Microplastics are clogging your arteries — and possibly increasing your risk of heart disease

The way microplastics and nanoplastics have found a way to wriggle into every nook and cranny on Earth, they’ve also made their way into the human body. From human placentas to testicles, these pesky pollutants are everywhere! And earlier this year, scientists also found microplastics in the gunk that clogs your arteries. Yep.

Their research focused on 257 people undergoing a procedure to remove fatty deposits, called plaques, from their neck arteries. These plaques can narrow the arteries, restricting blood flow and potentially leading to cardiovascular events. Researchers examined the removed plaque material and found a surprising result: over half (58%) contained microplastics and even smaller nanoparticles.
But the presence of plastic wasn't the only red flag. Participants with plastic in their plaques also had higher levels of inflammatory markers. Inflammation plays a crucial role in plaque buildup and blood clot formation, both major contributors to heart attacks and strokes.

Furthermore, the study followed these participants for nearly three years after their plaque removal. Worryingly, those with plastic in their plaques were 4.5 times more likely to experience a heart attack, stroke or death compared to those without plastic.

However, it's important to remember that this study doesn't definitively prove microplastics cause heart disease. The participants with plastic in their plaques were also more likely to have other established risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Experts weigh in

Since microplastics are a relatively recent thing in the long history of humanity, scientists are still scratching the surface of the implications of plastic in the human body. In the meantime, many continue to believe that when they aren’t strangulating turtles or taking 500 years to decompose, plastics are nifty little things.

However, the findings of this study throws a big class of cold water on these beliefs. While the study can't establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, researchers believe it highlights a potential new risk factor that deserves further investigation. Previous studies on animals and human cells have already hinted at the potential harm microplastics can cause to the heart and circulatory system.

Professor Bryan Williams of the British Heart Foundation finds the findings "concerning." He emphasises the importance of this research, suggesting plastic pollution may be harming our hearts in ways we haven't fully understood.

The bottom line

The study has limitations. It focused on a relatively small group with pre-existing arterial narrowing, so the results may not be applicable to the general population. Additionally, it's difficult to completely rule out contamination during plaque analysis.

More recently, another study conducted by Chinese researchers also found plastics like PET, followed by PA, PVC and PE in three types of arteries, and linked it to the risk of atherosclerosis.

While more research is undoubtedly needed, these studies raise important questions about the potential health risks of microplastics. Completely avoiding plastic exposure might be challenging, but there are well-established ways to reduce your risk of heart disease. These include maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and managing blood pressure and cholesterol.