The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a paper titled “Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events,” which detected the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in carotid artery plaque, with a higher risk of a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from any cause at 34 months follow-up than those in whom MNPs were not detected. Although this study did not establish a causal effect, it points to an association between MNPs and cardiovascular events, necessitating further research. Regardless, the results are jarring and concerning; it immediately made me travel back in time to my school days when we saw a documentary about plastic pollution, in which sea life was getting destroyed because of irresponsible garbage disposal and plastic being mistakenly eaten by many marine species. Today, we humans have also become victims of plastic, with it accumulating in our systems and causing great harm.

Our worlds are inundated with plastic; it is omnipresent. We are exposed to products right after we wake up—from toothpaste, toothbrushes, and cosmetics to our clothing from dusk to dawn; it’s all-pervasive. Microplastics can enter the body through inhalation from cleaning products or carpets, shedding synthetic fibers into indoor air, ingestion from food packaging or bottled water, or even through dermal absorption. Recently, I learned that thermal receipts are a source of toxic bisphenols such as BPS or BPA and that hand sanitizers increase their absorption through the skin. We are also exposed indirectly by air and dust pollution. Microplastics and nanoplastics, after gaining access to our body by these various modes, travel through the bloodstream to accumulate in various tissues, including the arteries. MNPs are known to cause disruption in the endocrine system and gut microbiome and increase the risk of certain cancers. This is a developing field of research, but we need to take deliberate and mindful steps to mitigate our exposure.

Here are some steps we can take to reduce our plastic footprint:

• Say no to thermal receipts; opt for email receipts.
• Reduce single-use plastics.
• Use stainless steel/glass containers.
• Wash clothes in cold water: This can help reduce the shedding of microplastic fibers from synthetic clothing.
• Swap microplastics in cosmetics for natural products.
• Limit processed foods with extensive plastic packaging.

It is important to initiate a dialogue among communities and increase awareness about the sources and detrimental effects of plastic. By making informed choices and advocating for change, we can break free from plastic’s invisible grip and create a healthier future for ourselves and the environment. Remember, every small step counts.

Neha Pidatala is a physician and can be reached on Twitter @DrNehaPidatala.