Scientists puzzled by microplastics found in human testicles. Here’s the concern

Scientists have made a startling discovery: microplastics have been found in human testicles. Researchers at the University of New Mexico examined testicular tissues from both humans and dogs, finding microplastics in every sample. The concentration of microplastics was three times higher in humans compared to dogs.

The study revealed an average of 329.44 micrograms of microplastics per gram of tissue in humans and 122.63 micrograms per gram in dogs. This discovery highlights the pervasive nature of plastic pollution and raises concerns about its potential impact on male fertility.

Environmental health scientist Xiaozhong Yu from the University of New Mexico told Science Alert, “Initially, I doubted whether microplastics could penetrate the reproductive system. When I first saw the results for dogs, I was surprised. I was even more surprised when I received the results for humans.”

The researchers identified 12 different types of microplastics, with polyethylene (PE) being the most prevalent in both humans and dogs. Polyethylene is commonly used in the production of plastic bottles and bags. While the scientists could not test human tissue for sperm count, they did examine canine samples and found that higher levels of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic were associated with lower sperm counts in dogs.

This discovery suggests that plastics may be contributing to a global decline in sperm count. “The type of plastic might be correlated with potential function,” Yu said. “PVC can release many chemicals that interfere with spermatogenesis and cause endocrine disruption.”

The researchers aim to further compare canine and human testes due to the biological similarities between the species. “We don’t want to scare people. We want to scientifically provide the data and make people aware there are a lot of microplastics,” Yu emphasized. “We can make our own choices to better avoid exposures, change our lifestyle, and change our behavior.”