By Sandy Lamott, CNN

(CNN) — People with microplastics or nanoplastics in their carotid tissue are twice as likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or die from any cause in the next three years than those without them. A new study has revealed this.

The carotid arteries, which are located on each side of the neck and carry blood to the brain, can become clogged with fatty cholesterol plaques in a similar way to arteries leading to the heart, a process known as atherosclerosis.

“So far, our study is the first to link plastic pollution to human disease,” said Raffaele Marfera, lead author of the study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. It’s research.”

“Our data need to be confirmed in other studies and in larger populations,” Marfera, professor of internal medicine and chair of medicine and surgery at the Luigi Vanvitelli University of Campania in Naples, Italy, said in an email. “However, our study convincingly highlights the association between the presence of plastic and cardiovascular events in a representative population suffering from atherosclerosis.”

Dr. Philip Landrigan, a pediatrician and professor of biology at Boston University and director of the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good and the Planetary Health Observatory, said the study shows that tiny plastics are It said it provided evidence that it may be associated with disease outcomes. .

“While this study does not tell us what other exposures contributed to patients’ adverse outcomes, the discovery of microplastics and nanoplastics in plaque tissue is itself a breakthrough that raises a series of urgent questions. “This is a unique discovery,” Landrigan wrote in an accompanying document. Editor.

“Should exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics be considered a cardiovascular risk factor? What organs besides the heart may be at risk? How can we reduce exposure?” New asked Landrigan, who was not involved in the study.

The danger of small plastic particles

Microplastics are polymeric fragments that range in size from less than 0.2 inch (5 millimeters) to 1/25,000 inch (1 micrometer). Anything smaller than this is a nanoplastic and must be measured in billionths of a meter.

Experts say nanoplastics are the plastics of greatest concern to human health. Tiny fragments, 1,000 times smaller than the average width of a human hair, can migrate through tissues in the gastrointestinal tract and lungs into the bloodstream.

From there, nanoplastics can invade individual cells and tissues in major organs, interfering with cellular processes and producing endocrine secretions such as bisphenols, phthalates, flame retardants, heavy metals, and per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS). May deposit disturbing chemicals.

In a study of pregnant mice, researchers found that 24 hours after a pregnant mother ingested or breathed in plastic particles, plastic chemicals were found in the developing fetus’s brain, heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs. discovered that it exists. Other studies have shown that microplastics and nanoplastics can cause cellular oxidative stress, tissue damage, and inflammation, while animal studies have shown that such particles can alter heart rate and cause heart damage. It has been shown that it may interfere with functionality.

Nanoplastics have been found in human blood, lung and liver tissue, urine and feces, breast milk, and placenta. However, so far, research has not yet determined how these polymers may affect the body’s organs and functions.

“At this time, there is no scientific consensus on the potential health effects of nano- and microplastic particles. Therefore, media reports based on assumptions and speculation only serve to unnecessarily scare the public,” the industry group said. a spokesperson for the International Bottled Water Association said in an email.

A recent study found that one liter of bottled water, equivalent to two standard-sized bottles of water that consumers typically purchase, contains an average of 240,000 plastic particles from seven types of plastic. It turned out that 90% of it was nanoplastic.

“It is important to note that bottled water is just one of the thousands of food and drink products packaged in plastic containers,” the spokesperson said. “The largest sources of microplastics in the environment are from the erosion and abrasion of synthetic rubber tires, synthetic fibers (such as polyester laundry), and the decomposition of municipal and household waste.”

Unique learning approach

The new study examined tissue removed from the neck arteries of 257 people who underwent carotid endarterectomy.

“It’s kind of a barbaric thing to do. The surgeon opens up the carotid artery and literally dissects all the sludge, the plaque, that has built up there,” said John, director of cardiovascular prevention and health at National Jewish Health in Denver. said Dr. Andrew Freeman. He was not involved in the study.

Having access to such tissue allowed researchers to use electron microscopy to look for tiny particles. The study found “visible jagged foreign bodies” scattered within the plaque as well as external debris from the surgery.

The study found measurable amounts of polyethylene, a plastic commonly used in plastic wrap, plastic bags, and food and drink containers, in the plaque tissue of 150 people.

Some samples also contained chlorine, which is used to treat pool water and make hundreds of consumer products, including paper, paint, textiles, and pesticides. Samples from another of her 31 patients also contained measurable amounts of polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC or vinyl.

Participants who had microplastics and nanoplastics in their bodies were followed for 34 months. In addition to being twice as likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or die prematurely from any cause, Phoebe Stapleton, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Rutgers University Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy in Piscataway, said: He said the plaque tissue showed signs of increased inflammation. , New Jersey. She was not involved in her new research.

“Low-grade inflammation is associated with many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease. The presence of microplastics and nanoplastics and subsequent inflammation may act to increase susceptibility to these chronic diseases. ” Stapleton said in an email.

However, she added, “to attribute the findings to a direct link to cardiovascular disease is an exaggeration of the findings.” “Further research may show that these exposures are a risk factor…more particles, more inflammation, more risk for worse cardiovascular outcomes. ”

Limit your exposure to plastics

Avoiding plastic pollution is “difficult, if not impossible,” but “each of us can, in small ways, reduce our use of plastic and direct our everyday choices towards other materials.” .”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ policy statement on food additives and child health, there are additional steps you can take to reduce exposure to phthalates and other chemicals in food and food packaging products. .

“One is to use stainless steel and glass containers where possible to reduce the plastic footprint,” said director Dr. Leonardo Trasande. In a preliminary interview with CNN, Professor of Environmental Pediatrics at New York University Langone Health.

“Avoid heating food or drinks in plastic, such as infant formula or expressed breast milk, in the microwave. Also, avoid putting plastic in the dishwasher, as the heat can leach chemicals. Because there is,” said Trasande, who is also the lead author of the American magazine. Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Food Additives and Child Health.

“Check the type of plastic by looking at the recycling code on the bottom of the product and avoid plastics with recycling code 3, which usually contain phthalates,” he added. Phthalates are so common that they are known as “ubiquitous chemicals” and are one of the chemicals used in manufacturing processes that are known as hormone disruptors.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group, suggests reducing the use of single-use plastics. Other suggestions include bringing reusable bags to the grocery store. Invest in a zippered cloth bag and ask the dry cleaner to return your clothes in that bag instead of a thin plastic sheet. Reduce your use of plastic cups and utensils by bringing a travel mug to your local coffee shop and silverware to the office.

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