In a startling new discovery, scientists have found plastic particles embedded in the arteries of stroke patients—raising urgent concerns about how deeply plastic pollution may be affecting human health.
Dr. Ross Clark, a vascular surgeon and researcher at the University of New Mexico, led the study, which analyzed plaque build-ups in the carotid arteries. These major vessels supply blood to the brain. His team found over 50 times more microplastic and nanoplastic particles in stroke patients’ arteries compared to individuals without strokes. Even non-stroke patients with arterial plaque showed 16 times more plastic than those with clear arteries.
The findings, unveiled at the American Heart Association’s Vascular Discovery 2025 conference, suggest these tiny plastic fragments may contribute to dangerous arterial blockages, increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
“This is something we didn’t know was happening,” said Dr. Karen Furie, chair of neurology at Brown University. Until now, arterial plaque was known to include fats, calcium, and fibrous tissue, not plastic.
Researchers suspect these plastic particles may interfere with immune system functions and inflame blood vessels, making plaques more dangerous. And since nanoplastics are smaller than the width of a human hair, they can travel easily through the bloodstream undetected.
The study highlights a sobering truth: plastic pollution isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s infiltrating our bodies. With plastic now found from oceans to arteries, researchers say more investigation is urgently needed to determine long-term health effects and how we can protect ourselves.
