Higher Levels of Micro- and Nanoplastics Detected in Blood of Heart Attack Patients

A research study has found that patients suffering from acute heart attacks (STEMI) show significantly higher levels of micro- and nanoplastics in the blood supplying the heart—the coronary arteries—compared to patients with chronic ischemic heart disease or those with normal coronary arteries.

Furthermore, the study revealed that smokers and individuals exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) over a long period are more likely to have micro- and nanoplastics detected in their blood.

Professor Emanuele Barbato and his team at Sapienza University of Rome in Italy announced on July 15 that they confirmed these findings after examining 61 patients who underwent coronary angiography due to suspected heart disease, as published in the international journal European Heart Journal.

"This highlights the need to consider micro- and nanoplastic pollution as a broader environmental determinant of health," Professor Barbato said. "Policies aimed at reducing air pollution, tobacco exposure, and plastic pollution could help improve cardiovascular health."

Microplastics are defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, while nanoplastics are smaller than 1 µm. They are found in air, water, and food, and have recently been detected in human tissues such as blood, lungs, and the placenta, raising concerns about their impact on health.

However, Dr. Pasquale Paolisso, the lead author of the study, pointed out, "There has been little research on whether these plastic particles are present in the blood flowing through the coronary arteries, or how they relate to environmental factors such as smoking or air pollution."

The research team analyzed coronary and peripheral blood samples from 61 individuals, including 19 patients with acute heart attacks (ST-elevation myocardial infarction, or STEMI), 20 patients with chronic ischemic heart disease (chronic coronary syndrome), and a control group of 22 people with normal coronary arteries, to detect micro- and nanoplastics.

They also analyzed the patients' smoking status and air pollution data from their places of residence on the day of the examination and the preceding two years to investigate the correlation between environmental exposure and micro- and nanoplastics in the blood.

The analysis showed that micro- and nanoplastics were detected in 84.2% of acute heart attack patients, a significantly higher detection rate than in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (40%) and the control group (31.8%).

The most frequently detected plastic was polyethylene (PE), which is widely used in food packaging and household items; it was identified in 97% of patients who tested positive for micro- and nanoplastics.

Additionally, patients exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5 of 15 µg/㎥) over a long period were more likely to have micro- and nanoplastics in their blood, and smokers were six times more likely to have these particles detected in their blood than non-smokers.

Notably, micro- and nanoplastics were detected in the blood of all patients who both smoked and were exposed to environments with high PM2.5 concentrations.

Furthermore, patients with detectable micro- and nanoplastics showed higher levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), which are indicators of inflammation in the body, compared to those in whom no such particles were found.

The research team explained that while this study does not prove that plastics directly cause inflammation or heart attacks, it provides early clinical evidence suggesting a potential link between environmental exposure, micro- and nanoplastics in the blood, and cardiovascular disease.

They added, "Air pollution, smoking, and plastic pollution are all environmental risk factors that can be reduced. A comprehensive approach that considers improving air quality, smoking cessation, and reducing plastic pollution is necessary for the prevention of cardiovascular disease."

(Photo: Provided by European Heart Journal, Pasquale Paolisso et al., Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.