Microplastics Detected in Human Testis and Semen (let alone all of our biomes) - What Are the Risks?
Recently, lecturing in Houston at the amazing PCCA pharmaceutical HRT symposium, I shared the global data that younger males (and females) around the world are having less and less hormones. Less testosterone (T) in young males (and less estrogen in many younger females, especially high school athletes).
When I was a distinguished hormone scholar at the CBR (Center for Bioenvironmental Research at Tulane) I met Louis J. Guillette, Jr Ph.D. Dr. G was an embryologist that first identified male alligators being “feminized” (smaller penises, developing eggs, etc.) and also female alligators being masculinized. Dr. G noticed this in Lake Apopka in Florida. It was polluted at that time.
Dr. G testified in front of the Senate and is famous for this line: “Every man in this room is only half the man his grandfather was.”
Why did Dr. G say this? Modern men have less testosterone.
Due to pollution, especially exposure prenatally, in the egg, sperm, placenta, amniotic fluid, mother’s milk, etc. This is why I have been calling for a need for “Green Pregnancies” - the concept of at least trying to detox prior to getting pregnant. To protect the next generations.
Interference
Well, exactly what pollution is lowering T in younger males? And interfering with fertility to masculine traits, to immune and brain health and moods, and on and on?
A new pilot study shows that microplastics — plastic particles that are smaller than five millimeters or close to the size of a short rice grain — can be found in human testis and semen, according to the paper published last month in Science of The Total Environment. This study shows the penetration of microplastics into the human reproductive system and the urgency for understanding their potential health impact.
Peking University in China analyzed six testis and 30 semen samples for the presence of microplastics. Microplastics were detected in both human testis and semen, with the abundance in the testis significantly higher than that in semen. The researchers found differences in the types of microplastics predominating in either testis or semen.
While polystyrene, a main ingredient for plastic foams, was the most abundant polymer in the testis samples; polyethylene, which is commonly used for packaging, and polyvinyl chloride, which makes PVC pipes, and outgases from flooring and other manufactured items in the home, were predominant in the semen.
Microplastics ranging from 20 micrometers to 100 micrometers, which is the average diameter of human hair, were the most common in testis. Those in semen had bigger sizes.
Microplastics are Ubiquitous
As microplastics transverse through the global environment — from the French Pyrenees to Arctic sea ice — these particles also permeate our daily lives, all fish flesh, and all human fecal material, with traces found in all drinking water, food, and air.
Previously, microplastics have been identified in human blood. If it’s in the blood, it can in fact go everywhere in your body. Including the brain.
Shanna Swan, who is a leading reproductive epidemiologist from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and is not involved in the study, but we hung out together at Tulane, told EHN that, at this point, scientists “can only speculate” the impact of microplastics on human health based on the chemicals that have been studied in plastics — such as phthalates and polychlorinated biphenyls.
“We know a lot about what those [chemicals] do individually, but what they do in the form of a microplastic or nanoplastic, we don’t know yet,” said Swan, whose research helped underpin that global human sperm counts and quality are declining at an alarming rate.
Human sperm counts are down 52% in the last 50 years.
Dr. Swan is 87 years old and still circling the globe trying to raise awareness and boost regulatory action.
“We know testosterone levels are decreasing worldwide,” Dr. S said.
“Is that related to the presence of microplastics in their organs? I don’t know — that is an open question.”
If you have not yet started your family you will want to consider my new Biotics products that help remove pollutants from receptors and help hormones work optimally. Along with the wanna-be mother and dad, detoxing together.
I think that the time will come for insurance-reimbursed detox centers prior to birth, to try to keep humanity safe.
We cannot escape microplastics but we can limit the exposure to the next generation.
And we can help protect our own.
Dr. B.
Additional Resources Link:
Endocrine Disruptors with Elizabeth Guillett, Ph.D. (#160)
References:
In Memoriam: Louis J. Guillett, Jr. Environ Health Perspect. 2015 Oct;123(10):A250. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1510674. PMID: 26421748; PMCID: PMC4590766.
Are microplastics invading the male reproductive system? Environmental Health News. April 27th 2023
Hormone Deception McGraw-Hill Berkson DL 2000 Awakened Medicine Press 2016