Italian researchers have warned that the microplastics found in the fatty deposits lining human arteries may be linked to an increased risk of heart disease, strokes, and death. Among 304 patients who underwent procedures to clean a major artery in the neck, it was found that 58% of them had micro and nano plastic pieces with rough edges in their blood vessel linings. Researcher Raffaele Marvella from the University of Campania in Naples and his colleagues explained that the materials included polyethylene and chlorine-containing polyvinyl chloride.
The researchers discovered that those with microplastic particles in the plaque of the carotid artery, located in the neck, faced a 4.5 times higher risk of experiencing a heart attack, stroke, or death in the following three years, accounting for other risk factors. In a report published in the "New England Journal of Medicine," the researchers noted that such microplastics have been found in drinking water, a wide range of foods, cosmetics, and even in the air. Previous studies have identified various types of microplastics and nano plastic particles in multiple tissues, including the colon, liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and placenta.
