03 Apr ACC25: Microplastics May Be Unrecognized Risk Factor for Stroke

Sai Rahul Ponnana

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Sai Rahul Ponnana, M.S
Advanced Data Analytics Research Analyst
Cardiovascular Research Institute
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Wolstein Research Building,
Cleveland, OH. 44106-7288

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5 mm which have become a pervasive environmental pollutant, detectable in air, water, food, and even human tissues. While their ecological impacts have been well-documented, their influence on human health, particularly cardiovascular health, remains underexplored. Recent mechanistic studies suggest that microplastics can induce inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction, all of which are pathways implicated in chronic disease and ASCVD. In our study, we analyzed a total of 709 U.S. coastal census tracts to investigate the association between marine microplastic concentration data obtained from NOAA NCEI database and the prevalence of stroke and other chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as high blood pressure and diabetes, sourced from CDC places database.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: Our findings from age and sex adjusted Poisson regression model reveal that population in high MP exposure areas had – 30% higher prevalence of stroke (PR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.11–1.54), 26% higher prevalence of diabetes (PR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08–1.48) and 13% higher prevalence of high blood pressure (PR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.02–1.24). Furthermore, using Machine Learning – XGBoost and SHAP analysis, microplastics exposure was identified as a top independent predictor of stroke prevalence even after adjusting for 154 environmental and sociodemographic covariates such as median household income, age, Social Vulnerability Index, traffic proximity, PM2.5 etc. derived from various open sources. 

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Our results suggest that environmental exposure to microplastics may be a previously unrecognized risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, particularly stroke. Given the widespread presence of microplastics and the increasing burden of chronic diseases globally, these findings are a call to broaden our understanding of environmental determinants of health. This study also highlights the importance of environmental justice: communities with high MP exposure often have lower socioeconomic status, reduced access to healthcare, and greater exposure to other pollutants. The intersection of these factors may amplify health risks.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study?

Response: Our results suggest that environmental exposure to microplastics may be a previously unrecognized risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, particularly stroke. Given the widespread presence of microplastics and the increasing burden of chronic diseases globally, these findings are a call to broaden our understanding of environmental determinants of health. This study also highlights the importance of environmental justice: communities with high MP exposure often have lower socioeconomic status, reduced access to healthcare, and greater exposure to other pollutants. The intersection of these factors may amplify health risks.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?

Response: Our results suggest that environmental exposure to microplastics may be a previously unrecognized risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, particularly stroke. Given the widespread presence of microplastics and the increasing burden of chronic diseases globally, these findings are a call to broaden our understanding of environmental determinants of health. This study also highlights the importance of environmental justice: communities with high MP exposure often have lower socioeconomic status, reduced access to healthcare, and greater exposure to other pollutants. The intersection of these factors may amplify health risks.

Citation:

Ponnana presened the study, “Microplastic Concentration, Social, and Environmental Features and Their Association with Chronic Disease Prevalence: An Analysis Across U.S. Census Tracts,” Sunday, March 30, 2025, at the  American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session2025  in Moderated Poster

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Last Updated on April 3, 2025 by Marie Benz MD FAAD