Microplastics found in human testicles

Researchers have been drawing attention to the potential health harms of microplastic pollution which has been proven to enter the human body through food, water and breathing in air. Now a study has found they are present in human and canine testicles, which may contribute to a fall in sperm count. The study, published in Toxicological Sciences, analysed 23 preserved human testes and 47 testes from dogs. Microplastics were found in all of the samples. The most common plastics present were PVC (used for pipes and wire insulation) and polyethene (used for plastic bags). Although the human samples couldn’t be tested for sperm count, the samples from the dogs revealed a possible correlation between PVC levels and a lower sperm count. Lead researcher Xiaozhong Yu warned that the presence in younger men may be even higher (the average age of the samples was 35) as there is now more plastic than ever in the environment.