Researchers at the University of New Mexico have found microplastic particles in all 23 human testicles they examined, as well as in 47 dog testicles. This discovery is part of a study published in the journal Toxicological Sciences, which investigated the presence and potential impact of microplastics on reproductive health.
The human testicles used in the study were obtained postmortem from individuals aged 16 to 88, with analyses revealing an average plastic concentration of 330 micrograms per gram of tissue. The plastics commonly identified included polyethylene and PVC. Although sperm count in preserved human testicles could not be measured, similar contamination in dog testicles was associated with lower sperm counts.
Previous studies have documented a decline in human sperm counts over the last few decades, often attributing it to various environmental factors such as chemical pollutants. This recent research adds microplastics as a potential concern, given their widespread presence in human blood, placentas, and breast milk. The health impacts of microplastics are not fully understood, but laboratory studies suggest they could damage human cells.