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- Stroke patients have high levels of microplastics in the plaque clogging their arteries, researchers find (businessinsider.com)
Microplastics Found in Arterial Plaque of Stroke and Heart Attack Patients
Tiny plastic particles, known as microplastics and nanoplastics, are pervasive in the environment and have been found throughout the human body, including in the blood and organs like the lungs and liver. A new study presented at the American Heart Association meeting in Baltimore links these particles to heart attack and stroke risk.
Dr. Ross Clark, a University of New Mexico medical researcher, found significantly higher levels of plastic in the arterial plaque of individuals who had experienced strokes, mini-strokes, or vision loss, compared to those with healthy arteries or asymptomatic plaque buildup.
Specifically, symptomatic individuals had 51 times more plastic in their plaque, a finding described as “shocking” by Dr. Jaime Ross, a neuroscientist at the University of Rhode Island who was not involved in the study.
While the exact role of these plastics remains unclear, the study offers some potential clues. Dr.
Clark’s team observed altered gene activity in the cells of plaque with high plastic levels. One key change involved the deactivation of a gene responsible for suppressing inflammation in a group of immune cells.
Similar genetic differences were observed in stem cells that typically help reduce inflammation and stabilize plaque, potentially preventing heart attacks and strokes. Dr.
Clark suggests that microplastics may be influencing gene expression, although further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis.
The study acknowledges the limitations of current microplastic detection methods. The process involves heating tissue samples to high temperatures to break down plastic polymers, but similar chemicals can be produced from the breakdown of lipids in arterial plaque.
Dr. Clark’s team took steps to remove these lipids to ensure accurate measurement of polyethylene, the most common type of plastic found.
However, he acknowledges the need for continuous improvement in these methodologies.
Dr. Clark plans to submit the study for peer review and pursue further research on the interaction between microplastics and immune cells in blood vessels.
He aims to expand the study beyond the carotid artery and conduct animal experiments to investigate cause-and-effect relationships. While the presence of microplastics in the human body is increasingly evident, further research is crucial to fully understand their impact on human health.