World ( The cow news digital ) Microplastics entering the human bloodstream through food, water, and air pose a severe threat to cardiovascular health by accumulating in coronary arteries and significantly increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, according to a recent study conducted by Sapienza University of Rome.
Experts estimate that humans inadvertently consume the equivalent of one credit card’s worth of plastic every week.
To evaluate the impact of these microscopic particles, researchers divided angiogram patients into three groups: heart attack patients, individuals suffering from arterial narrowing, and healthy control subjects. Using advanced laboratory diagnostic technology, researchers examined blood vessels to measure exact microplastic concentration levels.
The study revealed that microplastic particles were present in the arteries of 84 percent of heart attack patients. Furthermore, the harmful particles were detected in 40 percent of patients with narrowed arteries and 32 percent of healthy individuals, with polyethylene identified as the most prevalent plastic compound.
Medical experts warned that the accumulation of these particles in arterial walls can lead to blockages, strokes, and sudden cardiac death. The study also highlighted that tobacco smoking and air pollution act as major contributing factors, accelerating the buildup of microplastics within blood vessels.
Underlining that microplastic contamination has evolved from an environmental concern into an urgent medical crisis, experts called for immediate measures to reduce plastic usage and curb air pollution to safeguard public health.
