Microplastic exposure is associated with a higher prevalence of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) including hypertension, diabetes and stroke, according to a study presented at ACC.25 in Chicago.

The study, led by Sai Rahul Ponnana, MS, et al., identified 555 U.S. coastal census tracts within 200 meters of the shoreline of large bodies of water. For each tract, microplastic concentration data from 2015-2019, provided by the National Centers for Environmental Information, were compared to 2019 data on the incidence of high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and cancer provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Results analyzed using a machine learning model placed microplastics in the top 10 among 154 socioeconomic and environmental factors (including median household income, employment rate, social vulnerability index and particulate matter) for predicting NCDs. Researchers found a positive, possibly dose-response correlation between microplastic concentration and high blood pressure (r=0.24), diabetes (r=0.3) and stroke (r=0.26), but a negative association with cancer.

Researchers also found a significant association with high blood pressure (F=7.351), diabetes (F=12.07), stroke (F=8.798) and cancer (F=3.986) (p<0.001 for all). A machine learning model found that microplastic concentration was a significant predictor of stroke prevalence in particular, comparable to factors such as minority race and lack of health insurance.

The researchers note this study provides initial evidence linking microplastic exposure and an impact on cardiovascular health. "The environment plays a very important role in our health, especially cardiovascular health," says Ponnana. "As a result, taking care of our environment means taking care of ourselves."

An unrelated study also presented at ACC.25 illustrated the ubiquity of microplastics in everyday life and the possible cardiovascular risk they pose. Researchers Eesha Nachnani, et al., found microplastics in 100% of analyzed blood samples and that a significant proportion of patients (58%-100%) had microplastics within their arterial plaques.

Results showed a strong correlation between presence of microplastics in plaques and increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke and death. Patients with acute coronary syndromes, particularly those with acute MI, had higher concentrations of microplastics in their system.

Nachnani, et al., called this "a startling revelation, linking environmental pollution to increased atherosclerotic risk and severe cardiovascular events," highlighting "the urgency for further research."

Clinical Topics: Acute Coronary Syndromes

Keywords: ACC Annual Scientific Session, ACC25, Socioeconomic Factors, Microplastics, Environmental Pollution, Acute Coronary Syndrome