Scientists have made an alarming and worrying discovery: Microplastics, often seen in food packaging and paints, have been found for the first time in a human heart.
Humans May Absorb Microplastics via Skin, Mouth, and Nose
According to the research published by the American Chemical Society, the disturbing observation was revealed by a team of scientists from Beijing Anzhen Hospital in China who evaluated the heart tissue of 15 patients who had cardiovascular surgery.
The human body may absorb microplastics, which are particles smaller than 5 millimeters across, or roughly the size of a pencil eraser, via the skin, mouth, and nose. A study from last year revealed that individuals ingest microscopic plastic particles at a rate of around 5 grams each week. That is about the weight of a credit card.
In a press release, researchers led by Dr. Kun Hua and Dr. Xiubin Yang intended to find out whether these particles might reach the cardiovascular systems of humans via both indirect and direct exposure.
The New York Post reported that the researchers obtained blood samples and cardiovascular tissue samples from all of the participants in the study and evaluated the patients' hearts as part of their research.
In most tissue samples, they discovered hundreds to thousands of microplastic bits. And in all of the blood samples, they identified plastic pieces.
Different Types of Plastic Found in Various Heart Tissues
There were nine various types of plastic discovered in five different kinds of heart tissue, The New York Post reported. The research also uncovered indications implying that the patients may have been unknowingly exposed to microplastics during the surgical procedures.
Poly(methyl methacrylate), a material often employed as a shatter-resistant substitute to glass, was discovered in three separate locations in the heart. Researchers concluded that exposure to these particles could not have occurred accidentally during surgery.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), often used in window frames, drainage pipes, paint, and more, was discovered, as well as polyethylene terephthalate, used in clothes and food storage containers.
The research team stated, "The detection of in vivo MPs [microplastics] is alarming, and more studies are necessary to investigate how the MPs enter the cardiac tissues and the potential effects of MPs [microplastics] on long-term prognosis after cardiac surgery."
Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna discovered that tiny plastic particles made their way into the human food chain via discarded packaging. They ended up in everything from table salt to seafood to drinking water.
Metabolic illnesses, including obesity, diabetes, and chronic liver disease have been related to the alterations in the gastrointestinal system brought on by the microplastic.
