Study Links Microplastics in Blood to Heart Health
Key takeaways:
- Researchers examined plastic levels in blood related to heart function.
- Heart attack patients showed the highest plastic levels compared to others.
- Smokers and individuals exposed to polluted air had increased levels as well.
Sophia Antipolis, France – 15 July 2026: A recent study published in the European Heart Journal finds that individuals who have experienced serious heart attacks have higher concentrations of micro and nanoplastics in their bloodstream than those diagnosed with chronic ischemic heart disease or having normal coronary arteries.
The research also indicated that smokers and those living in heavily polluted areas have elevated levels of these tiny plastic particles in their blood.
Researchers believe this study contributes to a growing body of evidence suggesting that environmental pollution could have detrimental effects on heart health.
This research involved collaboration among scientists at Sapienza University of Rome, the University of Verona, and the Research Centre on Environmental Pollution and Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli” in Naples, which focuses on how environmental factors affect cardiovascular health.
Dr. Pasquale Paolisso, the study’s first author from Sant’Andrea Hospital in Rome, explained that micro and nanoplastics, being tiny particles found in our environment, have begun to raise alarms as they are detected in human tissues and organs.
“However, it’s quite uncertain how these particles interact within the coronary circulation or if exposure to elements like smoking and pollution heightens their presence,” he noted.
The study examined 61 patients at Sant’Andrea University Hospital or Universitary Hospital Integrata of Verona, Italy, who were diagnosed with a heart attack, chronic ischemic heart disease, or had normal coronary arteries.
Blood samples were obtained from both the heart’s supplying vessels and other body locations, while smoking habits and pollution exposure were recorded over two years prior to the study.
Analysis of coronary micro and nanoplastics occurred at the Research Centre for Environmental Pollution and Cardiovascular Diseases in Naples.
Among heart attack patients, micro and nanoplastics were identified in 84%, compared to 40% for those with chronic ischemic heart disease and 32% for those with normal arteries. The heart attack group also exhibited a broader range of plastic types, with polyethylene, commonly used in packaging, being the most prevalent.
Long-term exposure to higher air pollution levels increased the likelihood of finding microplastics in the blood, and smokers were found to be six times more prone to having plastics present. All smokers exposed to higher pollution levels had plastics in their blood, while only 12.5% of non-smokers without pollution exposure showed similar findings.
Professor Emanuele Barbato, who led the research, pointed out that while these results do not establish a direct causation between microplastics and heart attacks, there is a significant correlation between environmental exposure, microplastics in the bloodstream, and cardiovascular disease.
“Our study strongly ties smoking history to microplastics in blood. It appears that smoking could facilitate the entrance of micro and nanoplastics through the lungs into the bloodstream, which air pollution may also do,” he added.
“These results stress the necessity of recognizing microplastic pollution as part of broader social determinants of health. Policies aimed at reducing air pollution, smoking, and plastic contamination may provide health benefits that extend beyond just environmental aspects.”
In a related editorial, Professor Andreas Daiber from the University Medical Centre in Mainz, Germany, acknowledged that recent findings lend credibility to the earlier speculation surrounding the cardiovascular impacts of plastic exposure.
He noted that emerging clinical evidence suggests a potential relationship between non-microplastics (NMPs) and cardiovascular diseases, further supported by NMPs found in patients undergoing procedures for atherosclerotic plaques linked to increased risks of heart attacks.
“While there are still many uncertainties, the collective evidence indicates that plastic exposure could pose a significant, yet often overlooked, risk for cardiovascular health. Tackling this issue will demand a united effort across various fields and policy sectors,” he concluded.
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