Microplastics in Human Arteries Linked to Heart Attack and Stroke Risk
By Jacey Sillito
Microplastics do not just pollute the environment. They can build up directly inside human blood vessels. A major study has found that plastic particles inside arteries are strongly linked to serious heart complications.
The New England Journal of Medicine published a landmark study analyzing plastic in arterial plaque: Click here to read the article.
Researchers analyzed fatty plaque removed from the neck arteries of over 250 patients. More than half of the patients had tiny pieces of common plastics, like polyethylene and PVC, embedded inside their artery walls. Over a three-year follow-up, patients with plastic in their arteries were four times more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke, or death compared to those with plastic-free arteries. Scientists discovered that these microscopic, jagged particles trigger severe inflammation, making artery blockages far more dangerous.