Does microplastics cause heart-circulatory problems?
In the Brain, in the Penis, in the Placenta: Microplastics are ubiquitous and already detectable in various body parts of humans. Now, a new area has come to the attention of experts.
Micro- or nanoplastics in deposits of the carotid artery could increase the risk for various cardiovascular events such as strokes or heart attacks. A research team led by Professor Raffaele Marfella of the University of Campania in Naples has discovered this. "I believe we have shown that plastics are a new risk factor for cardiovascular diseases," Antonio Ceriello, who participated in the study, is quoted as saying in "Medscape Cardiology."
The team recruited a total of 304 patients and patients, among whom a narrowing of the carotid artery, the Carotis, had been surgically removed using a carotid endarterectomy. The removed deposits, or plaques, were then examined in the lab for micro- and nanoplastics. In addition, the health of the study participants was monitored for an average of 34 months.
Microplastic Particles in Plaque Samples
The results: In almost 60 percent of all samples, micro- and nanoplastics were detected in the lab. The analysis of follow-up periods showed that there was a 4.5-fold higher risk of cardiovascular events in people who had micro- and nanoparticles in their deposits. "Although plastics have made our lives easier in many ways, it seems that the price we pay for this is a shortening of our lives. That's not a good balance," Ceriello says.
The epidemiologist and pediatrician Philip Landrigan from Boston College, who was not involved in the study, wrote in an editorial for "Medscape": "This should be a wake-up call. It tells us that we need to worry about the amount of plastic in our environment. And it's not going to be a problem in the future - it affects us now."
Landrigan explained that plastic particles mainly enter the body through ingestion, for example through drinking from plastic bottles or consuming plastic-packed foods. He said it was particularly harmful to use plastic containers to heat food in the microwave, as plastic particles can leach into the food during heating. "This increases the exposure."
Plastic Quantities Need to be Reduced
The research team cautiously notes that the observational study results do not establish a causal link between microplastics in carotid artery plaques and cardiovascular events. However, they see a strong indication of the negative effects of micro- and nanoplastics on cardiovascular health based on their results. The problem can only be solved by reducing plastic quantities in the environment, the researchers agree.
To clarify whether the contamination by micro- and nanoplastics needs to be considered as a cardiovascular risk factor, further studies are urgently needed. The study results, which were the first to demonstrate the presence of the smallest plastic particles in deposits in the carotid artery, were published in the "New England Journal of Medicine".
Based on the findings, it's crucial for individuals to be educated about the potential health risks associated with microplastics, such as increased risk of heart attacks and strokes due to their presence in carotid artery plaques. This information could inspire changes in daily habits to minimize exposure, like limiting the use of plastic bottles and avoiding heating food in plastic containers. Reducing plastic quantities in the environment is a collective effort that could significantly impact cardiovascular health.
