Ultrafine plastic particles found in fatty deposits lining human arteries may be linked to a higher risk of heart disease, strokes and death, Italian researchers said on Wednesday.
Of 304 patients who underwent procedures to clean a major artery in the neck, 58 percent had micro- and nano-sized pieces of plastic with jagged edges in the lining of their blood vessels.
Researcher Raffaele Marvella from the University of Campania in Naples and his colleagues explained that the materials included polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride, which contain chlorine.
The researchers found that those with nanoplastic particles in the plaque of the carotid artery, located in the neck, faced a 4.5 times higher risk of having a heart attack, stroke or death over the next three years, after taking other risk factors into account.
Patients who have microscopic or nanoplastic particles in the plaque tissue lining their blood vessels also have high levels of inflammatory proteins in their blood that are known to play a role in atherosclerosis and heart attacks, the researchers said.
Polyethylene and PVC, in their various forms, have a wide range of uses, including the production of food packaging, cosmetics, and water pipes.
In the report published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers indicated that such microplastics have been found in drinking water, a wide range of foods, cosmetics and even in the air.
Previous studies have discovered different types of microplastics and nanoplastics in multiple tissues, including the colon, liver, spleen, lymph node tissue, and placenta.
Animal studies have shown that these plastics can cause toxic effects.
Although the new study could not prove that plastic caused negative effects on patients, it is the first study to link ultrafine particles to cardiovascular disease outcomes in humans.
