Unanticipated Presence: Researchers Identify Microplastics in Human Cardiac Tissue

Microplastics have been detected in the cardiac tissues of patients who have undergone heart surgeries, implicating invasive medical interventions as a potential avenue for the introduction of these particles.

Microplastics are ubiquitous; they have been found in various aspects of our environment, such as food, water, air, and even in some human tissues. Yet, the scrutiny of internal organs, which do not have a direct interface with the environment, has been relatively scarce. A recent pilot study with participants who had cardiac surgeries shows that many heart tissues contain microplastics. The study, newly published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal, also presents evidence indicating that the presence of microplastics in these tissues may have been unintentionally introduced during surgical operations.

Understanding the Nature of Microplastics

Microplastics are minute pieces of plastic with dimensions smaller than 5 millimeters, roughly equivalent to the size of a pencil’s eraser. Past studies have demonstrated that these particles can infiltrate the human body through oral, nasal, and other bodily passages connected to the external environment. Nevertheless, there is a lack of comprehensive information regarding the potential exposure and consequent impact of microplastics on fully enclosed organs and tissues within the human body.

In light of this, researchers Kun Hua, Xiubin Yang, and their team set out to explore the possibility that microplastics could have penetrated the cardiovascular systems of individuals, either through direct or indirect routes.

Key Research Observations

The research team gathered heart tissue samples from 15 participants during cardiac surgeries and also took pre- and post-operative blood samples from half of these individuals. Employing laser direct infrared imaging for analysis, the researchers identified particles ranging from 20 to 500 micrometers in width, composed of eight different kinds of plastic materials, including polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, and poly(methyl methacrylate).

The analysis uncovered the presence of numerous individual microplastic fragments in the majority of tissue samples, although the quantities and materials varied among participants. Plastic particles were also found in all blood samples, and post-operative analyses showed a reduction in their average size along with an increased diversity in plastic types.

Despite the limited number of participants, the study’s authors posit that they have offered initial evidence that a range of microplastics can accumulate and remain in cardiac and associated internal tissues. Moreover, they emphasize that invasive medical procedures could serve as an underrecognized pathway for microplastic exposure, facilitating direct entry into the bloodstream and internal tissues. Additional research is necessary to fully comprehend the implications of microplastics on cardiovascular health and outcomes post-cardiac surgeries, the study concludes.

Funding Acknowledgement

The research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Beijing Natural Science Foundation.

Reference: “Detection of Various Microplastics in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery” by Yunxiao Yang, Enzehua Xie, Zhiyong Du, Zhan Peng, Zhongyi Han, Linyi Li, Rui Zhao, Yanwen Qin, Mianqi Xue, Fengwang Li, Kun Hua, and Xiubin Yang, published on July 13, 2023, in Environmental Science & Technology.
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07179

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