Once again, microplastics have been found where there is nothing to be found

Plastic, even if it was one of the most important inventions of the twentieth century by providing cheap packaging material for the start of mass production, has now clearly shown many of its dark sides. Although many of its types can be recycled, unfortunately it has not yet been possible to really solve the cycle, and the two-faced material is slowly causing an unmanageable problem worldwide.

Although easy formability and machinability are usually mentioned as an advantage, this is also a disadvantage, as it makes the material vulnerable to damage. The pieces that break down in this way – ranging in size from a few micrometers to a few millimeters – pollute the environment and reach everywhere through our waters.

They are present in our stagnant and flowing waters, clouds and rain, in our food, drinking water and in the human body. Its presence has already been demonstrated in human testicles, hearts, lungs, the bloodstream, and even recently in human brains. An investigation has now confirmed that the tiny pieces of plastic really do appear everywhere, as they were recently found in clogged arteries.

The Italian study, conducted by a team led by Raffaele Marfella, a research physician at the University of Campania in Naples, examined fat deposits that had been surgically removed from the patient’s vascular system. During this, it was established that the presence of microplastics could be detected in the samples of 60 percent of the examined persons.

The intervention was performed on patients who were at risk of cerebrovascular accident due to arterial fatty deposits. With the intervention, they wanted to prevent the development of a future stroke. The 257 treated patients were monitored over the course of 34 months, and it was found that the problem may indeed affect many.

While polyethylene was found on the wall of the artery in 60 percent of those examined, the presence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) could also be detected in the fat nodules themselves in 10 percent of them. This is one of the most commonly used types of plastic, which is used in large quantities during construction: water pipes, floor coverings and a number of other household items are also made from it.

This worries doctors, as particles passing through the bloodstream can cause problems in the functioning of the body at many points. This is especially true for the circulatory system and the heart, where they can even cause inflammation or oxidative stress in the cell population that makes up the organ, according to the results of the study.

Based on the results of the research, those patients who had the presence of microplastics in their circulatory system were up to 4.5 times more likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack during the observation period. In the long term, this can lead to serious heart damage, heart rate changes and scarring.