Participants who had microplastics and nanoplastics in their bodies were then followed for 34 months. In follow-up, 20% of these patients developed a heart attack, stroke, or death from any cause, compared with only 7.5% of patients in whom no plastic particles were detected.

After adjusting for age, gender, BMI, and health conditions such as diabetes and abnormal cholesterol, patients with detectable levels of plastic had an almost 5% risk of cardiovascular events compared to patients without detectable levels of plastic. It was twice as expensive.

It states that nanoplastics are microscopic particles of plastic that are formed by the natural decomposition and modification of plastics left in the environment. Dr. Sam Mathis, a family physician and internist at the University of Texas Medical Branch. “Many of these plastics enter our bodies through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact.”

Because of their incredibly small size, nanoplastics can enter the body and bloodstream in several different ways, he said. Neerav Sheth, MD, a cardiologist at Cardiology Consultants in Philadelphia. “Firstly, it can enter the body directly through inhalation through the lungs. It can also enter the body directly through the gastrointestinal tract through ingestion of particles (such as those produced when cutting plastic). there is. cutting board), or indirectly through the food system (for example, fish that may have ingested nanoplastics are then ingested by humans),” he explains.

According to Dr. Sheth, the body doesn’t really know how to properly manage nanoplastics. “They are recognized as foreign objects, but the body does not have the mechanisms to digest or break them down. Eventually, they become walled off.” Blood vessels in the heart and brain If it is deposited in dangerous places such as, it can accelerate symptoms. inflammation and atherosclerosis, which increases the risk of early onset. Heart disease And a stroke, he explains.

conclusion

“This new study effectively identifies another risk factor for accelerated cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Mattis. “Now that we’ve identified that, we can work on fixing it.”

So how can you reduce your risk of ingesting nanoplastics? Dr. Mathis suggests that the best way to reduce damage from materials is through prevention. “Limit your purchases of products containing plastic and make sure you recycle your plastic properly. When plastic is thrown away on our streets or in our oceans, it breaks down and spreads into our food and the environment.” Recycling Consider purchasing products in glass containers where possible, or directly from a vendor (meat market or farmers market), he suggests.

On a small scale, Dr. Sheth suggests avoiding the use of low-quality plastics for cooking. “Use wooden or metal utensils whenever possible, and avoid heating plastic in the microwave or reheating food in plastic that is not considered safe.”

On a larger scale, Dr. Sheth says we need to do more to protect our environment, air and ecosystems. “Basically, this requires raising awareness about waste, avoiding dumping plastic into the ocean or burning it into the atmosphere, and focusing on renewable energy and recycling.”

Madeleine preventionAn associate editor at , she has a background in health writing from her time as an editorial assistant at WebMD and her personal research in college. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in biopsychology, cognition, and neuroscience, and she helps people develop strategies for success in any field. preventionsocial media platforms.