Microplastics have been found in human lungs, placenta, and stools. However, microplastic exposure in enclosed human organs has not been studied until now. A study investigated whether microplastics are present in the heart by analyzing heart tissue and blood samples collected from 15 cardiac surgery patients. Electron microscopic and laser-based imaging analysis found nine types of microplastics in five types of heart tissue and pre and postoperative blood samples.
The microplastics detected were up to 469 micrometer and 184 micrometer in diameter in the heart tissue and blood samples, respectively. The detected microplastics include poly (methyl methacrylate), polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinyl chloride. According to the researchers, epicardial adipose tissue, left atrial appendages, and pericardial adipose tissue could not have been exposed to microplastics during surgery.…
