Tiny plastic shards found in human testicles, study says

Human testicles contain microplastics and nanoplastics at levels three times higher than animal testes and human placentas, a new small study found.

“These plastics are often nano-scale, typically less than half a micron in length and maybe like 20 to 200 nanometres in width,” said toxicologist Matthew Campen, coauthor of the study that published May 15 in the journal Toxicological Sciences.

“They look like little shards, tiny broken bits from very, very old plastics,” said Campen, a regents’ professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

Such minuscule particles can invade individual cells and tissues in major organs, experts say, interrupting cellular processes and potentially depositing endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as bisphenols, phthalates, flame retardants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, and heavy metals.

Endocrine disruptors interfere with the human reproductive system, leading to genital and reproductive malformations as well as female infertility and a decline in sperm count, according to the Endocrine Society.

In fact, sperm counts in parts of the world, including the United States, have declined by at least 50 per cent over the past 50 years, the society stated on its website.

“This is an eyes wide open situation right now,” Campen said. “We’re just now realizing how much plastic is in our bodies. We need a surge of research around this topic to confirm or deny a role for microplastics in driving infertility, testicular cancer and other cancers.”

'Action is desperately needed now'

The new study tested 23 preserved testes from cadavers who were ages 16 to 88 at the time of their death, then compared the levels of 12 different types of plastics in those testicles with plastics found in 47 dog testes.

“The levels of microplastic shards and types of plastics in human testes were three times greater than those found in dogs, and the dogs are eating off the floor,” Campen said. “So it really puts in perspective of what we’re putting in our own bodies.”

Polyethylene, one of the most widely used plastics in the world, was the predominant type of polymer in both species, followed by PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, another commonly used chemical that can contain chemical additives and heavy metals including phthalates, cadmium and lead. Phthalates, called  “everywhere chemicals” because they are so common, are added to consumer products to make the plastic more flexible and harder to break.

Researchers expected to find more plastic shards in the testicles of older men in the study, but that wasn’t the case, Campen said.

“It seems that in peak reproductive years for men, which is from 20 to 45, there are higher levels of plastics, which then begin to decline after the age of 55,” he said. “This suggests the human body can eliminate these plastics.”

But there is a downside. The finding also suggests that the increased energy needs of a younger testicle may “also pull more plastic into that organ,” Campen said.

“Add to that the fact that the number of plastics we’re exposed to is doubling at a rate of every 10 to 15 years,” he said. “So what’s going to happen in 15 years when we are exposed to twice the amount or 30 years when we are exposed to four times the amount? That is why action is desperately needed now.”

The American Chemistry Council, an industry association, told CNN in a previous interview that plastics “help protect us, improve healthcare outcomes, and contribute to a more sustainable world.”

“Plastic makers have a goal for all US plastic packaging to be reused, recycled, or recovered by 2040,” said Dr. Kimberly Wise White, the council’s vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs.

More plastics than placentas

Researchers also compared the testes results with microplastic levels found in an earlier study on 62 human placentas, the organ that provides oxygen and nutrients to a developing fetus in the womb.

In that February study, led by Campen, researchers found microplastics at levels of 6.5 to 790 micrograms per gram of tissue in all the placenta samples studied.

“In testes, the levels of plastic was three times as much as we saw in placentas,” Campen said. “But you have to consider that the placenta only has a life of about eight months.”

The latest study isn’t the first report to find plastics in reproductive tissue. A team of Beijing-based researchers found microplastics in six human testes and 30 semen samples in a June 2023 study, while animal studies have shown tiny plastics can impact sperm count and contribute to hormone and other disruptions in male sexual organs.

In studies of pregnant mice, researchers have found plastic chemicals in the brain, heart, liver, kidney and lungs of the developing fetus 24 hours after the pregnant mother ingested or breathed in plastic particles. Other research has shown that micro- and nanoplastics may cause oxidative stress, tissue damage and inflammation in cells, while animal studies have shown such particles may alter heart rate and impede cardiac function.

How to limit plastic in your life

There are steps one can take to reduce exposure to phthalates and other chemicals in food and food packaging products, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ policy statement on food additives and children’s health.

“One is to reduce our plastic footprint by using stainless steel and glass containers, when possible,” said Dr. Leonardo Trasande, director of environmental pediatrics at NYU Langone Health, in a prior interview with CNN.

“Avoid microwaving food or beverages in plastic, including infant formula and pumped human milk, and don’t put plastic in the dishwasher, because the heat can cause chemicals to leach out,” said Trasande, who is also the lead author for the American Academy of Pediatrics’ policy statement on food additives and children’s health.

“Look at the recycling code on the bottom of products to find the plastic type, and avoid plastics with recycling codes 3, which typically contain phthalates,” he added.

Cut down on the use of disposable plastics, suggests the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group. Other suggestions include bringing reusable bags to the grocery store. Invest in a zippered fabric bag and ask the dry cleaner to return your clothes in that instead of those thin sheets of plastic. Bring a travel mug to the local coffee store for takeout and silverware to the office and cut back on plastic cups and utensils.