April 2, 2025 – Microplastics (MPs), tiny plastic fibers, particles, or films smaller than 5 millimeters, have emerged as a novel environmental contaminant in global ecosystems. Inevitably ingested through food, inhalation, and even skin contact in daily life, humans are estimated to consume between 0.1 to 5 grams of microplastics per week, posing potential toxic risks to health.
Research reveals that microplastics are ubiquitous in human feces, lungs, blood, placenta, and even breast milk, indicating their deep penetration into the human body. Concurrently, male sperm counts have been declining over recent decades, with 40% of the causes unexplained, though chemical pollution is suspected as a significant factor. However, studies on the distribution, accumulation, and specific impacts of microplastics on male reproductive health remain limited.
According to Color Masterbatch Industry News, in October 2024, a study titled “Association of Mixed Exposure to Microplastics with Sperm Dysfunction: A Multi-Site Study in China” was published in eBioMedicine, a subsidiary journal of The Lancet. This collaborative research, involving teams from Fudan University Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medical Genetics and Developmental Research led by Academician Huang Hefeng, along with Professor Cao Jia from the Third Military Medical University and Associate Professor Duan Shuyin from Shandong First Medical University, examined semen and urine samples from 113 men across three different regions in China.
The study detected eight types of microplastics, with all samples testing positive. Notably, most participants were exposed to three to five different types of microplastics, with relatively consistent exposure patterns. Particularly alarming was the significant correlation between exposure to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly found in non-stick cookware coatings, and the number of microplastic types, with sperm quality showing marked declines in total count, concentration, and motility. This finding suggests that microplastic pollution may pose a potential threat to reproductive health.