Living Near an Ocean Polluted by Microplastics May Increase Cardiometabolic Disease Risk

A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association highlights growing public health concerns around microplastic exposure, particularly in U.S. coastal communities. Researchers found that residents in counties with the highest microplastic contamination—through sea air, seafood, and local groundwater—had increased rates of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

Micro- and nanoplastics are known to trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, and even cell death, contributing to decreased cardiac output and heart scarring. While the authors aren’t advising against coastal living, they emphasize the need for further research to assess risk thresholds and address this emerging environmental hazard.