Kontaminasi dan Akumulasi Mikro-nanoplastik Dapat Menjadi Faktor Risiko Terbaru Penyakit Kardiovaskular

Unmanaged plastic waste in the environment degrades into smaller fragments, from microplastics (<5 µm) to nanoplastic (<1 µm) or we can call it micro-nanoplastic. This form which cannot be seen by the naked eye, can become hidden contamination and accumulation that may pose some effect that needs to be studied. Micro-nanoplastic have been found to contaminate air, soil, water, and even living organisms, including humans. Micro-nanoplastic contamination in the environment has been overlooked by the public for years, particularly in terms of its accumulation in the oceans. Recent studies show that this accumulation is not limited to the environment—it also occurs in animals and humans. One of the primary ways micro-nanoplastics enter the human body is through the consumption of seafood. A major concern is that micro-nanoplastics can translocate and spread to various organs in the body via the cardiovascular system. Micro-nanoplastics may disrupt the cardiovascular system, particularly endothelial cells, cardiomyocytes, and the blood coagulation process. These disruptions can potentially trigger pathological processes that lead to cardiovascular disease and its complications. A possible molecular mechanism involves an increase in oxidative processes and products, elevated inflammatory molecules, and markers of cellular senescence. However, there is currently no conclusive evidence proving that micro-nanoplastic contamination directly causes diseases in humans, including cardiovascular diseases. More research is urgently needed to confirm this potential link, as this contamination and accumulation of micro-nanoplastic could become a ticking bomb to human health, particularly the cardiovascular system.