Plastic waste accumulating in water bodies is a leading cause of concern at present. It is often injested through air, water or food. And these particles can lodge in the tissues and inflame them.
Some experts also associate accumulation of microplastics in the body with a heightened risk of heart attack, stroke or early death. New Delhi: According to a new study published in Toxicological Sciences , microplastics have been detected in human testicles and it is now being associated with declining sperm count in men. For this, scientists evaluated 23 human testes and 47 testes of pet dogs and discovered microplastic pollution in all samples.
The human testes were preserved which is why their sperm count could not be measured. But in dogs, sperm count was lower with high contamination. This establishes a link between the two, however, researchers call for more research in the area to ascertain whether or not microplastics could deplete sperm count.
Elon Musk, too, posted about the same on X (formerly Twitter). Testing Grok news funny mode https://t.co/1LpjGGfT8l — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 20, 2024 Can microplastics enter the reproductive system? Researchers also found that men’s sperm count has been declining for decades due to chemical pollution like pesticides.
But stress also takes the blame for the same along with poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle choices. Microplastics have also been discovered in breast milk, blood, placenta and it is indicative of a heightened risk .