Researchers were surprised to find that microplastics can infiltrate the blood-testis barrier, one of the tightest blood-tissue barriers in the human body.
Humanity faces a world full of plastic pollution. Global plastic production has doubled in the last two decades. Microplastics can be found in various environmental compartments, such as oceans, rivers, lakes, soil, air, and even in organisms. Scientists estimate that there are between 8 and 10 million metric tons of plastic in the oceans, and some of it is consumed by fish and other wildlife. Microplastics have been detected in fruits and vegetables, plastic water bottles, air, cosmetics and household dust.
Organs reported to be contaminated by microplastics and nanoplastics include the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, heart, skin, liver, kidneys, reproductive organs (testicles and placenta), and even the brain. The effects of microplastic pollution on these organs can include inflammation, oxidative stress and impaired organ function and cause a variety of health problems, including cancers, metabolic disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and fertility problems.
Fetal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals has been associated with abnormal development of reproductive organs in male infants, with an increased risk of metabolic disorders in childhood, and may be associated with the development of attention deficit disorder. and hyperactivity (ADHD) in children. Some of these chemicals have also been linked to lower sperm quality in men
The damage from microplastics is aggravated by bisphenol A, phthalates and perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, insecticides, heavy metals, antibiotics that can contaminate microplastics that mimic hormones and disrupt the body's natural endocrine system. , which is responsible for producing hormones that govern processes such as growth and development, metabolism, appetite, mood, and reproduction.
Micro- and nanoplastics can serve as a source of carcinogenic or mutagenic substances, potentially causing DNA damage that can lead to carcinogenesis, the development of cancerous tumors. Genotoxicity studies aim to investigate the effects of microplastics and associated chemicals on DNA integrity, chromosome structure and genomic stability using sensitive assays. Furthermore, microplastics with prolonged environmental exposure can have significant adverse effects in cancer patients, affecting both cancer and immune cells.
Younger people diagnosed with colon cancer and other cancers related to the gastrointestinal tract could be linked to the ingestion of plastics and other chemicals.
The UCSF Reproductive Health and Environment Program also offers additional tips to help minimize exposure to toxic chemicals, such as those sometimes found in microplastics: TOXIC MATTERS: NEW AND IMPROVED!
Humanity faces a world full of plastic pollution. Global plastic production has doubled in the last two decades. Microplastics can be found in various environmental compartments, such as oceans, rivers, lakes, soil, air, and even in organisms. Scientists estimate that there are between 8 and 10 million metric tons of plastic in the oceans, and some of it is consumed by fish and other wildlife. Microplastics have been detected in fruits and vegetables, plastic water bottles, air, cosmetics and household dust.
Organs reported to be contaminated by microplastics and nanoplastics include the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, heart, skin, liver, kidneys, reproductive organs (testicles and placenta), and even the brain. The effects of microplastic pollution on these organs can include inflammation, oxidative stress and impaired organ function and cause a variety of health problems, including cancers, metabolic disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and fertility problems.
Fetal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals has been associated with abnormal development of reproductive organs in male infants, with an increased risk of metabolic disorders in childhood, and may be associated with the development of attention deficit disorder. and hyperactivity (ADHD) in children. Some of these chemicals have also been linked to lower sperm quality in men
The damage from microplastics is aggravated by bisphenol A, phthalates and perfluoroalkylated and polyfluoroalkylated substances, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, insecticides, heavy metals, antibiotics that can contaminate microplastics that mimic hormones and disrupt the body's natural endocrine system. , which is responsible for producing hormones that govern processes such as growth and development, metabolism, appetite, mood, and reproduction.
Micro- and nanoplastics can serve as a source of carcinogenic or mutagenic substances, potentially causing DNA damage that can lead to carcinogenesis, the development of cancerous tumors. Genotoxicity studies aim to investigate the effects of microplastics and associated chemicals on DNA integrity, chromosome structure and genomic stability using sensitive assays. Furthermore, microplastics with prolonged environmental exposure can have significant adverse effects in cancer patients, affecting both cancer and immune cells.
Younger people diagnosed with colon cancer and other cancers related to the gastrointestinal tract could be linked to the ingestion of plastics and other chemicals.
The UCSF Reproductive Health and Environment Program also offers additional tips to help minimize exposure to toxic chemicals, such as those sometimes found in microplastics: TOXIC MATTERS: NEW AND IMPROVED!
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139322002839 (2023).---
https://www.cell.com/heliyon/pdf/S2405-8440(23)00503-0.pdf (2023).----
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(23)00467-X/fulltext (2023).--
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304389424006332 (2024).--
https://www.aamc.org/news/microplastics-are-inside-us-all-what-does-mean-our-health (2024),..
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772906024004011 (2024).--
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10311-024-01734-2 (2024).--
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4849245 (2024).--
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/13/3323 (2024).--
TOXIC MATTERS: NEW AND IMPROVED!
https://prhe.ucsf.edu/toxic-matters