitro research shows.

   [The study](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025001734?dgcid=rss_sd_all#b0365) looked at chemicals extracted from a PVC medical feeding tube and a polyurethane hydration pouch, like those used by long-distance runners. PVC and polyurethanes are also used in everything from kids toys to food packaging to furniture.

   The findings showed for the first time how plastic chemicals probably wreak havoc on cell signals that regulate the body’s internal clock, throwing it off by up to 17 minutes.

   The internal clock is “incredibly important for physiology and overall health”, though more research is needed to know the precise consequences of exposure, said Martin Wagner, a study co-author and plastic chemical researcher with the Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology.

   “This study adds to the increasing body of evidence that plastics contain compounds that cause a wide range of toxic effects,” the authors wrote in the peer-reviewed study published in Environmental International. “A fundamental shift in the design and production of plastics is essential to ensure their safety.”

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