Scientists from the University of Miami announced that The microparticles of plastics were also demonstrably found in the human penis for the first time. The authors of the study provided evidence that microscopic particles of plastic from food and beverages can accumulate in different parts of the body. In the blood vessels of the penis, they cause inflammation that can lead to erection disorders. The results of the study were published in the International Journal of Impotence Research.
According to the authors, most of the found particles from common types of plastics are used in the production of food and drink packaging. Specifically, it was a PET (polyethylenetereftalate) – a material used to produce water bottles and lemonade – and polypropylene, often found in plastic jars. The two types together accounted for approximately 82 percent of all particles found.
Scientists took small ones Samples of stinging tissue from six adult men who underwent implantation of a penile prosthesis. The samples were stored in glass containers and processed with laser infrared spectroscopy that has proven Identify particles with a size of 20 to 500 micrometers – that is, approximately in the thickness of the human hair. Microplastics were found in four out of five samples, while one sample was without finding.
A control sample stored in a plastic container It also contained microparticles, especially PMMA (polymethylmetacrylate), which, according to scientists, again confirmed how easily cross contamination can occur with plastic. “By pointing out the presence of microplastics in human tissues, we add a fundamental dimension to the ongoing discussions on the impact of environmental pollutants on human health, with a special emphasis on male reproductive health,” the authors said.
