We ingest small pieces of plastic through breathing, eating, and drinking. However, the potential effects of these tiny particles in our bodies are uncertain – are they benign, hazardous, or somewhere in between?

A recent study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday, has brought attention to the issue of plastic pollution and its potential impact on the heart. The study, conducted in Italy, examined the effects of microplastics and nanoplastics, but fell short in providing concrete answers. It highlights the need for further research and raises concerns about the lack of recycling for plastic waste. “The findings are interesting, but the study has significant limitations,” commented Dr. Steve Nissen, an expert in heart health from the Cleveland Clinic. The study suggests that microplastics could be a potential factor in heart disease, but more evidence is needed to confirm this. Overall, this study serves as a reminder to take the issue of microplastics seriously.

What were the findings of the study?

Researchers from Italy examined the fatty deposits extracted from the carotid arteries of 257 individuals who underwent surgery to unblock them. The carotid arteries are responsible for providing blood and oxygen to the brain.

Through the implementation of two approaches, researchers were able to detect traces of plastics, primarily nanoplastics that were invisible, in the buildup of plaque in the arteries of 150 individuals. However, there was no indication of plastics in the arteries of 107 other patients.

During a three-year period, the subjects were monitored. The results showed that approximately 30% of those who had plastic surgery had a heart attack, stroke, or passed away from any cause, whereas only 8% of those without plastic surgery experienced similar outcomes.

The scientists also discovered further indications of inflammation in individuals who had plastic particles present in their bloodstream. Inflammation is the body’s reaction to damage and is believed to increase the chances of heart attacks and strokes.

Dr. Raffaele Marfella, from the University of Campania in Italy and leader of the study, stated via email that he hopes the concerning findings of our research will bring awareness to citizens and governments about the crucial role the well-being of our planet plays.

What are the issues with the research?

It’s very small and looked only at people with narrowed arteries, who were already at risk for heart attack and stroke. The patients with the plastics had more heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol than the patients without plastics. They were more likely to be men and more likely to be smokers.

The scientists attempted to account for these risk factors in their statistical analysis, but they may have overlooked significant discrepancies between the groups which could explain the outcomes. This type of study cannot establish a direct link between the plastics and their issues.

The researchers did not have any data on the individuals’ ingestion or inhalation of potential sources of plastic.

The samples may have been infected while in the laboratory. The authors acknowledge this in their report and propose conducting future experiments in sterile environments with filtered air to reduce pollutants.

According to the findings, individuals exposed to plastics have a significantly higher likelihood of experiencing a heart attack, stroke, or death, estimated to be four times greater than those without exposure. Nissen expressed concern over the alarmingly elevated risk.

He stated that these tiny pieces of plastic are the leading contributor to coronary heart disease, which is highly unlikely to be true.

What’s next?

Dr. Philip Landrigan from Boston College stated that further investigation is necessary. In the journal editorial he authored, Landrigan noted that this is the initial report linking diseases in humans to microplastics and nanoplastics. Other researchers have also discovered plastic particles in various parts of the body such as the lungs, liver, blood, placenta, and breast milk.

He stated that the findings do not establish causation, but they do indicate a potential causal relationship. It is crucial for these results to be corroborated or refuted by further studies conducted by different researchers in various demographics.