People with microplastics or nanoplastics in their carotid artery tissue are twice as likely to die from a heart attack, stroke or any other cause in the next three years than people without, a new study suggests.
The carotid arteries that carry blood to the brain in each neck can be blocked by fatty cholesterol plaques, just like the arteries that go to the heart.
“To date, our study is the first to link plastic pollution to human diseases,” said study leader Rafael Marfela. Published on Wednesday In the New England Journal of Medicine.
“Our data need to be confirmed by other studies and larger populations,” said Marfela, director of the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences at Campania Luigi Vanvitelli in Naples, Italy. “However, our study convincingly demonstrates the presence of plaques and their association with cardiovascular events in a representative population affected by atherosclerosis.”
Pediatrician Dr. Philip Landrigan, professor and director of biology at Boston College A program for global public health and the common good And the Global Observatory on Planetary Health study provides evidence that microplastics may be linked to cardiovascular effects in humans.
“While we do not know what other exposures contributed to the adverse outcomes among the patients in this study, the finding of microplastics and nanoplastics in plaque tissue itself is a finding that raises a series of urgent questions,” Landrigan wrote. Accompanying editor.
“Should exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics be considered a cardiovascular risk factor? What organs besides the heart might be at risk? How can we reduce exposure?” asked Landrigan, who was not involved in the new study.
“From widely known bicycle helmets and blood bags to drinking water pipes and wind turbines, many plastics help protect us, improve health care outcomes and contribute to a more sustainable world,” said Kimberly Wise White, Vice President of Regulatory and Science. Proceedings of the American Chemistry Council, an industry association.
“To help reduce new sources of microplastics in our environment, plastic manufacturers a Goal We’re investing billions of dollars in infrastructure improvements to ensure that all U.S. plastic packaging is reused, recycled or recycled by 2040, and supporting effective policies to keep more reusable plastics out of our environment. First of all,” Wise White said in an email.
The dangers of small plastic particles
Microplastics are pieces of polymer that can be less than 0.2 inches (5 millimeters) down to 1/25,000th of an inch (1 micrometer). Anything small enough to be measured in billionths of a meter is a nanoplastic.
Nanoplastics are the most dangerous plastics for human health, experts say. At about 1,000th the width of an average human hair, the tiny bits can travel through the digestive system or lung tissues into the bloodstream.
From this, nanoplastics can penetrate the individual cells and tissues of major organs and disrupt cellular processes. Endocrine disrupting chemicals as a bisphenols, phthalates, Flame retardants, Heavy metals And per- and polyfluorinated substances, or PFAS.
In studies Pregnant micePlastic chemicals were found in the brain, heart, liver, kidneys and lungs of the developing fetus 24 hours after the pregnant mother inhaled plastic particles. other Research Micro- and nanoplastics have been shown to cause oxidative stress, tissue damage and inflammation in cells, while animal studies have shown that these particles can alter heart rhythm and disrupt heart function.
Nanoplastics have been found in human blood, lung and liver tissues, urine and feces, breast milk and plasma. Until now, however, research has not been able to determine what effect these polymers have on the body’s organs and functions.
“Currently, there is no scientific consensus on the potential health effects of nano- and microplastic particles. Therefore, media reports based on guesswork and speculation will do nothing more than scare the public,” a spokesperson for the International Bottled Water Association, an industry association, said in an email.
A A recent study 1 liter of bottled water – two regular-sized bottles of bottled water commonly purchased by consumers – contained an average of 240,000 plastic particles from seven types of plastic – 90% of which are nanoplastics.
“It is worth noting that bottled water is one of the thousands of food and drink products packaged in plastic containers,” the spokesperson said. “The largest sources of microplastics in the environment are soil erosion and erosion from manufactured rubber tires, synthetic textiles (for example, washing polyester garments) and the degradation of urban and domestic waste.”
The new study examined tissue removed from the carotid arteries of 257 people who had undergone carotid endarterectomy.
“It is a barbaric practice. “Surgeons open the carotid artery and remove the plaque, the plaque, all of it,” said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and safety at National Jewish Health in Denver. He did not participate in the study.
The researchers’ access to such tissues allowed them to look for microscopic particles using an electron microscope. On examination, “visible, jagged-edged foreign particles” were found scattered in the plaster and external debris from the surgery, the study said.
The study found measurable amounts of polyethylene, a common plastic used in plastic wrap, plastic bags, and food and beverage containers, in the plaque tissue of 150 people.
Some samples contain chlorine, which is used to treat swimming pool water and make hundreds of consumer products such as paper, paint, textiles and pesticides. Samples from another 31 patients also contained measurable amounts of polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC or vinyl.
Participants with microplastics and nanoplastics in their bodies were followed for 34 months. In addition to doubling the risk of having a heart attack or stroke or dying early from any cause, plaque tissue showed signs of increased inflammation, said Phoebe Stapleton, an associate professor at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University in Piscataway. , New Jersey. She did not participate in the new study.
“Low-grade inflammation is associated with many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease. The presence of microplastics and nanoplastics and subsequent inflammation may contribute to an increased risk of these chronic diseases,” Stapleton said in an email.
However, calling the results of the study “a direct link to cardiovascular diseases is a stretch for the findings,” she added. “With more work, I think we can find that these exposures are a risk factor… more particles, more inflammation, more risk for poor cardiovascular outcomes.”
A recent study found that two standard-sized bottles of bottled water contain an average of 240,000 plastic particles – 90% of which are nanoplastics. -img–loading’)’ onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1235″ width=”1850″ loading=’lazy’/>
Eliminating plastic pollution is “challenging, if not impossible,” but “each of us, in our own small way, can start using less plastic and direct our daily choices to other materials.”
According to a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics, one more step can be taken to reduce exposure to phthalates and other chemicals in food and food packaging products. Food additives and children’s health.
“One is to reduce our plastic footprint by using stainless steel and glass containers where possible,” said director Dr. Leonardo Trasande. Regional Pediatrics at NYU Langone Health, at Preliminary interview with .
“Avoid microwaving foods and drinks in plastic, including infant formula and expressed human milk, and don’t put plastic in the dishwasher, as the heat causes the chemicals to leach out,” says Trasande, lead author of the US. Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Food Additives and Children’s Health.
“Look at the recycling code on the bottom of the product to find the type of plastic and avoid recycling code 3 plastics that typically contain phthalates,” he added. Phthalates, known as “Chemicals everywhere” Because they are so common, they are one of the chemicals used in manufacturing known as hormone disruptors.
Reduce the use of disposable plastics, he suggests Natural Resources Defense CouncilEnvironmental advocacy group. Other suggestions include bringing reusable bags to the grocery store. Invest in a zip-top cloth bag and ask the dry cleaner to return your clothes in that instead of those thin plastic sheets. Minimize plastic cups and utensils and bring a travel mug to the office for takeout at the local coffee shop and silverware.