Scientists baffled after discovery of microplastics in human testicles. Here's why you should be worried

In a shocking discovery, scientists have now found microplastics in human testicles.

The researchers at the University of New Mexico studied the testicular tissues covered by humans and dogs and found the presence of microplastics in every sample. However, microplastics were found to be threetimes higher in humansin comparison todogs.

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In the examination, the scientists found an average of 329.44micrograms ofmicroplastics per gram of tissuein people and 122.63 microgrammes in canines.

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The studynot onlyemphasised how plastic pollution is now entering every part of our bodybut alsoraised concerns regarding how these microscopic fragments may impact male fertility.

Speaking to Science Alert, Environmental health scientist Xiaozhong Yu from the University of New Mexico said, "At the beginning, I doubted whether microplastics could penetrate the reproductive system. When I first received the results fordogsI was surprised. I was even more surprised when I received the results for humans."

The researchers identified 12 different types of microplastics,among which the onewhichwas foundin abundance in both dogs andhumans,was polyethylene(PE).

Polyethyleneis usedin the manufacturing of plastic bottles and bags. The researcherswere not able to test human tissue for sperm count, however, they checked the canine samples.

In the canine samples, the scientists found higher levels ofpolyvinyl chloride(PVC) plasticwhichisrelated to a lower sperm count in theanimals.

With this discovery, the scientists found that plastics maybe contributingtodecreasing sperm count worldwide.

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"The plastic makes a difference – what type of plastic mightbe correlatedwith potential function,"Yu said.

"PVC can releasea lot ofchemicals that interfere withspermatogenesisandit contains chemicals that cause endocrine disruption," he added.

The researchers now wish to compare canine and human testes since there are many biological similarities between ourspecies,and that of canines.

"We don't want to scare people. We want to scientifically provide the data and make people aware there are a lot of microplastics," said Yu.

"We can make our own choicesto better avoid exposures, change our lifestyle andchange ourbehaviour," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)