Microplastics Detected in Men's Testicles in Significant Concentrations, Posing Risks to Fertility and Overall Health

According to a new study, 12 kinds of microplastics have been discovered among all the 23 human testes that were examined.

Microplastics in Testicles

As part of the study, researchers from the University of New Mexico looked into 23 human testes and 47 canine testes. These were respectively taken from cadavers and neutering operations.

The researchers were able to find that among the 12 microplastic types, the most prevalent one was polyethylene, a polymer material that is used in plastic bottles and bags. The mean human concentration was 329.44 micrograms per tissue gram, which is incredibly more compared to recent studies on human blood.

It was also found that the men had three times more microplastics in their testicles compared to dogs. Researchers also discovered that men who were more than 55 years of age in the study had comparatively fewer microplastics in their system compared to younger men.

Microplastics have also been previously detected in the bloodstream and other organs, such as the lungs, heart, and liver. In fact, a recent study from March suggests that microplastics could be lodged in the neck's blood vessels and could play a role in stroke and heart attack risk.

Now, according to reproductive urology expert Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy, if microplastics really invade the testes, this is particularly concerning. Dr. Ramasamy says that in the human body, only two organs are protected spaces: the brain and the testes.

To enter the testicles or brain, an extra tough hurdle of surmounting the blood barrier needs to be overcome. However, earlier studies have begun to suggest that microplastics could seep through the blood-brain barrier. Now, if the new study's results are found to be true in other labs, this could mean that it would be the same for male testes.

However, Dr. Ramasamy says that it is important to understand more about what is happening with microplastics in the body and how they are affecting health and fertility.

The study points to a way to delve further into how microplastics could impact the production of sperm in the testes.

How Microplastics Affect Health

Scientists are aware of how some chemicals within plastic could be hormone-disrupting. Chemicals, such as BPA, are considered chemicals that disrupt hormones, yet plastic producers keep on developing new ones.

Experts say that concerns regarding having plastic floating in the bloodstream or getting stuck in places in the body could be quite complicated. Nevertheless, Tracey Woodruff, who directs the reproductive health and environment program at the University of California San Francisco, says that microplastics are becoming chemical vehicles.

One thing that experts agree on is that heating plastic and then eating from it should be altogether stopped. Dr. Ramasamy says that it is one thing to drink from plastic, and another to heat and eat from them.

When plastic gets heated, it makes it easier for the chemicals to exit and end up absorbed by the body.

Dr. Ramasamy also says that pollutants in the environment, microplastics included, are one reason behind the decline in fertility.

Woodruff generally recommends drinking from plastic bottles less, washing hands before eating, and leaving shoes at the door are good ways to lessen exposure. It is also recommended to try placing food on a glass or ceramic plate rather than takeout containers, which contain a specialized coating of plastic that prevents liquid from seeping out.