Microplastics Have Been Found in Human Arteries. Here’s Why Doctors Are Paying Attention

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States, a position it has held for well over a decade and one that now accounts for roughly one in every five deaths. At the same time, many of its biggest risk factors, including high blood pressure, overweight and obesity, and type 2 diabetes, continue to rise worldwide. Genetics certainly play a role in your personal risk, but daily habits, what you put on your plate, and how you live day to day matter just as much.

Before we go any further, it’s worth saying this plainly. Get a checkup. Get your blood work done. Know what’s happening inside your body. Wellness is about far more than visible abs or the latest biohacks. I recently ordered my own blood work through InsideTracker, which sent a professional to our home to handle the blood draw and deliver the results. I’ll still review everything at my annual medical visit, but removing the friction made it much easier to stay on top of it.

That said, one thing you won’t find on this panel, or on most standard blood tests, is any measurement of microplastics or nanoplastics in the body.

“Plastic Pollution” and Disease Risk

The use of microplastics and nanoplastics is emerging as a potential risk factor for disease, including cardiovascular, brain, and more. Recent data found that people with microplastics in their arteries had a 400 percent increased risk of a stroke, myocardial infarction, or other cardiovascular problems.

“Microplastics carry with them a complex variety of chemicals that separate from the plastic and spread throughout our bodies—they’ve been found in human tissues and bodily fluids, including the blood, lungs, colon, kidneys, brain, and heart," says John Whyte, MD, MPH, CEO and Executive Vice President of the American Medical Association.

Considering another 2022 study in Environmental International estimates that microplastics are circulating in the blood of 77% of Americans, this certainly raises some concerns, as that’s more than three-fourths of us. 

"Recent estimates on the economic costs of health impacts from the chemicals in plastic demonstrate that U.S. health costs are around $249 billion in plastic-attributable disease burden in 2018, which is likely an underestimation due to limitations on not knowing the full extent of chemical exposure in the population," Whyte says.

Related: Microplastics Found in Brain Affect Area That Controls One Sense in Particular, Study Finds

How to Reduce Exposure to Microplastics

As science continues to emerge, it’s clear that no one is “immune” as we are in what some are calling the plastic age.  The real question is what we can do about it to at least minimize our exposure and our risk? First, reduce plastics when possible. But what does that look like?  

Cut Back on Single-Use Plastics

The first big-ticket items for me, and most of us, are drinking containers, as I slug down a lot of water daily. I make sure I only drink from a reusable bottle and coffee mug, which are both stainless steel and keep hot liquids hot and cold liquids cold, but also aren’t lined with plastic to leach into the foods or drinks themselves. Thank you, Yeti.

Choose Glass or Stainless Steel for Food and Drinks

Another consideration is to use glass or stainless-steel containers for storing and reheating leftovers to avoid hot foods going into plastic containers and avoid reheating in those same plastic containers.  For this, Yeti delivers again, and we have picked up Yeti’s Rambler Bowls, which are amazing for all food prep and storage, with durable lids and stainless steel liners that also keep hot foods hot, cold foods cold, and aren’t lined with plastic. Of course, there are others that can fit the bill as well, with materials that don’t leach, like ceramic or glass bowls.

Rethink Cookware and Cooking Utensils

When plastic and heat mix, there’s a potential for problems, so limiting as much of that exposure as possible can help, which also brings me to cooking pots, pans, and utensils, since many of them rely on chemical coatings to achieve a nonstick surface.  These can wear down over time and ultimately leach into food. We have several stainless steel pans and also recently found and love a brand called Smithey, which is made from cast iron or carbon steel and is free of PFAS (aka forever chemicals). Since we cook daily, we don’t want heat and plastic to mix.

Related: U.S. Heart Disease and Stroke Deaths Decline, But Still Rank as the Leading Killer

Bring Reusable Bags Everywhere

Outside of food and food prep, keeping reusable bags or totes in your car with you can eliminate single-use plastic bags from grocery stores or anywhere else you might encounter them. These disposable bags ultimately get discarded and can still leach into soil and waterways, then ultimately get into the body.  

Look Beyond Food at Clothing and Personal Care

For me, personally, the drinkware, cookware, food storage, and reusable bags were all big changes. I could use an analogy of filling up a bucket with big rocks, which ultimately have the biggest impact on filling it up.  Now there are also some smaller “pebbles” that could fill in additional spaces in the proverbial bucket, which are clothing and personal care products. For this, there are many companies doing their part to eliminate or reduce their single-use plastic within their products and even clothing.

One we’ve been made aware of, and use is Blueland, which makes plastic-free cleaning products and ships them in recyclable, non-plastic bags. They make laundry and dishwasher detergents along with other reusable cleaning supplies (think bathroom, kitchen, glass, etc.) to at least limit some of the plastics in and around your house that also can get into the water system.  

Another product I’ve switched to and love is Humble deodorants, which offers deodorants (that work!) and come in a paperboard packaging. Again, less plastic overall is a win for the earth and our bodies. Similarly, forward-thinking clothing brands, which is one many would not consider in this “plastic age,” are changing the materials they use and even production methods.