Microplastics Have Made Their Way Into Penises. What Can We Do To Avoid Them? | Business Insider
Summary
TLDRA recent study has discovered microplastics within human penis tissue for the first time, potentially affecting male fertility. Microplastics, already found in blood and sperm, are ubiquitous, with PET and polypropylene being the most common types identified. This study, albeit small, suggests a link between modern living and increased microplastic presence in our bodies. The health implications are concerning, with endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA and phthalates present in microplastics potentially leading to various health issues. Simple measures such as avoiding microwaving plastic, reducing takeout, and regular cleaning can help mitigate exposure.
Takeaways
- 🔬 A new study has discovered microplastics within the Corpus spongiosum, a deep tissue in the penis that plays a role in erections, raising concerns about their potential impact on male fertility.
- 🌐 Microplastics have already been detected in blood and sperm, and their presence in the penis is a logical extension, suggesting they are pervasive throughout the body.
- 📏 Microplastics are defined as plastic particles less than 5 mm wide, often invisible to the naked eye, and can range from 20 to 500 micrometers in width.
- 🔍 The study identified PET and polypropylene as the most common types of microplastics found in the samples, which are commonly used in food packaging and bottle caps.
- 👤 The study sample was small, consisting of six men from Miami with erectile dysfunction, revealing microplastics in five of them, with one exception who led a more traditional lifestyle with less plastic use.
- 📈 The intake of microplastics has increased significantly, with a sixfold rise since 1990, and this trend is expected to continue as global plastic consumption is projected to triple by 2060.
- 🌪️ Microplastics can enter the body through ingestion or inhalation, making their way into the digestive tract, bloodstream, and potentially reaching various organs including the testicles, semen, blood, and brain.
- 🧪 The presence of microplastics in the body is difficult to quantify, but they are known to be present in a wide range of everyday items, from food and drinks to clothing and household dust.
- 🚫 Chemicals within microplastics, such as BPA and phthalates, are endocrine disruptors that can interfere with hormones and have been linked to various health issues including cancer, obesity, and reproductive problems.
- 🛑 To reduce microplastic exposure, experts recommend avoiding microwaving plastic, using fewer plastic takeout containers and water bottles, vacuuming regularly to reduce household dust, and choosing natural fibers in clothing.
- 🌱 Washing hands before eating is a universal health tip that also helps to minimize the ingestion of microplastics and germs.
Q & A
What is the first evidence found in the new study regarding microplastics?
-The first evidence found in the new study is the presence of microplastics inside penis tissue, specifically in the Corpus spongiosum, which is largely responsible for erections.
How widespread are microplastics in the human body?
-Microplastics have been found in blood, sperm, and now penis tissue, indicating that they are widespread throughout the human body.
What is the definition of a microplastic?
-A microplastic is defined as any piece of plastic that is less than 5 mm wide, which can include a wide range of materials.
Which two types of plastics were most commonly found in the study?
-The two most common types of plastics found in the study were PET, used in food packaging, and polypropylene, used to make bottle caps.
What was the sample size of the study on microplastics in penis tissue?
-The sample size for the study was small, consisting of six men living in Miami who were struggling with erectile dysfunction.
How do scientists believe microplastics enter the human body?
-Scientists believe that microplastics enter the human body primarily by swallowing or inhaling them, which can then travel through the digestive tract and into the bloodstream.
What is the potential impact of microplastics on male fertility?
-The potential impact of microplastics on male fertility is not yet fully understood, but the presence of microplastics in the Corpus spongiosum, which is involved in erections, raises concerns about possible connections to erectile dysfunction.
How has the intake of microplastics changed since 1990?
-A recent study suggested that the intake of microplastics has increased sixfold since 1990, and this trend is expected to continue as global plastic consumption is expected to triple by 2060.
What are some of the common chemicals found in microplastics that could impact human health?
-Some common chemicals found in microplastics include BPA (bisphenol A), PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), phthalates, and PET, which can act as endocrine disruptors and have been linked to various health issues.
What are some practical tips to avoid microplastics in daily life?
-Practical tips to avoid microplastics include not microwaving plastic, avoiding plastic takeout containers and water bottles, vacuuming regularly to reduce household dust, choosing natural fibers in clothing, and washing hands before eating.
What is the broader implication of the findings on microplastics in terms of public health and policy?
-The broader implication is that there is a need for increased awareness and regulation of the plastic industry, similar to the way cigarettes were regulated in the past, to mitigate the potential health risks associated with microplastics.
Outlines
🔬 Microplastics in Human Tissue: Impact on Male Fertility
A recent study has discovered microplastics within the Corpus spongiosum, a deep tissue in the penis crucial for erections, raising concerns about their potential impact on male fertility. Microplastics, defined as plastic particles less than 5 mm wide, have been previously found in blood and sperm. The study identified two common types: PET, used in food packaging, and polypropylene, used in bottle caps. The research involved six men from Miami with erectile dysfunction, revealing microplastics in all but one, who led a traditional lifestyle with minimal plastic use. This suggests a link between modern living and increased microplastic presence. Scientists believe microplastics enter the body through ingestion or inhalation, potentially affecting various organs including the testicles, blood, and brain. The study also highlighted the increase in microplastic intake since 1990 and the ubiquity of microplastics in everyday life, from food and drink packaging to laundry and household dust.
🌐 Chemicals in Microplastics: Health Risks and Prevention
The presence of various chemicals within microplastics poses significant health risks. Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor linked to cancer and obesity, has been phased out of baby bottles and can linings, but its safety is still under debate. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as 'Forever chemicals,' are persistent and also linked to endocrine disruption, lower immunity, obesity, and cancers. Phthalates, flexible plasticizers, are associated with reproductive issues, allergies, ADHD, and lower IQs. PET, used in bottles and caps, may release toxic chemicals when heated. To mitigate exposure, experts advise against microwaving plastic, avoiding plastic takeout containers and water bottles, regular vacuuming and house ventilation to reduce dust-borne microplastics, and choosing natural fibers over synthetic materials. Washing hands before eating is also recommended to prevent the ingestion of microplastics and germs. The narrative calls for increased awareness and regulation of the plastic industry to address the growing microplastic crisis.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Microplastics
💡Corpus spongiosum
💡Male fertility
💡PET
💡Polypropylene
💡Erectile dysfunction
💡Endocrine disruptors
💡BPA
💡PFAS
💡Phthalates
💡Microplastic intake
Highlights
A new study has found the first evidence of microplastics inside human penis tissue, potentially impacting male fertility.
Microplastics have already been discovered in blood and sperm, indicating their widespread presence in the human body.
Microplastics were identified in the Corpus spongiosum, a deep tissue in the penis crucial for erections.
The study suggests a possible link between microplastics and erectile dysfunction.
Microplastics are defined as any plastic pieces less than 5 mm wide, making them difficult to detect with the naked eye.
The most common types of microplastics found were PET, used in food packaging, and polypropylene, used in bottle caps.
The study involved a small sample size of six men with erectile dysfunction, all from Miami.
One participant, an older man with a traditional lifestyle, had no microplastics detected, suggesting modern living contributes to microplastic presence.
Scientists believe microplastics enter the body through ingestion or inhalation, then entering the bloodstream and potentially reaching various organs.
A recent study indicates a sixfold increase in microplastic intake since 1990, with a projected tripling of global plastic consumption by 2060.
Microplastics are ubiquitous, found in food, drinks, clothing, and household dust.
Microplastics contain various chemicals, including BPA, which is an endocrine disruptor linked to health issues.
PFAS, or 'Forever chemicals,' are another group of microplastic chemicals linked to health problems including cancers and lowered immunity.
Phthalates, found in flexible plastics, are of concern due to their potential impact on reproductive development and testosterone levels.
Avoiding microwaving plastic, using fewer plastic containers, and vacuuming regularly are suggested ways to reduce microplastic exposure.
Tracy Woodruff, a leading microplastics researcher, calls for increased regulation of the plastic industry in light of new findings.
Transcripts
so a new study found the first evidence
of microplastics actually inside of
penis tissue and scientists think that
could be impacting male fertility in
reality microplastics are all over our
bodies they've already been found in
blood and in sperm and so it makes sense
that they would also be in penises but
what are they doing there and how bad is
it for our health I'm Hillary brick and
I cover Health at Business Insider
microplastics were found in a deep
tissue inside the penis called the
Corpus spongiosum and the surgeon tells
me this is largely what's responsible
for erections so he's wondering is there
some sort of connection between these
Plastics and the dysfunction broadly
speaking the definition of a
microplastic is basically any piece of
plastic that's less than 5 mm wide so
this can mean just about anything can be
a microplastic or be a microplastic so
there were two types of plastic that
were the most common that the
researchers found in this study and
those were pet which is used in a lot of
food packaging and polypropylene which
is used to make bottle caps like water
bottle caps these microplastics are not
something you're going to see with the
naked eye they're between 20 and 500
micrometers wide so that's like maybe
one or two hairs the sample size for
this study was pretty small it was done
on six men all living in Miami and all
struggling with erectile dysfunction and
five of the men had microplastic in
their penises but interestingly one did
not he's an older guy a Cuban guy who
lives in Miami and you know he doesn't
do that much takeout he kind of lives a
traditional life he doesn't really use
plastic water bottles that much kind of
drinks from a cup and eats from a plate
it seems kind of counter into itive that
an older person would have less plastic
in their body because they've had more
time to swallow plastic but this is a
trend other researchers have also found
so there's something perhaps about our
modern way of living that is
contributing to the fact that there's
more microplastic in our
bodies the two main ways that scientists
think that we are getting microplastics
inside of us are either by swallowing
them or inhaling them so either from the
air or from eating drinking something so
it goes into your digestive tract and
then it travels down into your gut and
then once it's in your gut it gets
processed and it can enter the
bloodstream and that's when it can just
really go just about anywhere in your
body including in testicles not just
penises but also semen blood the gut the
brain it's a little bit difficult to
quantify how much microplastic is in our
body but when recent study suggested our
intake of microplastics has increased
sixfold since 1990 this is a trend
that's expected to only continue our
Global consumption of plastic is
expected to Triple by
2060 so it's not like you can identify
one source of microplastics they really
are everywhere in everything
microplastics are present in Foods we
eat and drinks we consume so if you go
out for it to go coffee there's a little
plastic f inside your cup if you eat
from a takeout container it's probably
coated with a shiny coating the slice of
pizza comes on a piece of paper that
might have some little microplastics
that you eat in your pizza if you drink
water that can also have microplastics
in it either from the bottle cap it
might pop off and get in there another
place that microplastics come from is
the clothes we wear and when we do
laundry so these little micro fibers all
these sort of new
and often improved Fabrics that can
stretch and do various things when they
get washed those microfibers will come
out of them there's a lot of
microplastic in the air we breathe as
well it's incorporated into the
household dust it's really kind of
impossible to act like we could ever get
away from
microplastics there are so many
different chemicals inside of
microplastics there's like more than
13,000 but I will mention a few of the
most common one of them is BPA or
bisphenol a BPA is one of these
endocrine disrupting chemicals that can
confuse our hormones and scientists have
shown that it can lead to more cancer or
more obesity hyperactivity decreased
immunity and ability to fight off
infections so it's one of these hormone
disrupting chemicals that can impact the
way our body functions BPA was phased
out of baby bottles a few years ago in
2013 and it's been increasingly phased
out of the Linings of cans the FDA says
that the level of BPA we're exposed to
in things like food packaging is safe
but the research on this is still in its
infancy another chemical inside
microplastics is p you might have heard
of these called Forever chemicals pasts
are a broad class of chemicals that are
used in all kinds of things from
raincoats to Teflon to firefighting foam
and food packaging pasas are useful
because they repel water and so you can
waterproof things or make things more
leak proof or non-stick and while
they're really good at resisting grease
and Fire and Rain they are also really
good at sticking around forever that's
why they're called Forever chemicals and
they are also endocrine disruptors so
they mess with the normal functioning of
our hormone
and can cause some health problems they
have been linked with lower birth rates
lowered immunity some obesity in
children and also cancers including
testicular cancer another type of
chemical is called phalates and these
are really flexible pliable Plastics
independent experts are concerned about
phalates because there's evidence they
can influence reproductive development
leading to more allergies issues with
development like more cases of ADHD
lower IQs impacting brain development
but also specifically for men that it
might be tied to lower testosterone and
by having an anti-androgenic effect on
the body another plastic is pet this is
the stuff that a lot of bottles and
bottle caps are made from there's
concerns that that when it gets really
hot like above 100° can leech out some
toxic chemicals that there could be
harmful effects over time leeching out
of those bottles and bottle caps the
bottom line is whatever kind of plastic
you're using it probably has some kind
of chemical in it that has some kind of
impact on your hormones and your health
but there are a few things you can do to
avoid microplastics I've interviewed a
lot of experts about microplastics over
the years and the one thing that
everyone says is do not microwave your
plastic that's because when the plastic
heats up it gives all those chemicals
and potentially toxic things a chance to
to leech out into the food you're eating
or the thing you're drinking my second
tip for avoiding microplastics is to try
to avoid plastic takeout containers
plastic water bottles and to go cups
when you can just getting away from
those and cooking more at home when you
can is really one of the best ways to
avoid microplastic in your food the
third tip that I talked to experts about
is to vacuum regularly ventilate your
house because a lot of microplastic gets
into the dust in our house and so if
your house is less Dusty less chance for
you to be inhaling microplastics some of
the scientists I talked to are most
concerned about some of the skin care
that we use all of those artificial
scents and fragrances that are in there
can have a lot of phalates in them so
they recommend trying to avoid super
scented things and trying to pick out
more natural fibers when you can and
when the price is agreeable because a
lot of those synthetic materials that we
wear have a lot of plastic chemicals in
them this last tip is one that pretty
much any health expert will tell you for
anything and it's wash your hands before
you eat getting the germs and the
microplastics off your hands will help
keep more of them out of your body these
Plastics aren't just passing through us
and you know going out the other end
they might be causing some damage while
they're
inside one of the leading microplastics
researchers Tracy Woodruff at the
University of California San Francisco
told me that she really feels like we're
at an inflection point with
microplastics where we're starting to
learn more and more about them where
they are and what they're doing in our
bodies and she feels like this should
really be a rallying moment for people
to and Regulators to step up and start
to regulate the Plastic industry much in
the way that cigarettes were regulated
in the 1960s
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