Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are likely to be an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease in preclinical studies, a recent study states. New England Medical Journalcorroborated by similar studies on environmental hazards in recent years.

According to this study, the presence of small plastic particles in the neck arteries doubles the risk of cardiovascular events over the next three years.

Polyethylene plastic, the most common plastic in supermarket plastic bags, causes environmental pollution in Israel and around the world, according to Dr. Ines Zucker, director of Tel Aviv University’s Institute for Environmental Nanotechnology.

The new study, led by Professor Raffaele Malfera from Italy’s University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, followed hundreds of patients for 34 months who had surgery to open blockages in the carotid arteries that supply blood to the brain. They tracked patients and found that those who had a large buildup of plastic particles in their arteries had more health problems than those who did not.

Studies have shown that the presence of these microplastic or nanoplastic particles within carotid tissue is directly linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, and other factors that lead to premature death.

Microplastics are small pieces of plastic ranging in size from tens of microns to millimeters. The width of nanoplastic particles ranges from nanometers to micrometers. These are either released directly into the environment or come from the decomposition of plastics. Due to their small size, these plastic pieces can easily enter the bodies of animals and humans through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact.

Research shows that nanoplastics are the biggest health concern. Tiny particles, the size of an average human hair, can easily enter the digestive system, lungs, and bloodstream, infiltrating cells and tissues in major organs and disrupting various cellular processes, including blood circulation. there is.

“We’ve known for a long time that plastic is bad, and there’s a lot of evidence about its effects on the environment and other animals,” says Dr. Ido Pardor, deputy director of neurosurgery at Shaare Zedek Medical Center. “This is evidence that plastic increases the risk of diseases and problems in humans. We always knew that when there’s plastic debris in the ocean, it can catch fish. Now we know that it’s possible to catch fish. It turned out to be very dangerous.”

Dr. Zucker said that microplastics are a general term for small plastic particles, and while some microplastics are made for industries such as cosmetics, most refer to plastic products that are discarded and littered in the environment after use. explains that it breaks down into small particles. It is not visible to the naked eye.

“Nanoplastics are being found in large quantities everywhere, posing serious risks to the environment and health, and are extremely worrying,” she said. “There are tons of articles and evidence pointing to the presence of plastic in the environment and its negative effects. You can find microplastics everywhere you look.”

“We’ve found plastic in the placenta, in breast milk, and even in the ice of Antarctica. We’ll continue to find plastic everywhere we look,” she added. “On the other hand, this study is very important because there has never been a direct study proving the health risks of plastics to humans.”

Dr. Paldor explains that there has been a growing body of evidence in recent years supporting the idea that nano- and microplastic components increase the likelihood of vascular disease, brain events, heart attacks, kidney disease, and more. However, until this study, they had not been conclusively proven in humans, making the current research high quality and groundbreaking.

“To me, this study looked very elegant. They took people to undergo surgery to clean out the carotid arteries, which feed the brain. We found that the plastic in the arteries, “We looked at whether there was a link between subsequent heart and brain conditions. This is the first time a link between pollution and cardiovascular disease has been shown in humans,” he said.

Dr. Faldor explained the surgery in detail. “In this type of surgery, the inside of the arteries are cleaned out. If a person smokes, eats fatty foods, or has an unhealthy lifestyle, plaque can develop in these arteries and over time. Over time, these arteries also become filled with plastic. Remove this plastic to clean the inside and improve blood flow to the brain.”

Faldoğlu added that while some patients undergo the procedure after a stroke, others come to the hospital without symptoms because the deposits are discovered by chance during other tests.

Dr. Tony Karam, head of the Department of Vascular Surgery and Transplantation at Lanvin Healthcare Campus in Haifa, said the researchers were looking for atherosclerotic plaques extracted from carotid arteries in the samples taken. He explains that it was due to the presence of microplastics inside.

“We believe that this plaque is responsible for some of the conditions in the blood vessels and that this layer acts as a sign of atherosclerosis. They sampled this atherosclerotic plaque. In some cases plastic was found, in others no plastic was found, and among the people who were found, when the group that used plastic was followed for three years, the group that did not use plastic and the group that did not use plastic “Comparatively, we found twice as many brain diseases, heart attacks and deaths, which is an interesting finding in itself.”

Until now, there is enough evidence to show that the plastics around us can potentially harm us, and according to Dr. Pardor, this research could help reduce the phenomenon of plastic flying. It states that it opens up possibilities for future research on methods, interventions, and interventions. Prevents plastic from entering the body. Also, how does plastic get into the body in the first place?

“It’s very exciting that someone has finally discovered something that can predict, or even more accurately predict, future complications that may be caused by plastics. This is another warning sign that we need to reduce the use of plastics, which contain plastics, which, like other substances that harm our health, are among the most inflammatory substances. “This can lead to increased mortality and brain events,” says Dr. Karam.

“The most important thing is to stop using single-use plastics. When we talk about low-quality plastics like single-use plastics, this plastic breaks down momentarily and is used, creating mountains of garbage. This is a big problem. ‘It’s not surprising that it was discovered in this country and then in our arteries,’ added Dr. Ainz Zucker.

This study suggests ways to reduce human exposure to plastic. These recommendations include using stainless steel or glass containers, avoiding heating food in plastic in the microwave, reducing the use of single-use plastics, and avoiding chemicals that are harmful to the body or the environment. This includes focusing on recycling to avoid certain types of plastics, including: .