We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Tissue-specific distribution of microplastics in human blood and carotid plaques: A paired sample analysis
AI summary Read the abstract
In a study of 20 patients undergoing surgery for clogged neck arteries, researchers found microplastics in both blood and artery plaque samples from every patient. The plaques contained nearly six times more microplastics than blood, suggesting that plastics accumulate in damaged blood vessels. Some types of microplastics were linked to changes in cholesterol levels, raising questions about whether plastic particles could worsen heart disease.
BACKGROUNDS: Microplastics (MPs) have been increasingly detected in human tissues, raising concerns about their role in cardiovascular disease. However, their distribution in matched blood and vascular tissues, such as atherosclerotic plaques, remains poorly understood. METHODS: Paired blood and carotid plaque samples were analyzed for 12 polymer types of MPs using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry among twenty patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. RESULTS: The mean concentration of total MPs was 75.2 μg/g in blood and 432.9 μg/g in plaque. Polyethylene (PE) dominated blood samples (46.5 %), followed by polyvinyl chloride (PVC, 16.8 %) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR, 16.3 %). In plaques, MPs were more evenly distributed, with polypropylene (PP, 23.1 %), PE (20.3 %), SBR (19.8 %), and PVC (18.5 %) being most common. Distinct clustering patterns were observed within each tissue, with a moderate paired correlation for total MPs (r = 0.30). Stronger correlations were found for polyurethane (PU, ρ = 0.91) and ABS (ρ = 0.54), while PC showed a negative correlation (ρ = -0.45). Several MPs were associated with lipid biomarkers, e.g., plaque PP was associated with lower HDL-C. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight tissue-specific MPs accumulation patterns and suggest the associations between MPs exposure and circulating lipid markers.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events
AI summary Read the abstract
This landmark clinical study found that patients with micro- and nanoplastics detected in their carotid artery plaque had a significantly higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death over a 34-month follow-up period compared to those without detectable plastics. This is one of the first studies to directly link microplastic presence in human blood vessels to worse cardiovascular outcomes. The findings suggest that plastic accumulation in arteries may be an important and previously unrecognized risk factor for heart disease.
Association between blood microplastic levels and severity of extracranial artery stenosis
AI summary Read the abstract
In a study of 20 patients with narrowed neck arteries and 10 controls, microplastic levels in blood were more than twice as high in patients with artery disease. Higher microplastic concentrations were linked to more severe artery narrowing, and PVC and polyamide were the most common plastic types found, suggesting a possible connection between blood microplastics and cardiovascular disease.
Micro- and nanoplastics are elevated in femoral atherosclerotic plaques compared with undiseased arteries
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found significantly higher concentrations of microplastics and nanoplastics in diseased arterial plaques from human patients with limb-threatening vascular disease compared to healthy arteries, adding to growing evidence that these particles accumulate in cardiovascular tissue and may play a role in artery disease.
Weekly Journal Scan: Plastic particles in carotid plaques—inactive debris or predictors of cardiovascular events?
AI summary Read the abstract
This journal scan summarizes a prospective multicenter study that detected microplastics and nanoplastics in excised carotid artery plaques and found that higher plaque burden of plastic particles was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. The findings raise the possibility that microplastics in arterial tissue are not inert but biologically active.
Micro- and Nanoplastics in Cardiovascular Toxicology: Human Tissue Detection, Clinical Phenotypes, and Adverse Outcome Signals
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists are finding tiny plastic particles (called micro- and nanoplastics) lodged in human blood, arteries, and even fatty plaque buildup in blood vessels — and one major study found people with plastic particles in their neck artery plaque were over 4 times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or die during follow-up. This review pulls together lab and human research showing these plastics may cause inflammation, blood clotting, and heart tissue damage, though scientists stress this doesn't yet prove plastics *cause* heart disease — it shows a concerning link that deserves more attention and research.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.