It’s time to talk about the birds, the bees and the PTFEs.
They’re already in our lungs, livers, kidneys, blood and even our brains.
New research out Tuesday in the journal Human Reproduction reveals that microplastics are coming for our baby-makers, too.
In a disturbing discovery, scientists have detected these tiny particles lurking in semen and ovaries — sparking concern about their impact on fertility and reproductive health.
Researchers analyzed the follicular and seminal fluid of 29 women and 22 men and found microplastics in 55% of male samples and 69% of female ones.
“Previous studies had already shown that microplastics can be found in various human organs,” lead researcher Dr. Emilio Gomez-Sanchez said in a statement as the research was presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology’s annual meeting.
“As a result, we weren’t entirely surprised to find microplastics in fluids of the human reproductive system, but we were struck by how common they were.”
The worst offenders in semen were PTFEs — the chemical name of Teflon — which were identified in 41% of the samples.
Trailing behind were polystyrene, which is like styrofoam (14%); polyethylene terephthalate, in the polyester family (9%); polyamide or nylon (5%) and polyurethane, in coatings and foams (5%).
The impact these microplastics — defined as plastic particles under 5 millimeters in size — have on reproductive health is unclear, but it’s unlikely to be anything good.
“What we know from animal studies is that in the tissues where microplastics accumulate, they can induce inflammation, free radical formation, DNA damage, cellular senescence and endocrine disruptions,” Gomez-Sanchez said.
“It’s possible they could impair egg or sperm quality in humans, but we don’t yet have enough evidence to confirm that.”
While he cautions against going into a full-blown panic, the findings are concerning — especially as the US grapples with a fertility crisis.
“There’s no need for alarm at this point. Microplastics are just one of many elements that may play a role in fertility,” Gomez-Sanchez said.
“However, it is sensible to consider ways of reducing our exposure to them. Simple steps, such as using glass containers to store and heat food or limiting the amount of water we consume from plastic bottles, can help minimize our intake.”
A separate team in Italy recently found microplastics in the ovarian follicular fluid of 14 out of 18 women they studied.
Lead author Luigi Montano said the findings were “very alarming,” noting that his previous research suggested that microplastics lower sperm count and quality.
These tiny particles also seem to be present in the uterus and placenta, as well as human testicles, in shockingly high amounts.
There are two main ways human bodies get contaminated with microplastics: by breathing them in the air or by eating them in food.
Unfortunately, they are ubiquitous, with estimates that 10 million to 40 million metric tons are let loose into the environment every year.
Researchers have found that people consume about 5 grams a week, or enough to fill a soup spoon.
In a year, that’s about 250 grams — described as a “heaped dinner plate’s worth.”
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