Microplastics: Health Effects on the Brain and Vascular Systems, Food and Environmental Sources, Prevention and Reducing Your “Plastic Load” an Interview with Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD

Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
5100 Wisconsin Ave NW, Ste 400
Washington, DC 20016
hkahleova@pcrm.org; hana.kahleova@gmail.com

For Video Interview with Kirk Hamilton PA and Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD Click Here

(Summary of interview transcript generated by otter.AI and ChatGPT edited by Kirk Hamilton PA / Slide presentation follows Summary, Key Points and Outline Below)

SUMMARY

In this interview, Kirk Hamilton hosts Dr. Hana Kahleova—an endocrinologist and Director of Clinical Research at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)—to discuss the emerging problem of microplastics and their human health implications. Dr. Kahleova outlines her medical background, research credentials in diabetes and plant-based nutrition, and then details recent scientific findings on the presence of microplastics in human tissues, associations with chronic disease, primary exposure pathways (with marine food sources being predominant), and potential dietary strategies to mitigate absorption or toxicity of microplastics.
Key research highlighted includes autopsy studies showing microplastic accumulation in human brain tissue (with higher levels observed in dementia cases), vascular studies linking microplastics in atherosclerotic plaque elevating cardiovascular risk, and laboratory findings suggesting fiber and plant compounds may help reduce microplastic bioavailability and enhance removal.

Dr. Kahleova emphasizes that microplastics are ubiquitous in the environment but exposure can be reduced by limiting seafood intake, avoiding hot food contact with plastics, and using non-plastic storage and cooking materials. Dr. Kahleova further discusses evidence that plant-derived fibers and anthocyanin-rich foods may bind or block microplastic activity, potentially reducing endocrine disruption and metabolic effects.

The interview concludes with practical recommendations: reduce direct sources (especially contaminated seafood and heated plastic contact), consume high-fiber and colorful plant foods, and adopt glass or stainless-steel food storage strategies.

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OUTLINE - KEY POINTS

 

I. Participant Backgrounds
A. Host: Kirk Hamilton, PA- Focus on lifestyle, preventative, integrative medicine topics.
B. Guest: Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD

  • Medical training in former Czechoslovakia

  • Specialty: Endocrinology

  • PhD in Human Physiology & Pathophysiology

  • Clinical research focus: plant-based nutrition & diabetes reversal

  • Director of Clinical Research at PCRM

II. Context of Topic: Microplastics and Health
A. Definition and relevance
B. Rising scientific and public health interest
C. Dr. Kahleova’s entry point into topic via key autopsy study

III. Evidence of Microplastic Accumulation in Humans
A. Autopsy study results (University of New Mexico)

  1. Sample: 24 human brains

  2. Major findings:

    • Average ~7 grams of microplastics per brain (≈ plastic spoon)

    • Polyethylene and polypropylene most common

  3. Trend data:

    • Microplastic content increasing over time in human tissues

  4. Dementia association:

    • Brains of dementia patients contained higher amounts

    • Association only; causality not established

IV. Cardiovascular Disease Associations
A. Study of 300+ patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy

  1. Microplastics detected in ~50% of plaques

  2. Outcomes during 3-year follow-up:

    • Those with microplastics had 4.5× greater risk of stroke, MI, or death

  3. Mechanistic considerations:

    • Microplastics may carry toxins

    • Potential inflammatory or vascular injury pathways

V. Endocrine Disruption and Obesity
A. Microplastics as endocrine disruptors
B. Debate regarding causal role in weight gain and metabolic disease
C. Hypothesized mechanisms:

  1. Hormone receptor interactions

  2. Transport of environmental toxins

  3. Inflammatory and oxidative stress signaling

VI. Primary Exposure Pathways
A. Environmental ubiquity

  • Air, soil, freshwater, oceans
    B. Dietary vectors

  1. Seafood/fish (highest dietary source)

    • Bioaccumulation via food chain (plankton → fish → humans)

    • In a single ~3 oz serving: ~0.24 g microplastics
      (~½ a plastic straw)

  2. Plant foods

    • Contain microplastics via soil/water exposure

    • Much lower concentrations: ~1–3 particles per 100 g
      C. Other non-food exposures

  • Water supplies

  • Household dust

  • Plastic consumer products

VII. Mitigation Through Diet
A. Fiber binding effects

  1. Lab study: groundwater with microplastics + complex carbs

  2. Fenugreek carbs removed ~89% of microplastics

  3. Okra carbs removed ~80%

  4. Implication: soluble fibers may bind microplastics in GI tract
    B. Anthocyanins & receptor blockade

  5. Compounds in purple/dark red fruits & vegetables (blueberries, blackberries, cherries, strawberries, purple potatoes)

  6. Mechanism: block microplastics from attaching to sex hormone receptors

  7. Potentially reduces endocrine-disrupting activity

VIII. Practical Lifestyle and Food Handling Recommendations

  1. Limit seafood (especially large or bottom-dwelling fish)

  2. Prefer wild-caught small fish if consumed

  3. Avoid microwaving plastics

  4. Avoid placing hot food into plastic containers

  5. Prefer glass and stainless steel

  6. Plastic lids acceptable if not contacting food

  7. Increase dietary fiber intake

  8. Increase anthocyanin-rich plant foods

  9. Emphasize whole-food plant-based eating

IX. Concluding Points
A. Microplastics cannot be completely avoided
B. Major exposures can be substantially reduced
C. Dietary countermeasures may offer biological protection
D. Further human causal research is needed

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(Slide presentation with permission from Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD / References, Key Takeaways and Bottom Line follow slide presentation - Click Here and scroll down to slide show) 

REFERENCES
Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains. Nihart AJ et al. Nat Med 2025; 31:1114–1119.
Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events. Marfella R et al. N Engl J Med 2024;390:900-910
Freshwater and airborne textile fibre populations are dominated by ‘natural’, not microplastic, fibres. Stanton T et al. Sci. Total Environ. 2019, 666, 377–389.
Quantitative Analysis of Selected Plastics in High-Commercial-Value Australian Seafood by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. Ribeiro F et al. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2020, 54, 9408–9417.
Fenugreek and Okra Polymers as Treatment Agents for the Removal of Microplastics from Water Sources. Srinivasan R et al. ACS Omega. 2025 Apr 10;10(15):14640-14656.
Exploring the potential protective role of anthocyanins in mitigating micro/nanoplastic-induced reproductive toxicity: A steroid receptor perspective. Zhang J et al. J Pharm Anal. 2025 Feb;15(2):101148.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS 

  1. Microplastics are now measurable in human tissues, including brain and vascular plaque.

  2. Epidemiologic findings link microplastics with higher cardiovascular and neurodegenerative risk, though causality remains unproven.

  3. Fish and seafood are significant dietary sources.

  4. Plant foods contain lower levels and may provide protective compounds.

  5. Fiber and anthocyanin-rich foods may bind microplastics or block endocrine actions.

  6. Avoiding heated contact between plastics and food reduces immediate exposure.

BOTTOM LINE
Microplastic exposure is an emerging environmental health issue with early evidence linking tissue accumulation to adverse cardiovascular and neurocognitive outcomes. While causality is not established, clinicians can apply practical exposure-reduction counseling and dietary strategies that carry low risk and broader metabolic benefit.

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