(WJW) – Scientists have found microplastics in human penises for the first time, according to a study published this week.
The study was published in IJIR: Your Sexual Medicine Journal on Wednesday.
The samples were taken from 6 different men who had been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction (ED). The samples were taken between August and September of 2023.
Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic about the size of a sesame seed. Plastic doesn’t decompose, so the pieces simply get smaller.
Microplastics can enter the human body through ingestion or inhalation, such as eating food stored in plastic containers, according to Nature Medicine.
Seven different kinds of microplastics were found in penile tissue in the study.
Here’s what the study reports:
“Seven types of MPs were found in the penile tissue, with polyethylene terephthalate (47.8%) and polypropylene (34.7%) being the most prevalent.”
The findings are now being examined as a potential cause for ED.
Microplastics are also linked to increased risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular problems, according to a recent study.
The study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed microplastics had been found in most every part of the body, including lungs and stomach.
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#Microplastics #human #penises #Study