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Microplastics in blood clots increase risk of heart attacks and strokes
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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A recent study published in the journal EBioMedicine aimed to investigate the impact of microplastic pollution on human health. Researchers from China analyzed and quantified the mass concentration, physical properties, and polymer types of microplastics derived from blood clots extracted from deep veins of the lower extremities, as well as coronary and cerebral arteries.
The durability, versatility, and affordability of plastics have made them an integral part of our lives, but have also led to widespread plastic pollution and the persistence of microplastics in the environment. Discarded plastic products often break down into micro- and nanoplastics that pollute the atmosphere, soil, and water. Microplastics are divided into two types: primary microplastics, which are produced for medical devices and cosmetics and are smaller than 5 mm, and secondary microplastics, which are formed when larger plastic products break down due to chemical or physical influences.
Microplastics have been found in a variety of human tissues and organs, including blood, sputum, liver, heart, lungs, testicles, endometrium, placenta, and amniotic fluid. Studies have also found microplastics in blood clots, or thrombi, suggesting that microplastics may pose a high risk to vascular health.
In this study, the researchers used multimodal techniques such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy and laser-assisted infrared spectroscopy to analyze and quantify the polymer types, mass concentrations and physical properties of microplastics derived from thrombi from three major blood vessels - deep veins, coronary arteries and intracranial arteries.
The study included patients who required venous or arterial thrombectomy after myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or deep vein thrombosis, provided that their thrombus was collected immediately after surgery, they had no stents, artificial bones, or grafts, and they had never used therapeutic or diagnostic devices containing microplastics. Information on demographic characteristics, medical history, lipid profile, and electrolyte panel were also collected for each participant.
The results showed that microplastics composed of different types of polymers and with different physical characteristics were present in varying concentrations in thrombi formed in large human arteries and veins. Microplastic levels in human thrombi were positively correlated with the severity of ischemic strokes.
Of 30 thrombi obtained from patients with myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, or ischemic stroke, 24 (80%) contained microplastics. The median concentration of microplastics in thrombi from myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, or ischemic stroke was 141.80 μg/g, 69.62 μg/g, and 61.75 μg/g, respectively.
The main polymers identified in the microplastics recovered from the blood clots were polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and polyamide 66. Laser infrared spectroscopy also showed that of the 15 types of microplastics, polyethylene was the most dominant, with a diameter of 35.6 micrometres, accounting for 53.6% of all microplastics recovered.
Levels of D-dimer, a biomarker of hypercoagulability, were significantly higher in the groups in which microplastics were detected in clots compared to the groups in which microplastics were not detected, indicating a direct link between the concentration of microplastics in the body and the risk of thrombotic events.
Overall, the study found that thrombi extracted from large blood vessels of patients with myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke or deep vein thrombosis contain significant concentrations of microplastics of varying polymer types and physical properties. Moreover, the risk of thrombotic events and disease severity increase with increasing microplastic levels.