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Microplastics and Atherosclerosis: Mechanisms
Raffaele Marfella1,2, Francesco Prattichizzo3, Michelangela Barbieri1,2
1Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy;
Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology
|January 23, 2026
Summary
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) may impact cardiovascular health by disrupting biological processes. Further research using advanced detection techniques is needed to clarify the link between MNPs and cardiovascular diseases.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Cardiovascular Science
Background:
- Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are environmental pollutants with potential health implications.
- Exposure can occur through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact, leading to disruptions in cellular processes.
- MNPs are suspected to contribute to cardiovascular diseases, but the direct link is not yet fully established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current techniques for detecting and characterizing MNPs in human tissues.
- To summarize the known mechanisms by which MNPs affect human health, with a focus on the cardiovascular system.
- To highlight the need for further research to understand the impact of MNPs on cardiovascular health.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing analytical techniques for MNP detection and characterization.
- Synthesis of current scientific understanding of MNP interactions with biological systems.
- Focus on studies investigating MNP effects on cardiovascular health.
Main Results:
- MNPs can disrupt key biological pathways including autophagy, inflammation, oxidative stress, immune response, and vascular function.
- Current data is inconsistent regarding the correlation between MNP concentration in tissues and cardiovascular disease onset.
- Advancements in analytical techniques are crucial for future research.
Conclusions:
- MNPs pose a potential risk to cardiovascular health through various biological disruption mechanisms.
- More robust analytical methods are required to accurately quantify MNP presence and understand their dose-dependent effects.
- Further prospective studies are necessary to establish a definitive link between MNP exposure and cardiovascular disease development.
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