Ancona, 8 March 2024 – Groundbreaking research conducted by Inrca and the Marche Polytechnic University has unveiled a startling discovery that could revolutionize healthcare applications. For the first time, microplastics have been identified in the plaques of human arteries, a factor that could potentially double the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The study, published in the esteemed ‘The New England Journal of Medicine’, was coordinated by Prof Giuseppe Paolisso of the University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’.
Collaborating with numerous research institutions, both Italian and foreign, including Harvard Medical School and the IRCCS Multimedica Milan, the study has shed light on the dangers of micro and nanoplastics on human health. The research involved 257 patients over 65 years old who underwent endarterectomy for asymptomatic carotid stenosis. Researchers from the Polytechnic University of Marche, Laura Graciotti and Gianluca Fulgenzi, successfully identified the presence of micro and nanoplastics within atherosclerotic plaques through advanced analysis techniques.
The significance of this discovery has been highlighted in an editorial in the journal, describing it as a “revolutionary discovery” that links ingested or inhaled microplastics to cardiovascular diseases in humans. This finding underscores the detrimental impacts of plastics on both human health and the environment, revealing previously unknown effects on heart health.
The Magnificent Rector of the Polytechnic University of Marche, Prof. Gian Luca Gregori, emphasized the importance of collaborative research between universities and research institutions, emphasizing the societal, economic, and health implications of such discoveries. This study showcases the critical role of research in advancing our understanding of human health and well-being, while also emphasizing the need for further investigation into the effects of microplastics on cardiovascular health.