Common Plastics May Disrupt Sleep in Same Way as Caffeine

Chemicals in common plastics may disrupt the body's natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythm in a way similar to coffee, increasing the risk of sleep disorders, diabetes, immune problems and cancer, new in-vitro research shows.

- Tom Perkins

The study looked at chemicals extracted from a PVC medical feeding tube and a polyurethane hydration pouch, like those used by distance runners. PVC and polyurethanes are also used in everything from toys to food packaging.

The findings showed for the first time how plastic chemicals 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 to chemicals, said Martin Wagner, a co-author of the study and a plastic chemical researcher with the Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology.