New research published in the New England Journal of Medicine links the presence of microplastics in the human body to heart disease for the first time. The study analyzed tissue taken from the carotid arteries of 257 people and identified the presence of small plastic particles.
Patients who had microplastic particles in their bodies were twice as likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or die from any cause within the next three years. In addition, body tissues showed signs of increased inflammation.
What does it mean?
Although the research is considered inconclusive and more studies are needed, the finding is relevant. This is because low-grade inflammation is known to be linked to a number of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the presence of microplastics and subsequent infections may increase susceptibility to these diseases.
Scientists advocate the need to take measures to reduce the use of plastics. However, with plastics so ubiquitous in our daily lives, avoiding microplastic pollution is difficult, if not impossible.
This study represents an important step towards understanding the impact of plastic pollution on human health. More research is needed to understand the long-term effects of microplastics on our bodies and how we can mitigate them.
