Life is plastic — not fantastic.
Three recent studies highlight the dangers of nanoplastics to health.
Microplastics are making their way into various parts of humans’ and animals’ bodies, including the testicles, according to a study published last week in Toxicological Sciences. This has dangerous implications for both male sperm quality and fertility.
“Microplastics are everywhere,” Dr. John Yu, a toxicologist in the College of Nursing at the University of New Mexico and lead author of the study, told NPR.
“The quantification of those microplastics in humans is the first step to understanding [their] potential adverse effects,” he added.
Researchers from UNM collected testicles from cadavers of people ages 16 to 88 and from 47 dogs who had been neutered.
Yu said dogs were included in the study because they are deeply embedded in human life and their guardians’ environment.
Researchers found there were even more nanoplastics in human testes than in the testes of dogs.
“The levels of microplastic shards and types of plastics in human testes were three times greater than those found in dogs, and the dogs are eating off the floor,” Matthew Campen, a toxicologist and co-author of the study, told CNN.
“So it really puts in perspective … what we’re putting in our own bodies.”
Researchers measured plastic in the testicles by dissolving biological tissue and seeing what solids remained — 75% of which turned out to be plastic.
The plastic was largely made of polyethylene, commonly called PE, which is found in things like bags and packaging. Also found in the testicles was polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, found in construction materials like PVC pipes. PVC is classified as a carcinogen.
Scientists say that when nanoplastics invade cells and tissues of major organs, they can interrupt cellular processes and become endocrine disruptors that can negatively impact the reproductive system.
“These findings highlight the pervasive presence of microplastics in the male reproductive system in both canine and human testes, with potential consequences on male fertility,” the authors wrote in the study.
Campen said more research is needed to determine the true dangers of nanoplastics.
“This is an eyes wide open situation right now,” Campen told CNN.
“We’re just now realizing how much plastic is in our bodies. We need a surge of research around this topic to confirm or deny a role for microplastics in driving infertility, testicular cancer and other cancers.”
Beyond potentially harming fertility and being carcinogenic, microplastics may even raise someone’s risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
A study out of Shantou University Medical College in China, published in eBioMedicine, examined blood clots that were removed from 30 older patients after they experienced a stroke, heart attack or deep vein thrombosis.
The most common microplastics found in the clots were PVC and PE. The clots also had polyamide 66 present, which is found in fabric and textiles.
“These findings suggest that microplastics may serve as a potential risk factor associated with vascular health,” wrote lead author Tingting Wang.
“Future research with a larger sample size is urgently needed to identify the sources of exposure and validate the observed trends in the study.”
A larger study from Italian researchers published in the New England Journal of Medicine in March found that as many as 50% of blood clots analyzed had microplastics.
The study looked at the clots of 257 patients over the course of 34 months.
Rachel Carter is a health and wellness expert dedicated to helping readers lead healthier lives. With a background in nutrition, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being.
