The accumulation of microplastics in the ecosystem is rapidly becoming an environmental and public health concern. In a recent study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research , a team of researchers assessed the accumulation of microplastics in penile tissue to determine potential toxicity concerns. Study: Detection of microplastics in the human penis .
Image Credit: chayanuphol/Shutterstock.com Microplastics with diameters less than 5 mm have spread across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and the atmosphere, becoming a serious environmental concern. Detecting microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of various animals, especially marine animals, has further highlighted the danger microplastics pose to the environment.
Recent studies have also reported the accumulation of microplastics in human organs and tissues, such as cardiac tissue, lungs, placenta, and stool samples, indicating that microplastic pollution is rapidly becoming a significant health concern. Microplastics' small size allows them to interact with the body and trigger immune responses. The potential introduction of chemical pollutants and pathogens into the body through microplastics also raises health concerns.
In the present study, the researchers used laser direct infrared microspectroscopy to detect microplastic aggregation in penile tissue obtained from patients with erectile dysfunction undergoing a procedure to insert an inflatable penile prosthesis. While ingestion and inhalat.
