Vita Gazette

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Microplastics Found in Blood Clots in Heart, Brain, And Legs

Vita gazette – A new study by researchers found that microplastics in blood clots were surgically removed from arteries in the heart and brain and deep veins in the lower legs.

The danger of plastic now manifests itself in every field. We are no longer just talking about microplastics in water or food. The results of striking new research on these microplastics, which reach the human body and even the baby in the womb, have been published. Accordingly, various shapes and sizes of microplastics were detected in 24 of the 30 blood clots examined, using chemical analysis techniques at varying rates. According to a newly published study in the journal Biomedicine, in addition to microplastics found in blood, microplastics are now also found in blood clots in areas such as the heart, brain and legs.

The production of plastic is on a relentless rise, with fossil fuel companies increasing their plastics output. This, coupled with the omnipresence of microplastics in the environment and everyday products, makes human exposure to microplastics inevitable.  The widespread presence of microplastics and their potential health implications, including increased risk of heart attack and stroke, have sparked significant concern. We must address this issue to safeguard our health and the environment.

Earlier this year, a study of alarming proportions was conducted. Scientists examining clogged arteries reported that over 50% of the fat deposits contained microplastics. This was the first data to establish a direct link between microplastics and their effects on human health. A subsequent study in China further confirmed these findings, announcing the presence of microplastics in blood clots in critical areas such as the heart, brain, and legs. Despite the small sample size of 30 patients, the study’s implications are severe, underscoring the urgent need for action.

As in previous studies, microplastics found in the human body increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. In the new study, as the level of microplastics found in blood clots increases, there is a potential severe relationship between diseases.

The 30 patients in the study underwent surgery after suffering conditions such as a stroke, heart attack or a condition in which clots form in the veins, usually in the legs or pelvis. Patients with an average age of 65 years had a variety of health histories and lifestyles, including smoking, alcohol use, high blood pressure or diabetes. In addition, they used plastic products every day and lived roughly between rural and urban areas. Microplastics of varying sizes were detected in 24 30 blood clots examined.

The sizes of microplastics were detected in 24 30 blood clots studied at varying concentrations.

Testing also identified the same types of plastics as those detected in the Italian-led study of arterial plaques: polyvinyl chloride polyethene. The result isn’t surprising as PVC (often used in construction) and PE (primarily used in bottles and shopping bags) are two of the most commonly produced plastics.

The new study also detected polyamide 66 in the clots, a standard plastic used in fabric and textiles. Of the 15 types identified in the survey, PE was the most common plastic, making up 54 per cent of the particles analysed. The researchers also found that people with higher levels of microplastics in their blood clots also had higher D-dimer levels than patients with no microplastics detected in thrombi. D-dimer is a protein fragment released when blood clots break down; it’s not usually present in blood plasma. So, high D-dimer levels on a blood test can indicate the presence of blood clots, leading researchers to suspect that microplastics might somehow mass together in blood to make clotting worse.

“These findings suggest that microplastics may serve as a potential risk factor associated with vascular health,” Tingting Wang, a clinician-scientist at the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College in China, and colleagues write in their paper. 

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