According to recent research, tiny microplastic particles have been found in human arteries, with levels 50 times greater in individuals with blockages, possibly adding plastic pollution to the list of risks to cardiovascular health. Microplastics are less than 5 millimeters in size, but nanoplastics are microscopic—less than 1,000 nanometers—and may penetrate human tissues.
Researchers based their investigation on a 2024 study conducted in Italy that discovered nanoplastics in surgically removed artery plaques. According to that research, those who had plaques filled with nanoplastics had a higher risk of dying or suffering a heart attack or stroke.
In a news release, lead author of the study Dr. Ross Clark, a vascular surgeon and scientist at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, said that these polymers break down over time, mix with the water and earth, and may build up in the food chain. Researchers discovered that carotid arteries with plaque had at least 50 times more micronanoplastics than arteries that were healthy and devoid of plaque development. Dr. Jossef Amirian, a board-certified cardiologist from New York Manhattan Cardiology, commented on the findings. Read the article.
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