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RESULTS A total of 304 patients were enrolled in the study, and 257 completed a mean (±SD) follow-up of 33.7±6.9 months. Polyethylene was detected in carotid artery plaque of 150 patients (58.4%), with a mean level of 21.7±24.5 μg per milligram of plaque; 31 patients (12.1%) also had measurable amounts of polyvinyl chloride, with a mean level of 5.2±2.4 μg per milligram of plaque. Electron microscopy revealed visible, jagged-edged foreign particles among plaque macrophages and scattered in the external debris. Radiographic examination showed that some of these particles included chlorine. Patients in whom MNPs were detected within the atheroma were at higher risk for a primary end-point event than those in whom these substances were not detected (hazard ratio, 4.53; 95% confidence interval, 2.00 to 10.27; P<0.001).

The study suggests that government provided municipal drinking water is one very large suspect, but don't go pointing fingers: Italy is a large consumer of domestically caught fish in waters teeming with microplastics from treated sewage water releases from all countries bordering the Med... /s

Seriously, though, despite the rather pathetic study (they concede in the paper that their samples may have been contaminated in the lab), this is evidence of a biological reaction to microplastics and more (read 'professional') research is needed.