Study Links Microplastics in Blood Clots to Elevated Cardiovascular Risks

In a recent study published in the journal EBioMedicine, researchers explored how microplastic affects human health. They examined blood clots taken from deep veins, as well as from arteries in the heart and brain. The study focused on measuring the amount, physical characteristics, and types of microplastics present in these blood clots.

Microplastics, tiny pieces of plastic less than 5 millimetres in size, are a growing concern for human health. When we consume food or water contaminated with microplastics, these particles can enter our bodies and accumulate in various organs and tissues. Research suggests that microplastics may have harmful effects on human health, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of hormonal balance.

In humans, microplastics have been detected in blood, sputum, liver, heart, lungs, testes, endometrium, placenta, and amniotic fluid. Studies have even found microplastics in blood clots. Since the formation of blood clots is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, these findings indicate that microplastics could significantly threaten vascular health.

In this study, researchers used various methods to examine and measure the kinds of materials, amounts, and physical characteristics of microplastics found in blood clots from three significant blood vessels: deep veins, coronary arteries, and intracranial arteries.

The participants included individuals who needed surgery to remove blood clots after experiencing heart attacks, strokes, or deep vein thrombosis. They then analysed the blood clot samples for microplastics, focusing on ten different types of polymers and used microscopy and spectroscopy to study the size, quantity, and shape of the particles.

The results showed that microplastics, made from different materials and with various physical traits, were present in different amounts in blood clots that formed in major arteries and veins. These microplastic levels were higher in patients who had severe ischemic strokes.

Out of 30 blood clots from patients with heart attacks, deep vein clots, or ischemic strokes, 24 (80%) contained microplastics. The average concentration of microplastics in the clots was 141.80 μg/g for heart attack cases, 69.62 μg/g for deep vein thrombosis cases, and 61.75 μg/g for ischemic stroke cases.

The findings revealed that blood clots taken from major blood vessels of patients with heart attacks, ischemic strokes, or deep vein thrombosis contained notable amounts of microplastics with different polymer types and characteristics. Additionally, it was found that higher levels of microplastics correlated with an increased risk of thrombotic events and more severe disease outcomes.

Reference: Wang, T., Yi, Z., Liu, X., Cai, Y., Huang, X., Fang, J., Shen, R., Lu, W., Xiao, Y., Zhuang, W., & Guo, S. (2024). Multimodal detection and analysis of microplastics in human thrombi from multiple anatomically distinct sites. EBioMedicine, DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105118