Microplastics in Arterial Plaque Linked to Cardiovascular Risks

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine has unveiled a potential link between minuscule plastic particles detected in the plaque lining a major neck artery and elevated risks of heart disease. This human-based evidence is the first to connect microscopic and nanoscopic plastic fragments to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, emphasizing the critical need to reduce plastic exposure for the preservation of public well-being.

The extensive use of polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride in food and cosmetics containers and water pipes, among others, has contributed to the consumption of microplastics. Conducted by Raffaele Marfella, Director of the Medical and Surgical Sciences Department, University of Campania in Naples, the study involved 304 patients undergoing procedures to clear a major neck artery.  The results reveal that 58% of participants exhibited the presence of "jagged-edged" plastic pieces in the plaque lining. These particles, including polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride containing chlorine, were associated with a 4.5 times higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death within the next three years, even after adjusting for other risk factors.

Patients with microplastics or nanoplastics in their plaque tissue showed elevated levels of inflammatory proteins linked to atherosclerosis and heart failure. This raises inquiries into potential cardiovascular hazards associated with plastic exposure, given the widespread detection of microplastics in drinking water, various foods, cosmetic products, and the air. 

In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized that plastics should not be present in the environment, underscoring the need for measures to mitigate exposure. Although the research cannot definitively establish a causal relationship between plastic particles and adverse events, Philip Landrigan, Researcher, Boston College, calls the discovery of microplastics and nanoplastics in arterial plaque a "breakthrough."