Microplastics in Humans: Tiny Plastic Particles Found in Blood Clots in Brain, Heart, Legs [STUDY]

In a new study, researchers discovered that microplastics were present in blood clots from the heart, brain, and lower legs.

These blood clots were all surgically removed from arteries within the heart and brain and from deep veins of the lower legs. Findings come months after microplastics were found to be present in over 50% of fatty deposits of clogged arteries.

Microplastics in Blood Clots

The study was a small one that involved just 30 patients, which is a figure that does not come close to the 257 participants of an arterial plaque study from March this year.

Nevertheless, this new study, entitled "Multimodal detection and analysis of microplastics in human thrombi from multiple anatomically distinct sites," is similar to how the earlier team discovered how microplastic presence in plaques elevated the subsequent risk of people developing a heart attack or stroke.

The Chinese team behind the recent study also discovered a possible link between microplastic levels in blood clots and the severity of the disease.

As part of the study, the 30 participants needed to undergo the surgical removal of their blood clots after experiencing heart attack, stroke, or deep vein thrombosis.

The participants had an average age of 65 years. They all had various health histories and unique lifestyles, such as alcohol use, smoking, diabetes, or high blood pressure. The participants all used plastic products each day and were split roughly between urban and rural locales.

With chemical analyses, microplastics of different sizes and shapes were picked up in 24 out of the studied 30 blood clots. They were detected at variable concentrations.

Tests also distinguished the same microplastic types that were detected in the arterial plaque study. These microplastics were polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The detection of such particular microplastics does not come as a surprise. PVC, which is typically used in construction, and PE, which is typically used in shopping bags and bottles, are among the most common plastics that are produced.

The researchers were also able to detect polyamide 66 within the clots.

Among the 15 types that the study identified, PE was the most prevalent one that accounted for 54% of the analyzed particles.

The study also discovered that individuals with higher microplastic levels within their blood clots had higher levels of D-dimer compared to patients who did not have microplastics detected within thrombi.

D-dimer is a type of protein fragment that is released with the breakdown of blood clots. It is typically not present in blood plasma.

When a blood test indicates high D-dimer levels, this could indicate blood clot presence. This led the researchers to think that microplastics could be massing with one another in blood to worsen clotting.

However, further study is necessary to investigate this hypothesis. Since the study did not gauge microplastics in the blood of patients and is an observational study in nature, it may only establish links.

Health Risks of Microplastics

Clinician-scientist Tingting Wang from the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College says that the findings suggest that such tiny plastic particles could be a possible risk factor linked to vascular health.

Further study with a bigger sample size is important in order to identify exposure sources and validate the trends that the study was able to observe.

As microplastics were previously found in samples of human blood and lung tissues, one may imagine how the tiny plastic pieces enter the human body from the environment.

Previously, a 2023 study found that microplastics' chemical fingerprints were present in 16 blood clots that were surgically removed.

The recent study shows the fast-moving pace of the field, from picking up microplastics in the human body and examining their effects on mice and cells to seeing how they affect human health.

However, this comes as plastic production keeps going up as fossil fuel firms ramp up their plastic outputs.

The researchers say that human exposure to microplastics cannot be avoided. Nevertheless, their potential health implications and great presence have sparked growing concerns.