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The next time you pick up a bottle of water or order a package of plastic-wrapped vegetables or sea fish online, know that the water and food you’re drinking are feeding leached microplastics into your body. Remember, just be. Even worse, a recent study found that when these microplastics float in your bloodstream, your risk of heart attack or stroke can increase by 4.5 times.
A new study published by the University of Campania in Italy and published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) found microplastics, flaked pieces of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters, in human arteries. Doctors examined plaque and fatty deposits in the arteries of 304 patients and found that more than 50% had microplastics embedded in them. These occurred in the carotid arteries, the main blood vessels that supply blood to the neck, face, and brain. Not only that, but the clogged particles increased the risk of blockages and heart attacks within just three years.
This finding is important because microplastics have been shown to be an additional risk factor next to known risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and diabetes. The biggest concern is that we unknowingly ingest microplastics through everything we put in our mouths.
How microplastics cause blockages
When microplastics enter your arteries, your immune system attacks them as foreign substances. These can cause chronic inflammation, which damages the lining of blood vessels over time. This can cause tears, dislodge even the most microscopic plaque, and cause blockages. Inflammation naturally constricts arteries and restricts blood flow. After a period of time, it becomes narrow enough to cause a heart attack.
Animal studies have shown that microplastics can alter heart rate and interfere with heart function.
According to a recent study, one liter of bottled water contains an average of 240,000 plastic particles from seven types of plastics. So throw away those 20 liter refillable cans.
How easily do microplastics enter our bodies?
We often swallow microplastics when we eat fruits and vegetables wrapped in protective film or drink bottled water. Water is the easiest carrier because it passes through plastic pipes, shredding some fibers in the process. Plastic in lakes, rivers and oceans breaks down in the water that fish, especially shellfish, ingest, meaning it remains with the plastic when we cook and eat it. We swallow these things by mistake without even giving them a second glance.
How to get rid of microplastics
In this age of convenience, it may be difficult to completely eliminate microplastics, but Indians, who tend to develop heart disease at least a decade earlier than other people, need to make some changes. Choose natural fiber packaging, use reliable water filters, buy vegetables directly offline, and replace plastic disposables with alternatives like glass, steel, and even silicone. Do not heat food in plastic containers in the microwave. Check the labels of personal care products that contain microplastics such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
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