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Microplastics and nanoplastics appear to significantly increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and premature death. What is particularly problematic is that microplastics and nanoplastics are present in many everyday items.
In a new prospective, multicenter observational study, samples from people who had undergone carotid endarterectomy were examined for microplastics and nanoplastics. The results can be read in the “New England Journal of Medicine”.
Carotid plaque samples analyzed
A total of 304 participants in the study had undergone carotid endarterectomy due to asymptomatic carotid disease. The researchers analyzed the plaque samples taken using various methods such as electron microscopy for the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics. In addition, they examined various biomarkers for inflammation.
The researchers were able to detect so-called polyethylenes in the plaque of the carotid artery in a total of 150 people, i.e. almost 60 percent of the participants. Measurable amounts of polyvinyl chloride were also found in 31 participants (12.1 percent).
With the help of electron microscopy, visible, jagged foreign particles could be detected between the so-called plaque macrophages. An X-ray examination revealed that some of these particles contained chlorine, the team said.
Health risks from micro- and nanoplastics
It was shown that participants with microplastics and nanoplastics in their plaque samples had a higher risk of a heart attack, stroke or premature death than people whose plaque did not contain microplastics and nanoplastics, the researchers explain.
The result points to the major health risks of microplastics and nanoplastics, which are now widespread, as another study published earlier this year in the English-language journal “PNAS” showed.
Water bottles release micro-nanoplastics
Micro-nanoplastics from water bottles were examined. The team found that the bottled water had an even higher concentration of micro-nanoplastics (about 90 percent of which were nanoplastics) than experts previously thought.
Nanoplastics are particularly toxic
The researchers also suspect that nanoplastics are particularly harmful because, due to their smaller size, they can penetrate the human body much more easily than microplastics.
Taken together, the results make it clear that plastics, which are ubiquitous in everyday life, enter the body and significantly increase the risk of life-threatening illnesses and premature death. (as)