Heart attacks and erectile problems: microplastics in your body

A study on microplastics and vascular diseases published in the New England Journal of Medicine has provided worrying results. In patients who underwent surgery on a constriction of the neck vessels, scientists found microplastics in the constrictions of the vessels in 58.4% of the cases examined. These patients did not show any symptoms in everyday life, as the constrictions in the vessels did not yet completely block the arteries. However, this fact makes the disease particularly dangerous, as it remains undetected for a long time and can lead to sudden serious events such as heart attacks or strokes.

The presence of microplastics in the plaques was not a harmless coincidence. The affected patients had a 4.5 times higher risk of serious cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes, or even death compared to patients without microplastics in their plaques.

In addition, the scientists found increased levels of inflammatory messengers in the affected vascular deposits. These substances are signs that microplastics cause inflammation, which damages the arteries and causes unstable deposits to form. Such deposits are particularly dangerous because they can detach and block blood vessels, leading to heart attacks or strokes.

Microplastics and erectile dysfunction: An underestimated risk

The results of a study by the University of Miami, which detect microplastic particles in the penile tissue of patients with erectile dysfunction (potency disorder), are explicitly relevant for men. In four out of five investigated cases, various types of plastic were identified, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene. These plastics are often found in food packaging and other plastic products and can enter the body through food.

The presence of these particles in the tissue can damage the vessels in the penis, which are critical to maintaining an erection. A study from the University of Miami examined tissue samples from patients with erectile dysfunction and found microplastic particles, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene, which were linked to impaired vascular function. This suggests that microplastics not only pose a problem for the heart and circulatory system, but can also significantly impair other important physical functions.

How do microplastics get into our bodies?

The source of pollution comes largely from our everyday life and lifestyle: microplastics enter our organism through plastic products that we use every day, through our food, drinking water or even through the air. According to a study by the Fraunhofer Institute, around 30% of microplastics in Germany come from tire wear, while plastic products and packaging as well as textiles are other important sources. Once absorbed, the tiny particles can no longer be broken down and are deposited in various tissues. The health consequences range from local inflammation to damage to the cardiovascular system.

What can you do about it?

Real sustainability starts with consciously choosing products that prove through certificates that they really deliver what they promise. Bio-based materials that are biodegradable make it possible to completely avoid fossil plastic, so that microplastics do not even enter the environment in the first place. Companies like Razeco start right here and create alternatives that are free from fossil plastics. Our mission is to ensure that up to 100,000 tons of fossil plastic from conventional shaving products do not even enter the environmental cycle every year. This shows that consistently looking at sustainable alternatives not only makes greenwashing impossible, but can also make a real contribution to a plastic-free future. With your decisions, you have the opportunity to actively contribute to avoiding microplastics from the ground up by using transparent and certified products.