Microplastics Found in 84% of Serious Heart Attack Patients
Researchers found plastic in coronary blood most often during severe heart attacks, with smoking the strongest predictor and nearly 84% of patients testing positive.
- On July 14, 2026, researchers published a study in the European Heart Journal detecting microplastics in coronary blood, with significantly higher concentrations in patients experiencing severe heart attacks.
- Cardiologists examined 61 patients undergoing coronary angiography, comparing those suffering severe heart attacks, chronic coronary syndrome, or showing normal angiograms.
- Smoking and long-term air pollution exposure strongly correlated with plastic detection, with polyethylene appearing in 97% of positive cases and elevated inflammatory markers present in coronary blood.
- Professor Emanuele Barbato of Sapienza University of Rome led the research, which authors describe as exploratory; an accompanying editorial by Professor Andreas Daiber noted the findings add to research on environmental pollutants.
- Protecting cardiovascular health in the Anthropocene increasingly depends on reducing environmental pollutants, as plastics may soon play a central role in the growing burden of risks facing populations.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Research by Luigi Vanvitelli at the University of Campania, Italy, found that microplastic or nanoplastic particles were present in the blood of heart attack patients. These particles increase the risk of heart attack by increasing inflammation and oxidative stress.
Microplastics have been found in the blood of heart attack patients, and smoking and air pollution can increase exposure.
Microplastics detected in most heart attack patients' blood in startling new study
Most heart attack patients have significantly higher concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics in their blood compared to individuals with stable heart conditions, new research found.
The presence of plastic particles in the blood could increase the risk of myocardial infarction, warning Italian researchers.
The presence of plastic particles in the blood could increase the risk of myocardial infarction, warning Italian researchers.
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