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“The first step is to recognize that the low cost and convenience of plastics is deceptive and actually masks great harm,” Landrigan wrote. New England Medical Journal Editor.
“Should exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics be considered a cardiovascular risk factor? What organs other than the heart may be at risk?”
Microplastics are less than 5 millimeters in size, while nanoplastics can enter cells at less than 1 micrometer. Particles come from things like plastic bottles, food containers, synthetic clothing, and car tires.
This small study is part of research and development into whether ingesting micro and nanoplastics increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, which causes a quarter of all deaths in Australia.
Scientists have discovered that microplastics are present in our brains, lungs, and placenta. Last year they were discovered for the first time in the human heart. The pieces end up in our blood, urine, and breast milk. However, research on the health effects of microplastics is still in its infancy and remains controversial.
Much of what we know is based on animal studies and analyzes of cells, which are imperfect surrogates for the human body.
In zebrafish and mice, ingested microplastics rapidly migrated to “blood-rich” organs such as the heart, kidneys, and arteries, a 2023 review reported. Plastics cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death, leading to abnormal heart rates and impaired cardiac function in research animals.
Overall further research is urgently needed.
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Scientists behind the Italian arterial study noted that the findings identify a correlation, not causation, between microplastics and increased risk of death.
People with microplastics in their arteries are more likely to be exposed to air pollution (including microplastics), which may be behind an increased risk of stroke and heart attack.
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