The dangers of microplastics are common knowledge among modern researchers, who have proven links between these tiny plastic particles and increased risk of cancer¹, endocrine disruption², and cellular stress³. And now, a groundbreaking new study in the New England Journal of Medicine has also shown that plastic exposure is also correlated to increased risk of cardiovascular disease⁴.

The Study on Microplastics and Cardiovascular Health

The researchers examined the arterial plaque of 258 patients undergoing surgery to clear blockages in their neck arteries and found microplastics in the plaque of 60 percent of participants. These participants not only exhibited elevated levels of inflammation, but they were also 4.5 times more likely to suffer heart attack, stroke, or death within the next three years.

Since microplastics have already been shown to trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, abnormal heart rate, damage to blood vessels, impaired clotting, and disrupted normal heart rhythms, it’s unsurprising that their presence is correlated to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. That said, experts still caution that the study shows a correlation rather than proving causation, and more research is needed to understand the exact mechanisms behind microplastics’ health effects.