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ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) - Plastics are everywhere…and popular because of their convenience or cost. But researchers have warned tiny fragments, known as microplastics, can seriously impact your health. Now a new study is showing some of the dangers.

Plastic isn’t just an issue for the environment. It’s a problem for our health too. Studies show microscopic pieces and chemicals such as BPA and phthalates can end up in our body.

Jennifer Adibi, MPH, ScD at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health says, “So, these chemicals are not bound within the product to something that would make it inert or unable to move out of the product.”

A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at plaque removed from the carotid arteries of 257 people. More than half had measurable levels of microplastics and in checkups in the years to follow, there was a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and death in that group. Microplastics have also been linked to many other health issues. So, what can you do to protect yourself?

Adibi says, “It is about really educating yourself on what the sources are and then what are the alternatives to those products.”

Here are some helpful tips: use glass, ceramics or paper plates in the microwave, not plastic containers.

Buy plastics labeled “BPA free.” And avoid plastics with recycle codes of three or seven – those are sometimes made with BPA.

Doctors say phthalates can sometimes be found in beauty and skin care items. They also recommend avoiding highly processed meals like chicken nuggets and heating up baby formula in glass containers instead of plastic bottles.

Contributors to this news report include: Lindsay Dailey, Producer; Kyle Fisher, Editor, and Videographer.