We already know that fast food contributes to obesity rates, but a new study by the George Washington University has identified even more reasons why it’s harmful to our health. The study links fast-food consumption to the presence of phthalates, potentially harmful chemicals commonly used in soap and makeup that have been linked to a number of health issues.
The study, published in the National Institutes of Health’s Environmental Health Perspectives, cites high blood pressure, diabetes, and male infertility among its possible side effects. Japan and the European Union have already restricted the chemical’s use, and the Department of Health and Human Services warned that it is “reasonably considered to be a human carcinogen.”