Tiny plastic fragments found in the plaques of more than half of clogged artery patients
Observational study: A study in which the subject is observed to see if there is a relationship between two or more things (eg: the consumption of diet drinks and obesity). Observational studies cannot prove that one thing causes another, only that they are linked.
Case study: A study involving observations of a single patient or group of patients.
People: This is a study based on research using people.
A study of 257 patients with carotid artery disease, where fatty clumps called plaques form in the arteries, found the plastic polyethylene in the artery plaques of 150 of them (58.4%), and another plastic, polyvinyl chloride, in the plaques of 31 patients (12.1%). Using powerful microscopes, the researchers could see the jagged fragments of plastic among the fatty plaques. Following up the patients for 34 months, the plastics appeared to increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and death, compared with patients who didn't have any plastics in their system, the authors say.
Journal/conference: New England Journal of Medicine
Research: Paper
Organisation/s: The University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Italy
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