A recent research published in the journal Toxological Science found microplastics in human testicles that they used as a sample for a study; and the Scientists warn of health dangers and the consequences it might have.
Microplastics are tiny particles smaller than 5 millimeters originating from both the fragmentation of large plastics and products containing microbeads.
Where do microplastics come from?
Microplastics are generated from the cosmeticsand the scientific community also found them in the most unexpected places: human placentas, clogged arteries, and even in the depths of the ocean or at the top of the Everest.
Now, scientists have added a disturbing discovery to that list: Microplastics in human testicles y dogs.
This is no small matter. Researchers at the University of New Mexico They found “significant concentrations” of microplastics in all samples of human testicles examined, which might be linked to the worrying decline in sperm counts observed in recent decades, according to scientists.
What are testicles?
According to the National Cancer Institute of the United States, the testicles are egg-shaped glands located inside the scrotum, which produce sperm and male hormones.
Point out which is also called the male genital gland, male sexual gland, male gonad, and testis.
The investigation, published in the scientific magazine Toxological Science The presence of these particles in dogs is highlighted, with less abundance, than in humansin whom The amount of microplastics was almost three times higher.
Samples from 23 humans and 47 dogs were analyzed, and an average of 329.44 micrograms of microplastics per gram of tissue were found in humans, compared to 122.63 micrograms in dogs.
Xiaozhong Yu, coauthor of the studio, shared with The Guardian their initial skepticism regarding the possibility of microplastics invading the reproductive system.
“At first, I doubted they might penetrate the reproductive system“I was shocked when I first got the results for the dogs. I was even more shocked when I got the results for the humans,” she added.
Xiaozhong Yu, científico
PVC in human testicles and its relationship with sperm and infertility
Between the 12 types of microplastics identifiedhe polyethylene (PE), commonly used in the manufacture of plastic bags and bottles, was the most abundant so much in humans as well as dogs.
On the other hand, although it was not possible to count sperm in the human samples due to their chemical preservation, the researchers were able to do so in the canine samples, revealing high levels of PVC, a widely produced polymer.
According to researchers, the PVC is related to a lower sperm count.
“PVC can release many chemicals that interfere with spermatogenesis and contains chemicals that cause endocrine disruption,” Yu explained.
Although this is not the first study that detects microplastics in human reproductive tissues, Yes, it is the first to directly compare samples from humans and dogs, exploring the biological similarities between the two species that share similar environments.
While the long-term effects of microplastics on the human body are not yet fully understood, previous studies have shown links to severe inflammatory responses and digestive problems.
“We don’t want to scare people.“We want to provide scientific data and raise people’s awareness that there are a lot of microplastics. We can make our own choices to better avoid exposure, change our lifestyle and modify our behavior,” he concluded.
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2024-07-06 05:45:09
