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Microplastics found in testicles and male infertility

Every year, humans throw away 400 million tonnes of plastic. And these microplastics which end up in the air, land and sea, are found in the food we ingest, also in the water we drink. Eventually, these microplastics end up in our bodies. We do not yet know very well the consequences of these microplastics on the health of the human body. But numerous studies prove that the chemicals present in these microplastics disrupt the proper functioning of hormones, which causes numerous health effects.

According to a study published in Toxicological Science, researchers tested more than 23 human testicles and 47 dog testicles. They found the presence of microplastics in all samples. By looking at the amount of sperm in dogs, they found that the higher the level of microplastics, the lower the sperm count. In February, a study showed that there were also microplastics in the human placenta, an organ that provides nutrients and oxygen to the developing fetus.

Every time we analyze organs, we realize that microplastics are found there, according to researchers at the University of California at San Francisco. It is found in stools, breast milk, seminal fluid, blood. The manufacturing of plastic by chemical companies continues to increase. We went from doubling between 2000 and 2024, and the quantity of plastic produced by humans could triple by 2060 despite the environmental policies implemented in different countries.

It is enough to breathe, eat and drink for microplastics to enter the human body. In cities, the plastic present in tires generates a significant quantity of microplastics which quickly reach the bronchi of humans and animals. The discovery of microplastics in the testes is explained by the fact that they pass through the blood. They can therefore reach any tissue in the body. It is therefore entirely possible to find them in the ovaries.

At the moment, it is suspected that microplastics are toxic to reproduction, and therefore to fertility. It remains to prove the link. Microplastics are thought to increase the risk of getting cancer, especially in the digestive part of the body. The consequences on the quantity of sperm had already been demonstrated in rats.

To limit exposure to microplastics, avoid cooking foods packaged in plastic when microwaving them. You should avoid drinking drinks that are packaged in plastic. Note that most drinks that come in aluminum cans are actually in plastic, as there is an underlayer of plastic coated with aluminum. Humans have three times more plastic in their testicles than dogs because they are more exposed to these chemicals.

Several studies show that if you ingest food prepared outside and packaged in plastic, then you increase the chances of absorbing microplastics. We also have a greater chance of swallowing phthalates, these chemicals that are added to plastics. They make plastic more soft, resistant, elastic and flexible.

International discussions are underway to further reduce the presence of microplastics in food. Governments are assessing the health impact of microplastics to create health regulations and mitigate harmful exposures. There are currently evaluations underway, particularly on vinyl chlorides which are in PVC. They are also microplastics. With the reduction in the production of fossil fuels to combat global warming, the use of plastic is expected to decrease in the future.

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Microplastics found in testicles and male infertility

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