Study Finds Microplastics in 84% of Severe Heart Attack Patients as Smoking Emerges as Top Predictor
Updated
Updated · mindbodygreen · Jul 24
Study Finds Microplastics in 84% of Severe Heart Attack Patients as Smoking Emerges as Top Predictor
3 articles · Updated · mindbodygreen · Jul 24
Summary
Microplastics were detected in coronary blood from 84% of STEMI patients, versus 40% of chronic coronary syndrome patients and 32% of people without coronary artery disease.
Smoking was the only independent predictor of microplastics in the heart's blood vessels, pointing to inhalation as a likely route into the cardiovascular system.
Patients who both smoked and lived in areas with PM2.5 above 15 µg/m³ showed a 100% microplastic detection rate, linking combined exposure to the highest prevalence.
Polyethylene made up 97% of detected particles, and its presence tracked with higher IL-6 and TNF-α inflammation markers, though the study did not prove causation.
The findings extend evidence that environmental exposures may shape cardiovascular risk alongside diet, genetics and exercise.