New Study Reveals Concerning Link Between Plastics and Fertility

From the water we drink to the air we breathe, microscopic plastic particles have silently invaded our daily lives, and new research suggests their impact could be more serious than previously thought, according to a University of California San Francisco review published in Environmental Science & Technology.

The UCSF researchers analyzed 31 studies from 2018 to 2024, examining potential risks to digestive, reproductive, and respiratory systems. The team rated evidence quality, finding the strongest links between microplastics and both sperm quality and gut immune response.

"Given the ubiquity of microplastics and the consistent, growing recognition of their existence in the human body, it is likely that microplastics will impact other body systems," the research team reported.

Most studies reviewed were conducted on rodents at Chinese research institutions, with only three human observational studies performed between 2022 and 2024 in Turkey, Iran, and China. These human studies measured microplastic levels in amniotic fluid, placenta, and nasal fluid.

Animal studies consistently showed decreased sperm viability, concentration, and mobility, along with increased rates of sperm malformation. In digestive system research, rodent studies documented significant changes to the colon after plastic exposure, including reductions in mucosal surface area corresponding to exposure levels and evidence of chronic inflammation.

The review rated evidence of respiratory effects as "moderate" quality. Animal studies revealed damage to lung tissue and decreased pulmonary function following exposure to microplastic particles.

Recent studies have detected plastic fragments accumulating in human placenta, lung tissue, brain tissue, blood, and breast milk. The implications remain largely unknown, even as plastic production is projected to triple by 2060.

The UCSF team, among the first to evaluate the quality and strength of existing evidence on microplastics' health effects, emphasized the urgency for action. "We strongly recommend that regulatory agencies and decision-makers act on limited evidence given that evidence has been shown to grow and get stronger and initiate actions to prevent or mitigate human exposure to microplastics," the researchers stated.

The study focused on identifying possible health concerns requiring urgent clinical research rather than conducting a comprehensive systematic review. Researchers noted that while current evidence centers on reproductive, digestive, and respiratory systems, microplastics' impact may extend beyond these areas given their widespread presence in the environment and human body.

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