Microscopic Plastics Could Raise Risk of Stroke and Heart Attack, Study Says 57
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian: Doctors have warned of potentially life-threatening effects from plastic pollution after finding a substantially raised risk of stroke, heart attack and earlier death in people whose blood vessels were contaminated with microscopic plastics. Researchers in Naples examined fatty plaques removed from the blood vessels of patients with arterial disease and found that more than half had deposits contaminated with tiny particles of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Those whose plaques contained microplastics or nanoplastics were nearly five times more likely to suffer a stroke, heart attack or death from any cause over the following 34 months, compared with those whose plaques were free from plastic contamination. The findings do not prove that plastic particles drive strokes and heart attacks -- people who are more exposed to the pollution may be at greater risk for other reasons -- but research on animals and human cells suggests the particles may be to blame. [...]
Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, the doctors describe how they analyzed fatty plaques removed from 304 patients with atherosclerosis affecting the carotid arteries. The carotid arteries are the main blood vessels that supply blood to the neck, face and brain. The disease causes a build-up of plaque in the arteries, which substantially raises the risk of stroke. The plaques can be removed by a procedure called carotid endarterectomy. Lab tests on the extracted plaques revealed polyethylene in 150 patients and polyvinyl chloride in 31, alongside signs of inflammation. On examination under an electron microscope, the researchers spotted jagged foreign particles in the fatty deposits, most less than a thousandth of a millimeter across. The doctors followed 257 of the patients for an average of 34 months after they had carotid plaques removed. Those who had plastic particles in their plaques were 4.5 times more likely to have a stroke or heart attack, or to die from any cause, than those whose plaques were free from plastic pollution. "People must become aware of the risks we are taking with our lifestyle," said Dr Raffaele Marfella, first author on the study at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli in Naples. "I hope the alarm message from our study will raise the consciousness of citizens, especially governments, to finally become aware of the importance of the health of our planet. To put it in a slogan that can unite the need for health for humans and the planet, plastic-free is healthy for the heart and the Earth."
Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, the doctors describe how they analyzed fatty plaques removed from 304 patients with atherosclerosis affecting the carotid arteries. The carotid arteries are the main blood vessels that supply blood to the neck, face and brain. The disease causes a build-up of plaque in the arteries, which substantially raises the risk of stroke. The plaques can be removed by a procedure called carotid endarterectomy. Lab tests on the extracted plaques revealed polyethylene in 150 patients and polyvinyl chloride in 31, alongside signs of inflammation. On examination under an electron microscope, the researchers spotted jagged foreign particles in the fatty deposits, most less than a thousandth of a millimeter across. The doctors followed 257 of the patients for an average of 34 months after they had carotid plaques removed. Those who had plastic particles in their plaques were 4.5 times more likely to have a stroke or heart attack, or to die from any cause, than those whose plaques were free from plastic pollution. "People must become aware of the risks we are taking with our lifestyle," said Dr Raffaele Marfella, first author on the study at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli in Naples. "I hope the alarm message from our study will raise the consciousness of citizens, especially governments, to finally become aware of the importance of the health of our planet. To put it in a slogan that can unite the need for health for humans and the planet, plastic-free is healthy for the heart and the Earth."
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Just like the nutrients in anything you eat.
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So anally then?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
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Primarily breaking down clothing fibres. That get into water, and propagate from there.
Notably this study also sets out to prove them harmful and fails as OP notes:
"The findings do not prove that plastic particles drive strokes and heart attacks"
I'm unaware of a single study to show actual link between microplastics and any harmful effect. This ins spite half a decade of intensive research into finding any harmful effect. Everything we know about them suggests that they're too small to have a mechanical eff
Re:How getting in? (Score:5, Insightful)
Notably this study also sets out to prove them harmful and fails as OP notes:
This study does not definitively prove causation, but the line just beforehand demonstrates a very clear link:
Those whose plaques contained microplastics or nanoplastics were nearly five times more likely to suffer a stroke, heart attack or death from any cause over the following 34 months, compared with those whose plaques were free from plastic contamination.
(Emphasis mine) A correlation that strong is something that should be taken very seriously, at least until we can find firm evidence that microplastics are not to blame. While it's not panic-stations yet, it's absolutely premature to declare that they "apparently do nothing". Further research is most certainly required, and caution is strongly indicated.
Re: How getting in? (Score:2)
It could be a behavioral relationship. For example, narcc likes to huff paint, which could be why he has so many microplastics in his blood, depending on the kind of paint he prefers.
Re: How getting in? (Score:2)
One interesting point is that half of cases are devoid of microplastics. I'd have guessed everyone was contaminated.
Aren't these people likely to be given blood thinners -- which are likely to have a greater effect on uncontaminated people?
Maybe most of us are able to expel them.
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Better bet is that they looked for a very specific kind of microplastic and ignored everything else. Because there are still categories within the larger category of microplastics.
Re: How getting in? (Score:2)
Even if that was true (ir isn't), not sure how it would be relevant.
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But the "getting it in there" needs to be controlled for. Why some people don't have them and some do?
There could be other, well known risk factor that correlates with getting microplastics into your blood stream.
For all the fuss about microplastics, there's very little evidence they actually cause harm, it's all extremely tenuous.
Re:How getting in? (Score:5, Informative)
Sorry, I don't mean to be your personal party pooper, but almost every word in your comment is incorrect or out of context.
Primarily breaking down clothing fibres.
The study found polyethylene (PE) and vinyl (PVC). Most synthetic fibers in clothing are polyester. Vinyl is not something that most people wear everyday. PVC may be prevalent in the environment, with mnp's (micro-nano-plastics) being a large concern, but there are many sources of pvc in objects we interact with daily, but clothing isn't one of them. The age group of people with atherosclerosis (ASO-arteriosclerosis obliterans) is not one that is likely to have had much vinyl clothing exposure.
That get into water, and propagate from there.
The vector of introduction for mnp's into the body needs study. Oral ingestion of environmental contaminant mnp's occurs, and translocation across bowel is likely (there are studies showing mnp's in bowel). But, translocation across the portal circulation and liver into the systemic circulation, versus vascular short circuit across porta-systemic collaterals - that's an open question. Your comment is partially correct and intriguing but overly simple as a pathogenic mechanism.
Notably this study also sets out to prove them harmful and fails
The study explicitly states : "Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are emerging as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease in preclinical studies. Direct evidence that this risk extends to humans is lacking." The authors are looking for evidence that there is an association, not to prove a specific pathogenic mechanism or cause and effect. And, they succeeded, showing a hazard ratio of 4.5 for death among those with and without mnp's in their system.
as OP notes: "The findings do not prove that plastic particles drive strokes and heart attacks"
Disease and pathology are complex multi-factorial non-linear dynamical systems, and that is especially true for chronic degenerative diseases such as ASO. No one factor by itself "drives strokes and heart attacks", but anyone knowledgeable about vascular pathology and medicine will immediately recognize the importance of this study and the histological findings and the study statistics. They do indeed prove that those with plastic in their plaques are at much greater risk of dying in the next three years.
I'm unaware of a single study to show actual link between microplastics and any harmful effect.
With countless fields of study, journals, and papers out there, ever increasing, no one person can ever be fully up to date. I too am unaware of a million things I know nothing about or have no engagement in that industry or discipline. If you are unaware of such studies, time to crack a book (or PubMed, or something ...).
This in spite half a decade of intensive research into finding any harmful effect.
The reason there is a notable upsurge in studies and reporting on this subject is because there is mounting evidence of problems. Elucidating pathogenic pathways are still early, but many people who know this subject are getting grants and doing research - because there is something of concern. Crack a book.
Everything we know about them suggests that they're too small to have a mechanical effect
Wrong. Pathology like this operates largely through mesenchymal defense cells called macrophages which are on the order of 5-10 microns. The size, shape, textures, and edges of materials have a profound influence on the behavior of mesenchymal cells, and that influences design and complications of certain implantable polymer devices. The particles they found are on the order of a micron or less, but that is relatively big compared to the cells, so they can indeed have an effect. If the microscope revealed mnp's directly associated w
Re: How getting in? (Score:2)
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You clearly know what you're talking about, so I have a question.
Anybody who has washed plastic dishes, glasses, food containers, etc., has experienced the affinity of some plastics for both animal fats and vegetable fats. Here at home we have some bowls which I wash fairly thoroughly before putting them in the dishwasher, because otherwise they're likely to come out still greasy.
So my question is, what are the chances that this observable-at-a-large-scale phenomenon plays out at the microscopic scale? I un
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I do not know the answer.
But, it is an intriguing observation.
If the plastics have an affinity for lipids, or vice versa, does it allow micro-particulates that entered the body a chance to adhere to cells or surfaces, or transfer within the body?
If so, does that in turn directly cause some sort of toxic interaction with cells leading to disease, or is the atherosclerosis from usual causes related to heightened inflammation combined with other risk factors?
Also, the paper makes no claim or implication that t
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Thanks. TBH, I was kind of hoping that the connection I made would end up being helpful. My brain is constantly making connections like this, but because I don't work in science and don't have any contacts in various fields of research, I don't have anyone to mention them to.
One example - totally off-topic, but it might interest you - regards Covid vaccinations. Intra-muscular injections are supposed to be aspirated before pushing - if blood appears in the syringe, the shot is discarded and a new one is adm
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> I'm unaware of a single study to show actual link between microplastics and any harmful effect
Then you are not aware of the studies on plasticosis in seabirds. The mechanism of plasticosis in the digestive tract are very similar to those of asbestosis in the lungs.
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You're a victim of misinformation campaign that sought to confuse microplastics as defined in the story, and millimetre-grade plastics killing sea life.
Re: How getting in bloodstream? (Score:2)
Psssst, the Graduate put them in.
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Well most modern buildings are built with your choice of cross linked polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride water lines because metals are too expensive today.
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Mostly HDPE. There are big advantages to it other than cost, though. It's much more freeze resistant and it can be curved and bent around obstacles more easily without crushing.
units (Score:2)
> most less than a thousandth of a millimeter across
Let me get this straight, we are talking about less than a thousandth thousandth of a meter, right? Because for a second I though you might have meant less than a micrometer, nanometer size even.
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Yes but since this site is targeted at imperial freedom unit lovers we need to use a fraction in there somewhere. Simply using words to describe a specific division of 1000 is too complex for 7/8ths of Americans
Re: Right on cue (Score:2)
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Is it the pharma in the blood or the bits of plastic that worries you more?
The Red Cross isn't about conspiracies.
https://www.redcrossblood.org/... [redcrossblood.org]
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X [could, can, might, may, possibly, suggests] cause Y.
Welcome to the reverse scientific "research" model of the 2020s, where an already predetermined conclusion directs the experiment, observation, and hypothesis.
Sounds familiar (Score:2)
This is almost the exact same thing I said a week and a half ago [slashdot.org] in response to someone asking if they should care about microplastics being found in everything.
While it should be common sense that something which doesn't easily break down could accumulate in the body and cause issues, once again we had to wait for science to provide the evidence.
Gonna neeed a lot of evidence (Score:1)
We would like to learn (Score:2)
Can someone please scientifically describe the process by which plastics spontaneously dissolve?
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Can someone please scientifically describe the process by which plastics spontaneously dissolve?
Additives in the plastic which are there to give it specific desirable properties leach out of the plastic. ALL PLASTIC BOTTLES leach toxins into their contents, some of them do more of it than others. If you want to know about the specific chemical reactions, I suggest learning how to use google.
To the naysayers (Score:2)
Confused (Score:1)
TFA and summery claim that 'Those whose plaques contained microplastics or nanoplastics' suffered form more problems. Yet I'm told, repeatedly, that these microparticles of plastics are ubiquitous, found in all regions, and there are some reports that they are found in all subjects, not limited to humans.
Ok, so which is it, some of us are not contaminated, or all of us are contaminated? And then, a follow-up, some of us who are contaminated will suffer more from increased risk of stroke etc., and some will
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'Dropping like flies' is a pretty poor baseline.
Maybe compounded effects over several years or decades can be problematic too. Not to mention a relatively new addition to the environment. Generations a few decades ago didn't have microplastics in them.
And maybe deserves extra attention given how widespread something like microplastics are, and if it's determined they're actually harmful, think for a minute how we're going to get rid of them.
Stop chewing on pens (Score:3)
And straws, and fake finger nails...
ring (Score:2)
So does getting older... (Score:2)
But unlike "could," medical science is very, very sure that ageing correlates with increased incidence of heart attack and stroke.
The findings do not prove that plastic particles drive strokes and heart attacks -- people who are more exposed to the pollution may be at greater risk for other reasons -- but research on animals and human cells suggests the particles may be to blame. emph added
Put on your critical thinking caps, kids. What this is is an indication of is avenues of further - possibly fruitful - research, and nothing else.
Could we please dispense with the pro-environmental fear machine? Keep this up and when something worse than global climate change comes along nobody will believe it. It's arguable that it was so easy to mislead people about climate cha
Some actual science on the subject! (Score:2)
Before this, all the studies I've seen just pointed out that microplastics were everywhere, but didn't show any link between them and any kind of health issues. This study seems to do that, though corroboration is important.