Undiseased and diseased abdominal aortas contain environmentally relevant micronanoplastics.
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM.
- 2Department and Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Sciences, University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, NM.
- 3Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM.
- 4Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, NM.
- 5Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of New Mexico, School of Engineering, Albuquerque, NM.
- 6Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM.
Abstract
Background
Plastics production has accelerated, with most products ultimately residing in the environment. Plastics degrade into micro- (<5 mm) and nano- (<1000 nm) plastic particles (MNPs) that can be ingested or inhaled by humans. In the literature, MNPs have been found in higher concentrations in diseased arteries, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Studies have found MNPs in tissue from ascending aortic dissections, but data on infrarenal aortic aneurysms, occlusive plaques, and cadaveric aortas have not been reported.Methods
MNPs from aortic aneurysmal walls, aortic occlusive plaques, and fresh cadaveric aortas were measured using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy; the MNPs assessed included polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, styrene-butadiene (SBR), poly(methyl methacrylate), polycarbonate, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon 6, and nylon 66. Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy was used to visualize MNPs and characterize the milieu of a single aortic plaque for hypothesis generation.Results
Nine aneurysms (n = 9 male; mean age, 71 years), six occlusive plaques (n = 4 male; mean age, 67 years), and twelve cadaveric aortas (n = 4 male; mean age, 35 years) were collected. In non-atherosclerotic, cadaveric aortas, the most prevalent polymers were PE (33.7 μg/g tissue), PVC (33.5 μg/g), and PP (21.3 μg/g). In atherosclerotic cadaveric aortas, the most prevalent polymers were PE (99.5 μg/g), PP (66.7 μg/g), and PVC (58 μg/g). In aneurysms, the most prevalent polymers were PE (115.8 μg/g), SBR (114.7 μg/g), and PVC (67.3 μg/g). In plaques, the most prevalent polymers were PE (745.5 μg/g), PVC (47.5 μg/g), and SBR (40.3 μg/g). Numerous within-group differences between polymers were noted, often following a common theme of which was the most prevalent. Single plaque scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy revealed shard-like MNPs surrounded by calcium/phosphorus, suggesting that MNPs accumulate within plaque calcifications in occlusive disease.Conclusions
Detectable levels of MNPs were found in aortic atherosclerotic occlusive plaques, aortic aneurysms, and both normal and diseased cadaveric aortas. Nanoplastics were visualized within plaque calcifications in occlusive disease. Further study is needed to elucidate the mechanisms through which MNPs play a role in atherosclerotic and degenerative vascular disease development.Clinical relevance
This work examines the levels of micronanoplastics in human aortic aneurysms and aortoiliac atherosclerotic plaques and reports the levels in healthy and diseased cadaveric aortic tissues. No clear associations between age and micronanoplastic levels were demonstrated among patients. Of the polymers measured, polyethene, polyvinyl chloride, and polypropylene were the most common. These data not only add to the growing literature suggesting that micronanoplastic particles accumulate in atherosclerotic lesions but also provide valuable insights regarding the micronanoplastic content of healthy arteries. Future work should investigate the mechanistic role, if any, of micronanoplastics in the pathophysiology of vascular atherosclerotic disease.
Related
- Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of Nanomaterials Drive Photochemical Production of Reactive Species and Pollutant Degradation in Surface Waters
- Trophic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of nanoplastics induces slight modulation of the antioxidant system in the estuarine bivalve Scrobicularia plana
- Ecophysiological and Transcriptomic Responses of Mangrove Seedlings to Environmentally Relevant Cu-Pb-Cd Combined-Metal Stress.
- Sol-Gel-Encapsulated Biofilms on Biochar Effectively Degrade PCBs and Extend Biodegradation Activity under Environmentally Relevant Conditions.
- From compost-amended soil to plant tissues: field quantification of environmentally relevant polystyrene nanoplastics and limited translocation in Holcus lanatus L.
BibTeX
@article{massie2026undiseased,
title = {{Undiseased and diseased abdominal aortas contain environmentally relevant micronanoplastics.}},
author = {Pierce L Massie and Marcus A Garcia and Daniel F Gallego and Christopher Schlosser and Sakshi Patil and Eliane El Hayek and Aerlin Decker and Rui Liu and Milad MazloumiBakhshayesh and Erin Risotto-Urbanowicz and Matthew P Justus and Carolyn Pace and Rowza T Rumma and Matthew J Campen and Ross M Clark},
journal = {JVS-vascular science},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.jvssci.2026.100449},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42927192},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Undiseased and diseased abdominal aortas contain environmentally relevant micronanoplastics.
AU - Pierce L Massie
AU - Marcus A Garcia
AU - Daniel F Gallego
AU - Christopher Schlosser
AU - Sakshi Patil
AU - Eliane El Hayek
AU - Aerlin Decker
AU - Rui Liu
AU - Milad MazloumiBakhshayesh
AU - Erin Risotto-Urbanowicz
AU - Matthew P Justus
AU - Carolyn Pace
AU - Rowza T Rumma
AU - Matthew J Campen
AU - Ross M Clark
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/21
JO - JVS-vascular science
DO - 10.1016/j.jvssci.2026.100449
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42927192
AB - Background Plastics production has accelerated, with most products ultimately residing in the environment. Plastics degrade into micro- (<5 mm) and nano- (<1000 nm) plastic particles (MNPs) that can be ingested or inhaled by humans. In the literature, MNPs have been found in higher concentrations in diseased arteries, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Studies have found MNPs in tissue from ascending aortic dissections, but data on infrarenal aortic aneurysms, occlusive plaques, and cadaveric aortas have not been reported.Methods MNPs from aortic aneurysmal walls, aortic occlusive plaques, and fresh cadaveric aortas were measured using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy; the MNPs assessed included polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, styrene-butadiene (SBR), poly(methyl methacrylate), polycarbonate, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon 6, and nylon 66. Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy was used to visualize MNPs and characterize the milieu of a single aortic plaque for hypothesis generation.Results Nine aneurysms (n = 9 male; mean age, 71 years), six occlusive plaques (n = 4 male; mean age, 67 years), and twelve cadaveric aortas (n = 4 male; mean age, 35 years) were collected. In non-atherosclerotic, cadaveric aortas, the most prevalent polymers were PE (33.7 μg/g tissue), PVC (33.5 μg/g), and PP (21.3 μg/g). In atherosclerotic cadaveric aortas, the most prevalent polymers were PE (99.5 μg/g), PP (66.7 μg/g), and PVC (58 μg/g). In aneurysms, the most prevalent polymers were PE (115.8 μg/g), SBR (114.7 μg/g), and PVC (67.3 μg/g). In plaques, the most prevalent polymers were PE (745.5 μg/g), PVC (47.5 μg/g), and SBR (40.3 μg/g). Numerous within-group differences between polymers were noted, often following a common theme of which was the most prevalent. Single plaque scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy revealed shard-like MNPs surrounded by calcium/phosphorus, suggesting that MNPs accumulate within plaque calcifications in occlusive disease.Conclusions Detectable levels of MNPs were found in aortic atherosclerotic occlusive plaques, aortic aneurysms, and both normal and diseased cadaveric aortas. Nanoplastics were visualized within plaque calcifications in occlusive disease. Further study is needed to elucidate the mechanisms through which MNPs play a role in atherosclerotic and degenerative vascular disease development.Clinical relevance This work examines the levels of micronanoplastics in human aortic aneurysms and aortoiliac atherosclerotic plaques and reports the levels in healthy and diseased cadaveric aortic tissues. No clear associations between age and micronanoplastic levels were demonstrated among patients. Of the polymers measured, polyethene, polyvinyl chloride, and polypropylene were the most common. These data not only add to the growing literature suggesting that micronanoplastic particles accumulate in atherosclerotic lesions but also provide valuable insights regarding the micronanoplastic content of healthy arteries. Future work should investigate the mechanistic role, if any, of micronanoplastics in the pathophysiology of vascular atherosclerotic disease.
SN - 2666-3503
ER -