A new study has linked microplastics to heart attacks and strokes. Here’s what we know 

The results have renewed concerns about plastics’ potential effects on human health

Bits of colorful microplastics lay on the tips of a white person's outstretched fingers.

When plastics break down over time, they can shed tiny particles (even smaller than the ones shown above) into our environment. These particles can make their way inside our bodies. Scientists are studying the potential health impacts.

Alistair Berg/digitalvision/getty images

Tiny flecks of plastic inside in the arteries may ramp up the risks of cardiovascular disease.