New Microplastics Research Shows the Scary Ways They’re Harming Your Body
A new study from the ‘New England Journal of Medicine’ found that people with microplastics in their heart are at higher risk for heart attack, stroke, and death.
March 6, 2024 | Source: Fast Company | by Jessica Hullinger
Scientists have long known that microplastics can infiltrate the human body. But they didn’t know what the presence of these tiny plastic particles might mean for human health. Until now. A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that people with microplastics in their heart are at higher risk for heart attack, stroke, and death.
For the study, the researchers in Italy took samples of carotid plaque—a buildup of fatty deposits that can block arteries—from 257 people undergoing surgery to have the plaque removed. They examined the plaque for microplastics and nanoplastics, and found them in nearly 60% of the patients.
They were even able to identify specific kinds of microplastics. Polyethylene, the most commonly used plastic in the world, was found in 58% of the samples. Polyvinyl chloride—or PVC—was found in about 12%. The researchers also found higher levels of inflammation markers in people whose plaque contained these particles, which is consistent with previous studies suggesting microplastics promote inflammation.