July 23, 2024 – The ubiquitous presence of plastics has now permeated the human body, with microscopic fragments detected in major organs, including arteries. This alarming discovery underscores the need to urgently assess the health risks posed by microplastics.
Researchers at the University of Campania in Naples, led by medical researcher Raffaele Marfella, conducted a study to investigate the presence and impact of microplastics in the arteries of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy—a surgical procedure to remove fatty plaques from narrowed arteries to prevent strokes.
Significant Findings
•The study tracked 257 patients over 34 months. Nearly 60% of these patients had detectable levels of polyethylene in their arterial plaques, and 12% had polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
•Patients with microplastics in their plaques were found to be 4.5 times more likely to suffer from a stroke, non-fatal heart attack, or die from any cause compared to those without detectable microplastics.
Methodology
The team used pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to measure microplastics and stable isotopes analysis to confirm their presence. Under powerful microscopes, plastic fragments were observed within immune cells and fatty plaques, accompanied by elevated inflammatory markers in affected patients.
Implications for Health
•Previous laboratory studies indicate that microplastics can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, impair heart function, alter heart rates, and cause scarring in animal heart cells. Observational data from occupational exposure studies suggest an increased risk of cardiovascular disease among individuals exposed to plastics-related pollution.
•The study establishes an association, not causation, between microplastics and cardiovascular events. Other risk factors such as smoking and physical inactivity were not accounted for in this study.
Expert Commentary
Philip J. Landrigan, a public health expert from Boston College, emphasized the significance of detecting microplastics in arterial plaque. He called for further research to address urgent questions about reducing exposure and understanding the link between microplastics and cardiovascular health.
“Although we do not know what other exposures may have contributed to the adverse outcomes among patients in this study, the finding of microplastics and nanoplastics in plaque tissue is itself a breakthrough discovery that raises a series of urgent questions,” Landrigan noted.
As global plastic production continues to escalate, understanding the health implications of microplastics is becoming increasingly critical. This groundbreaking study highlights a new potential health crisis, underscoring the necessity for comprehensive research and proactive measures to mitigate exposure to microplastics.
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