A concerning new study has revealed the presence of microplastics in human testicles, raising serious concerns about male fertility.
The research, carried out by scientists at the University of New Mexico and published in Toxicological Sciences, involved the analysis of 23 human and 47 canine testes, sourced from neutering operations and cadavers.The disturbing findings showed that every single sample was contaminated with microplastics.
The stark discovery could explain the global decline in sperm count among men.According to the researchers, polyethylene - a type of plastic commonly used in the production of plastic bags and bottles - was the most frequently found microplastic in both human and canine samples.Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a robust thermoplastic material often used in window frames, pipes, medical devices, stationary, automotive interiors, seat coverings, fashion and footwear, was the second most prevalent microplastic detected.
While the scientists were able to count the sperm in the dog samples, they were unable to do so in the human samples due to chemical preservation.
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