Tiny plastic fragments found in the plaques of more than half of clogged artery patients

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-03-07 09:00

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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.