Microplastics have been found in human sperm, and researchers say the finding may be linked to reduced sperm count in men.
The scientists tested 23 human subjects, as well as 47 pet dogs. They found microplastic contamination in each sample.
Because the man’s testicles were preserved, their sperm count could not be measured. However, the number of spermatozoa in the dogs was evaluable and lower in samples with high levels of PVC contamination. The study shows a connection, but more research is needed to confirm whether microplastics are the cause of the decrease in sperm count.
The number of sperm in men has been declining for decades, chemical pollution such as pesticides are caused by many studies. Microplastics have recently been found in human blood, plasma and breast milk, indicating widespread contamination of the human body. The effect on health is still unknown, but microplastics have been shown to cause damage to human cells in the laboratory.
Huge amounts of plastic waste are thrown into the environment and microplastics pollute the entire planet, from the top of Mount Everest to the deep oceans. Humans are known to ingest the tiny particles through food and water, as well as through inhalation.
The particles can enter tissue and cause inflammation, as can air pollution or chemicals in plastics can cause damage. In March, doctors warned of life-threatening consequences after finding a higher risk of stroke, heart attack and early death in people whose blood vessels were contaminated with microscopic plastic.
Xiaozhong Yu, a professor at the University of New Mexico in the US, said, “At first I doubted whether microplastics could penetrate the reproductive system.” “When I first got the results for dogs, I was surprised. When I got the results for people, I was even more surprised.”
The tests analyzed Found posthumously in 2016, the men ranged in age from 16 to 88 when they died. According to Yu, “the impact on the younger generation may be more serious.” There is more plastic in the environment now than ever before.
The study was published in the journal Toxicological SciencesIt involves dissolving tissue samples and then examining the remaining plastic. The dogs’ diagnosis was obtained from veterinary practices that perform nutritive operations.
Human sperm had three times the amount of plastic found in dog tests: 330 micrograms per gram of tissue compared to 123 micrograms. Polyethylene, used in plastic bags and bottles, is found to be the most common microplastic, followed by PVC.
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“PVC can release many chemicals that interfere with spermatogenesis and contains chemicals that cause endocrine disruption,” he said. Human samples are routinely collected by the New Mexico Medical Examiner’s Office and subject to a seven-year storage requirement, after which the samples are usually discarded.
A little study in China in 2023 Microplastics were found in six human children and 30 seed samples. Recent studies on mice have reported microplastics Decreased sperm count And It caused strange things and hormonal imbalance.