Overview

• The study found 18% higher diabetes prevalence, 7% rise in coronary artery disease and 9% more strokes among residents of counties with very high marine microplastic pollution.
• These associations remain robust after adjusting for age, gender, socioeconomic status, healthcare access and environmental factors.
• Researchers warn that microplastics seep into drinking water, food and air when ocean contamination infiltrates groundwater via seawater intrusion.
• The research team is designing follow-up studies to measure how microplastic exposure influences inflammation and cardiovascular stress biomarkers.
• Lead author Sarju Ganatra and colleagues call on policymakers to treat plastic waste as a public health crisis and enforce stricter regulations.