Microplastics: Tiny invaders that are transforming human health
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Microplastics are It can appear anywhere, including on your bodyMore specifically, in your penis, if you have one.
The study published this month International Journal of Impotence Research To the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first time they’ve found microplastics in a penis. Microplastics are the breakdown products of plastics that come from everyday life and are less than 5 millimeters long — think of the residue left behind in water bottles or food containers.
In theory, by drinking bottled water or eating food in plastic containers, we ingest microplastics, which then accumulate in our bodies. We can also be exposed to them by inhaling these tiny pieces or ingesting them directly through our skin. “These particles can enter the body directly via the air, drinking water and sea salt, or indirectly via the food chain,” the study states.
But “there are big doubts about whether these will have any impact on people’s lives.” Dr. Bobak Belukim“There have been some studies that have actually found microplastics in other tissues in the body, such as the heart and testicles,” said Dr. Schneider, a urologist and director of male infertility and microsurgery at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, who was not involved in the study.
of The research is still inconclusive Methodology Microplastics While it may have an impact on humans, it’s fair to say that this type of foreign body isn’t a very good sign.
“We don’t know yet what this means, but these plastics shouldn’t be there,” Belukhim said. “It’s a sign that people are should Put it in there.”
What’s the deal with microplastics and penises?
The researchers in the study surveyed several men who were about to undergo penile implant surgery, a procedure performed on men with severe erectile dysfunction who have not responded to or are dissatisfied with medical treatment. When inserting the implant, the researchers took a small sample of penile muscle tissue and tested it for the presence of microplastics. They found microplastics in 80 percent of the samples.
The conclusion? “All we can say is that we found plastics in human tissue, and even in penile tissue,” Belukhim says. “We can’t say for sure that these plastics have any effect on erectile dysfunction.”
The study is a step toward understanding microplastics. When it comes to men’s reproductive health, “there’s some evidence to suggest that it may lead to decreased sperm production and decreased fertility over time,” Belukhim said. “So the question is, what could be affecting this on the environmental side? One of the things that people are looking at and that we’re looking at is this whole concept of microplastics. That’s really what we’re trying to answer at this point, whether it’s reproductive health, heart health, cardiovascular health, or whatever.”
Understanding whether microplastics are causing erectile dysfunction in these patients also requires the participation of healthy volunteers, but Belukhim speculates that “it will be difficult to get patients who agree to do that.”
Where should you focus your energy if you’re concerned about infertility or erectile dysfunction?
For those concerned about fertility, Belukhim doesn’t recommend that patients stop drinking from plastic water bottles (the study specifically references past research on the impact of microplastics on sperm production and quality). Lifestyle changes like moderate exercise and a healthy diet are often the first suggestions. When it comes to erectile dysfunction, “if patients are starting to have symptoms of erectile dysfunction and there’s not an element of anxiety or performance anxiety, something else may be going on.”
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Belukim said that because a man’s erections are a good indicator of his cardiovascular health, men who are in the early stages of heart disease may be encouraged to exercise or quit smoking.
Keep an eye out for research into microplastics, but for now, “This is an interesting study, and it gives us a foundation for future research.”