Core IM | Internal Medicine Podcast #172 Microplastics and Macro CV Health Problems: Beyond Journal Club on APACHe Study with NEJM Group
Mar 5, 2025
Dive into the untapped world of microplastics and their alarming connection to cardiovascular health. Discover how microplastics infiltrate our bodies and their potential role in heart disease, as highlighted by the APAChE study. The discussion navigates the challenges of educating families about plastic exposure, especially for children, and emphasizes the urgent need for further research. With a focus on informed decision-making, the podcast sheds light on a pressing environmental health issue that affects us all.
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Ubiquity and Penetration of Microplastics
- Microplastics are tiny particles from plastics that can enter our bodies through ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption.
- These particles have been found in various human tissues including liver, lungs, blood, and breast milk.
Bradford Hill Criteria Applied
- The Bradford Hill criteria help evaluate if an epidemiological association is causative, considering strength, plausibility, temporality, dose-response, and consistency.
- Microplastic research meets several criteria but still lacks definitive proof for causation, especially temporality and dose-response evidence.
Microplastics Present in Atherosclerotic Plaque
- The APAChE study found microplastics, specifically polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride, in carotid atherosclerotic plaques.
- Patients with plaques containing microplastics had a significantly higher risk (4.5 times) of cardiovascular events.