Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events

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.

2024 New England Journal of Medicine 843 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro and Nano-plastic particles: What are they and do they effect cardiovascular health?

This review examines the cardiovascular health effects of micro- and nanoplastics, summarizing evidence that these particles have been detected in human tissues including arterial plaques and may promote endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. The authors call for further clinical and epidemiological research into cardiac risk.

2024 Nepal Journal of Epidemiology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Tissue-specific distribution of microplastics in human blood and carotid plaques: A paired sample analysis

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.

2025 Environment International 8 citations
Article Tier 2

P69 | Microplastics and Atherosclerosis: Evidence of Microplastics in Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques

This conference abstract reports the detection of multiple types of microplastics in human coronary, carotid, and aortic arteries, finding higher MP concentrations in arteries with atherosclerotic plaques than in plaque-free aortic tissue, suggesting a link between microplastic accumulation and arterial disease.

2025 European Journal of Histochemistry
Article Tier 2

Weekly Journal Scan: Plastic particles in carotid plaques—inactive debris or predictors of cardiovascular events?

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.

2024 European Heart Journal
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in three types of human arteries detected by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS)

Researchers detected microplastics in all 17 human artery samples tested, including coronary arteries, carotid arteries, and the aorta. Arteries with atherosclerotic plaques (hardened, narrowed areas) contained significantly more microplastics than plaque-free arteries. This suggests that microplastic accumulation may be associated with atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries that is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 200 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics are associated with elevated atherosclerotic risk and increased vascular complexity in acute coronary syndrome patients

Researchers found that blood microplastic levels were highest in heart attack patients, followed by patients with chest pain, and lowest in those with clear arteries, with polyethylene being the most common type detected. The findings suggest that microplastic accumulation in the bloodstream may be associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.

2024 Particle and Fibre Toxicology 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics. a New Risk Factor for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

This paper reviews emerging evidence linking microplastic exposure to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, noting that MPs have been detected in arterial plaques and human tissues and may contribute to cardiovascular risk through inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial disruption.

2025 American Journal of Preventive Cardiology
Article Tier 2

An Emerging Role of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Vascular Diseases

This review summarizes emerging research on how micro- and nanoplastics may contribute to vascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death worldwide. Studies suggest that these tiny plastic particles can damage blood vessel walls, promote inflammation, and worsen conditions like atherosclerosis. While more research is needed, the evidence points to microplastic exposure as a potential new risk factor for heart and blood vessel diseases.

2024 Life 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic in Arteries Tied With Higher Risk of Cardiovascular Problems

This report highlights research linking the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in human arteries to a higher risk of cardiovascular problems. Evidence indicates that these tiny plastic particles have been found in common products like food containers, cosmetics, and drinking water, raising questions about their long-term effects on heart health.

2024 JAMA 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-nanoplastics and cardiovascular diseases: evidence and perspectives

Growing evidence suggests that micro- and nanoplastic particles may be a previously unrecognized risk factor for heart disease, as they have been detected in atherosclerotic plaques, heart tissue, and blood clots in humans. Lab studies show these particles can trigger oxidative stress, promote blood clotting, and cause inflammation in blood vessel cells, and their presence in artery plaques has been linked to higher rates of cardiovascular events.

2024 European Heart Journal 88 citations
Article Tier 2

Evidence, Mechanisms, and Clinical Implications of Microplastics and Nanoplastics As Emerging Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Narrative Review

This review examines growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics may contribute to cardiovascular health risks, with researchers having found these particles in human artery plaques and blood clots. Evidence indicates that the particles can enter the bloodstream, trigger inflammation, damage blood vessel walls, and potentially increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. While the evidence is not yet conclusive, the study highlights an emerging area of concern that warrants further investigation into how everyday plastic exposure may affect heart and blood vessel health.

2025 Cureus 2 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Micro- and nanoplastics in the cardiovascular system: current evidence, research gaps: a systematic review

This systematic review examined how microplastics and nanoplastics affect the heart and blood vessels. Studies in both animals and human tissue found that these particles can cause blood vessel inflammation, disrupt heart function, and were even linked to higher rates of heart attack and stroke in people with plastic particles in their arteries.

2025 MEDICAL SCIENCE PULSE
Article Tier 2

Association between blood microplastic levels and severity of extracranial artery stenosis

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.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics, Nanoplastics and Heart Contamination: The Hidden Threat

This review examines growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can accumulate in human cardiovascular tissues, including blood, heart muscle, and arterial plaques. Researchers found that these particles may contribute to heart and blood vessel problems through inflammation, oxidative stress, blood clotting, and direct tissue injury. The study identifies plastic particles as a potential new environmental risk factor for cardiovascular health.

2025 Journal of Clinical Medicine 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas

Researchers raise methodological concerns about a widely cited study that found microplastics and nanoplastics in arterial plaque, noting that the lack of contamination controls, the unusually small particle sizes detected, and the limited verification methods make it difficult to confirm whether the particles came from inside the body or were introduced during surgery.

2024 New England Journal of Medicine 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Tiny trouble: microplastics, nanoplastics, and their heartfelt impact on cardiovascular health

This review summarizes growing evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics have been found in human heart tissue, arterial plaques, and blood, and may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Lab studies show these particles can damage blood vessel walls, disrupt cholesterol processing, trigger inflammation, and promote blood clot formation, raising serious concerns about heart health.

2025 Cardiovascular Research 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging cardiovascular risks of micro- and nanoplastics: toxic effects and mechanistic pathways

Tiny plastic particles called micro- and nanoplastics are getting into our bodies through food, air, and skin contact, and researchers have found them building up in people's hearts and blood vessels. This review of existing studies shows these plastic bits may contribute to heart disease by causing inflammation and damaging cells in the cardiovascular system. While more research is needed, this suggests that plastic pollution isn't just an environmental problem—it could be directly harming our heart health.

2026 Particle and Fibre Toxicology
Article Tier 2

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

This review (in Indonesian) discusses how unmanaged plastic waste degrades into micro- and nanoplastics that contaminate air, water, soil, and living organisms including humans, and presents these particles as a newly recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

2025 Jurnal Ilmu Kedokteran (Journal of Medical Science)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Nanoplastics

Researchers examined the connection between microplastics and nanoplastics and cardiovascular disease, a group of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. Growing evidence suggests these tiny plastic particles may pose risks to heart and vascular health.

2024 JACC Advances 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nanoplastics: A new cardiovascular risk factor?

This review examines the growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics may pose risks to the heart and blood vessels. Studies in animals and cell cultures show that these tiny plastic particles can enter the bloodstream, trigger inflammation, promote blood clotting, and damage blood vessel walls. While human data is still limited, the review suggests that micro- and nanoplastic exposure should be considered a potential new risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

2022 Environment International 227 citations
Article Tier 2

Insights into the toxicological effects of nanomaterials on atherosclerosis: mechanisms involved and influence factors

Researchers reviewed how nanomaterials — tiny engineered particles including nanoplastics — can trigger or worsen atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty plaques in arteries that leads to heart attacks and strokes. The review found that nanomaterials can damage the cells lining blood vessels and provoke chronic inflammation, raising concerns about the cardiovascular risks of widespread nanomaterial exposure.

2023 Journal of Nanobiotechnology 15 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Micro- and Nanoplastics as a Potential Risk Factor for Stroke: A Systematic Review

This systematic review assessed the potential link between micro- and nanoplastics and stroke risk. It found that plastic particles have been detected in human blood vessels and arterial plaques, and may contribute to inflammation and blood vessel damage — factors that could increase the risk of stroke.

2026 Journal of Xenobiotics
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and nanoplastics: emerging threats to cardiovascular health – a comprehensive review

This comprehensive review examines the emerging evidence linking microplastic and nanoplastic exposure to cardiovascular health problems. The evidence suggests that plastic particles may contribute to heart and blood vessel disease, though more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects. The review highlights the urgent need for further studies on how chronic exposure to these tiny particles affects the cardiovascular system.

2024 Annals of Medicine and Surgery 13 citations