Microplastics in blood linked to heart attacks

A study published in the European Heart Journal by researchers from Sapienza University of Rome, University of Verona, and University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli found that 84% of heart attack patients had micro- and nanoplastics in their coronary blood, compared to 40% of those with chronic ischemic heart disease and 32% of those with normal arteries. Smoking and high air pollution exposure were associated with higher plastic levels; all smokers with high pollution had detectable plastics. The study does not prove causation but suggests a strong link between environmental plastic exposure and cardiovascular disease. Polyethylene was the most common plastic detected. The findings add to growing evidence that microplastics accumulate in human tissues and may contribute to inflammation and heart disease risk.