Source article originally published on
Article Summary and/or Excerpt:
The risk of heart attack, stroke or death was over four times higher among people with microplastics detected from their carotid arteries than those without, a research team from Italy announced.
Microplastics result from the breakdown of plastic waste, like plastic bags and bottles. They are apparently contained even in drinking water and have reportedly been detected in the human body, although their effects on the human body aren’t fully understood. The team says microplastics might spread throughout the body and cause inflammation.
Clogging of the carotid artery is known to contribute to atherosclerosis, and is often surgically removed. The team examined the plaques removed from 257 asymptomatic individuals aged 18 to 75 in Italy and discovered microplastics in 150 people, or 58% of cases. Microplastics were found specifically within immune cells, which showed increased inflammation markers.