New Italian research suggests that people suffering severe heart attacks may have substantially higher concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics in their blood than people with stable heart conditions. The finding adds to concerns that plastic pollution could have implications for cardiovascular health, although it does not establish that the particles cause heart attacks.

Researchers compared blood samples from heart attack patients with those from people whose heart disease was stable. The study focused on very small plastic particles, including nanoplastics, which may enter the body through environmental exposure; further research is needed to clarify any biological mechanism and the scale of the risk.