Microplastics dramatically intensified plaque buildup in male mice and interfered with the cells lining their arteries. The study points to direct cardiovascular harm from widespread environmental exposure. Credit: Shutterstock A research team at the University of California, Riverside has found that routine exposure to microplastics -- tiny pieces released from packaging, fabrics, and common consumer plastics -- may speed up the formation of atherosclerosis, the artery-narrowing condition