Defiant Health Radio with Dr. William Davis Are microplastics the newest cardiovascular risk factor?
Feb 5, 2026
They explore emerging evidence linking micro- and nanoplastics to atherosclerotic disease and higher cardiovascular risk. They describe where plastic particles are found in the body and in arterial plaques. They highlight surprising dietary sources like tea bags and produce, and give practical tips to reduce ingestion and household exposure.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Plastics Correlate With Coronary Disease Severity
- Observational studies link blood microplastics with more severe coronary artery disease.
- Multiple plastic types correlated with lesion complexity, suggesting a consistent association.
Nanoplastics Present Inside Carotid Plaque
- Nanoplastics (often <1–2 μm) were found inside excised carotid plaques and linked to higher inflammatory mediators.
- Plaques containing plastics had higher IL-1β and TNFα and greater rates of heart attack, stroke, or death.
Unclear Routes Into The Body
- The route of entry is unclear because intestinal gaps are ~1.5 μm, yet larger particles are sometimes detected.
- Diseased gut linings (IBD, SIBO) might permit larger particles to translocate, but data are lacking.