Latest news with #DrEmilioGomezSanchez
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Plastic in your privates: New microplastics discovery sparking fertility concerns
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.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Scientists discover microplastics in SEMEN and female reproductive fluid – and warn they could spark an infertility crisis
From the depths of The Mariana Trench to the summit of Everest, microplastics can now be found almost everywhere on Earth. Now, it turns out even our most intimate moments can't escape their blight. Scientists have discovered microplastics are 'common' in both male and female reproductive fluids. And they warned of the potential implications for reproduction, as egg and sperm quality could be impaired. The team examined follicular fluid – found within the ovaries - from 29 women and the seminal fluid, found within semen, from 22 men. Analysis revealed a range of commonly-used microplastics were present in more than half of the samples. This included microplastics linked to non-stick coatings, polystyrene, plastic containers, wool, insulation and cushioning materials. Lead researcher Dr Emilio Gomez-Sanchez, from the University of Murcia, said: 'Previous studies had already shown that microplastics can be found in various human organs. '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 – found in 69 per cent of the women and 55 per cent of the men we studied.' Microplastics are defined as plastic particles under 5mm in size, and there is evidence that they pose a threat to environmental and public health. While this research did not directly assess how microplastics affect fertility, their detection highlights the need to explore possible implications for human reproductive health, the researchers warned. '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,' Dr Gomez-Sanchez added. 'It's possible they could impair egg or sperm quality in humans, but we don't yet have enough evidence to confirm that.' The scientists said the microplastics probably enter the body through ingestion, inhalation and contact with the skin. From there they enter the bloodstream, which then distributes them throughout the body – including to the reproductive organs. They plan to carry out further studies to explore the potential relationship between the presence of microplastics and egg and sperm quality. The findings, published in the journal Human Reproduction, were presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). Commenting on the study Dr Carlos Calhaz-Jorge, Immediate Past Chair of ESHRE, said: 'Environmental factors influencing reproduction are certainly a reality, although not easy to measure objectively. 'The authors of this study found microplastics in over two-thirds of follicular fluids and more than 50 per cent of semen fluids from the studied patients. 'Although the significance of these findings is not yet clear, they should be considered an additional argument in favour of avoiding the generalised use of plastics in our daily lives.' Previous studies have detected microplastics in human breast milk, blood and even brain tissue. And separate research has found high levels in everyday items such as tea bags, baby bottles and chopping boards. Some scientists have urged caution when interpreting the findings of the new study. Dr Stephanie Wright, Associate Professor in Environmental Toxicology at Imperial College London, said: 'Without information on the sizes of the microplastic particles observed, it is challenging to interpret how meaningful this data is. 'There is a high potential for samples to become contaminated with microplastic throughout the sampling, laboratory processing, and analysis procedures. 'It is not a surprise that microplastics have been found – they are everywhere, even in the lab – but the data provided do not support that they are there as a result of human exposure as opposed to methodological artefact and must be interpreted with caution at this early stage.' Fay Couceiro, Professor of Environmental Pollution and Head of the Microplastics Research Group at the University of Portsmouth, said: 'The study is very interesting and considering the global reduction in fertility rates, looking at possible causes is very topical and timely. 'As the authors state, finding microplastics is not that surprising as we have found them in lots of other areas of our bodies. 'Presence is also not the same as impact and the authors are clear that while they have found microplastics in the reproductive fluids of both men and women, we still don't know how they are affecting us.' WHAT CAN MICROPLASTICS DO TO THE HUMAN BODY IF THEY END UP IN OUR FOOD SUPPLY? According to an article published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, our understanding of the potential human health effects from exposure to microplastics 'constitutes major knowledge gaps.' Humans can be exposed to plastic particles via consumption of seafood and terrestrial food products, drinking water and via the air. However, the level of human exposure, chronic toxic effect concentrations and underlying mechanisms by which microplastics elicit effects are still not well understood enough in order to make a full assessment of the risks to humans. According to Rachel Adams, a senior lecturer in Biomedical Science at Cardiff Metropolitan University, ingesting microplastics could cause a number of potentially harmful effects, such as: Inflammation: when inflammation occurs, the body's white blood cells and the substances they produce protect us from infection. This normally protective immune system can cause damage to tissues. An immune response to anything recognised as 'foreign' to the body: immune responses such as these can cause damage to the body. Becoming carriers for other toxins that enter the body: microplastics generally repel water and will bind to toxins that don't dissolve, so microplastics can bind to compounds containing toxic metals such as mercury, and organic pollutants such as some pesticides and chemicals called dioxins, which are known to causes cancer, as well as reproductive and developmental problems. If these microplastics enter the body, toxins can accumulate in fatty tissues.
