Microplastic Exposure as an Emerging Cardiovascular Risk Factor: Implications for Public Health and Prevention

Background: The increasing production and use of plastic materials contribute to the widespread distribution of microplastic (MP) and nanoplastic (NP) particles in the environment. Recent studies have reported microplastics in human blood, vascular tissues (Leslie et al., 2022; Marfella et al., 2024). Available evidence indicates that MP and NP exposure may be linked to biological disturbances such as chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and prothrombotic activity, which could be relevant to cardiovascular risk (Prattichizzo et al., 2024; Zheng et al., 2024). Aim: This narrative review aims to present current evidence on microplastic and nanoplastic exposure as a developing public health concern, with particular attention to cardiovascular risk, prevention, and wider societal consequences. Methods: A narrative review of scientific literature was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. Studies published between 2019 and 2025 were considered, particularly experimental, clinical, and epidemiological papers addressing the cardiovascular effects of MP and NP exposure. Results: Recent research has identified microplastics in cardiovascular tissues, including arterial plaques and thrombi, suggesting a possible relationship between microplastic burden and cardiovascular events (Marfella et al., 2024; Wang et al., 2024). The most frequently proposed mechanisms include inflammatory activation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and coagulation pathway involvement. Although current evidence is mostly observational, the consistency of reported findings raises concern about the possible long-term health consequences of chronic microplastic exposure. Conclusions: Microplastic exposure may constitute an emerging public health issue with possible implications for cardiovascular risk at the population level. Awareness, preventive strategies, and policy-level interventions may help reduce future health burdens. Further studies are needed to clarify causal relationships and support evidence-based recommendations for clinical and public health practice.