Microplastic Particles Linked to Higher Heart Attack Risk

Italian researchers and Canadian cardiologists reported that microscopic plastic particles, especially polyethylene, were found in the blood vessels of patients who suffered heart attacks. In a study of about 60 subjects, 84 % of those who had a myocardial infarction contained microplastics in their coronary arteries, compared with 40 % of patients with less severe cardiac disease and 32 % of healthy controls. The highest concentrations were observed directly at the site of arterial blockage and were accompanied by elevated inflammatory markers.

A related investigation published in the New England Journal of Medicine examined carotid artery plaques from patients undergoing endarterectomy. Detectable polyethylene and PVC particles were present in a majority of the plaque samples, and those patients experienced roughly a four‑fold increase in combined risk of heart attack, stroke or death over a three‑year follow‑up. Researchers suggest that these anthropogenic particles act as inflammatory catalysts, accelerating atherosclerosis beyond traditional risk factors.

The findings highlight a potential new environmental contributor to cardiovascular disease, prompting calls for further research into how pervasive microplastic exposure may affect human health.