Microplastics found in male genitalia for the initial reporting.
Tiny plastic fragments permeate the natural world and even living organisms, including human bodily fluids. For the first time, scientists have discovered microplastics in the penis tissue of men experiencing erectile issues, prompting concerns about potential repercussions.
Researchers at the University of Miami have revealed that microplastics might be implicated in cases of erectile dysfunction. In a study, seven distinct types of plastic particles were uncovered within the penis tissue of four out of five men who underwent surgery due to erectile dysfunction within the hospital. The findings illustrate that these particles predominantly comprise Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and Polypropylene (PP), both commonly utilized in food and beverage packaging.
Notably, the researchers were not taken aback by the discovery. "Given the vascular, spongy nature of the penis, it seems plausible that it is susceptible to microplastic contamination. During an erection, roughly one-fifth of the body's blood volume is directed towards the penis," as one reproductive urology expert explained to CNN. Consequently, the organ may be particularly vulnerable to microplastic contamination. "We have discovered that microplastics are present within the smooth muscle of the penis. It's evident that they don't belong there, and we suspect that they could disrupt the organ's functionality," so Ramasamy.
The exact impact of microplastics on male sexual health remains uncertain
Although the research team stresses the need for additional investigations to unravel the function of microplastics in erectile dysfunction and male infertility, they are adamant about the importance of establishing a link. Since an erection is reliant on multiple factors including hormones, nerves, blood flow, and muscle tissue, the expert elaborated, "We need to determine whether microplastics are related to erectile dysfunction, if there's a particular amount that can result in adverse effects, and which types of microplastics are harmful."
Earlier scientific research has already indicated that microplastics can harm cells, incite tissue inflammation, foster tumor growth, and elevate the risk of stroke and heart attack. Ingestion, inhalation, and consumption all contribute to the entry of microplastics into the human body.
The investigators aspire that their findings, published in the "IJIR: Your Sexual Medicine Journal," will motivate heightened awareness of the presence of foreign bodies in humans. "Society needs to be cognizant that consuming water from plastic bottles, dining on food packaged in plastic containers, and even more so, heating food in plastic containers in the microwave could result in substances inside our bodies that don't belong there. And the penis happens to be the one organ everyone takes notice of," Ramasamy concludes.
