A team of scientists discovered 8 types of cancer-causing microplastics in the reproductive organs of 36 men who participated in a disturbing new study.
The team said this discovery may link microplastics to the global decline in fertility rates, as chemicals leached from small particles cause inflammation in the body, disrupting sperm quality.
The scientists wrote in their paper, published in the journal Science of The Total Environment, that microplastics are now everywhere, penetrating ecosystems globally, from the deepest oceans to mountain peaks.
Particles, less than 5mm long, enter our bodies through plastic packaging, some foods, tap water, and even the air we breathe, and have been linked to cancer and fertility issues.
Scientists at Qingdao University in China hope to determine whether these particles are commonly found in semen.
In the study, the team mixed semen samples with a chemical solution, filtered them, and analyzed them using a sensitive microscope.
The microscope, and subsequent tests, identified all the different chemicals present in the sample, identifying those that were unique to plastics. In each sample tested, scientists found at least one of 8 different types of plastic (polystyrene is the most commonly detected type).
The team also found plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used to make plumbing systems.
It turns out that sperm were less mobile in people who had PVC in their semen.
In general, less motile sperm are worse at fertilizing eggs.
The number of sperm in each sample did not differ significantly based on the type of plastic present in the person's system.
“The widespread presence of these contaminants is concerning, primarily because of the implications they may have on male reproductive health,” the scientists wrote.
There is an "urgent need" to further investigate how microplastics affect health.
Their impact on fertility and overall health must be researched.
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