Researchers have found microplastics everywhere — in our seas, drinking water, food and even people’s bodies, including the brain, bloodstream, vital organs and breast milk. Now, scientists are finding them in human reproductive fluids, raising concerns over how these tiny particles could impact fertility.
What are microplastics?
Microplastics are tiny fragments of polymers, which are chemical compounds. There are two types of polymers: natural and synthetic.
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Naturally occurring polymers include materials such as silk, hair, proteins and DNA. Synthetic polymers, like plastics, are manufactured in labs.
They range from less than 0.2 inches (5 millimeters, or about the size of a pencil-top eraser) to 1/25,000th of an inch (1 micrometer, only visible with a microscope) in size. Scientists classify anything smaller than a microplastic as a “nanoplastic.”
The Stanford report indicates that industries release between 10 and 40 million metric tons of microplastic particles into the environment each year. Researchers said this figure could double by 2040.
Where did researchers find the microplastics?
New research presented this week at a conference in Europe revealed microplastics in male semen and female follicular fluid. Follicular fluid is the liquid that surrounds eggs in the ovaries.
While the study was small, it found microplastics in 69% of follicular fluid samples and 55% of semen samples.
The findings are raising concerns over how microplastics could impact not just people’s health but also their fertility.
However, the scientists involved in the study state that more research is needed to determine whether microplastics are harmful. They also aim to find out to what extent these substances may cause harm.
What types of microplastics did researchers identify?
The microplastics found in human reproductive fluids were the human-made variety and included PTFE, polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate.
PTFE stands for polytetrafluoroethylene. Manufacturers use this plastic for products that must withstand high temperatures, such as non-stick cooking utensils and electrical wiring.
Producers use polystyrene to make Styrofoam take-out containers and packing peanuts. They use polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to make disposable water bottles, containers for salad dressing or peanut butter and cases for phones and laptops.
Are microplastics safe?
According to the Food and Drug Administration, “current scientific evidence does not demonstrate that levels of microplastics or nanoplastics detected in foods pose a risk to human health.”
However, researchers from Yonsei and Jeonbuk National Universities in South Korea have found that microplastics cause harmful effects. These effects include oxidative stress, DNA damage, organ dysfunction, metabolic disorders, immune responses, neurotoxicity and reproductive and developmental toxicity.
A 2024 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at the impact of microplastics in the carotid arteries of people with heart disease. It found people with microplastics in those arteries were twice as likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke and also more likely to die over the next three years than people who had no microplastics in their carotid arteries.
How can people avoid microplastics?
Given just how many products are made with microplastics, it’s almost impossible to avoid them altogether. However, there are some ways to mitigate exposure.
Experts say on top of switching from plastic containers to glass, steel and bamboo, people can also be more conscientious of the items they use. They recommend avoiding plastic water bottles, never microwaving food in plastic or Styrofoam containers and stopping the use of plastic cutting boards.
Another thing to avoid: ultra-processed foods. According to a 2024 study, since the makers of ultra-processed foods rely on microplastics for cheap, lightweight packaging, there’s now a “symbiotic” relationship between the two.
