Italy's stalled SalvaMare law amid study linking microplastics to heart attacks, strokes and obesity

A study by the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli has found micro- and nanoplastic particles in human tissues—including placenta, breast milk, sperm and blood—and linked their presence to a markedly increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers reported that individuals with microplastic‑containing arterial plaques faced a 4.5‑fold higher chance of heart attack, stroke and related mortality, as well as a contribution to obesity through metabolic disruption.

Microplastics also pervade marine life, entering the food chain and reaching consumers. In Italy, the SalvaMare law (Law No. 60/2022), approved in May 2022 to mandate the collection and proper disposal of plastic waste accidentally caught by fishing gear, has not been enacted because implementing decrees remain pending. Approximately 8,000 tonnes of waste recovered each year—including plastic, metal and glass—are currently left unmanaged. Environmental group Marevivo and scientists such as Dr. Antonio Ragusa and Prof. Giuseppe Paolisso are urging the government to activate the law to curb both marine pollution and the emerging health threat.