Could be contributing to male and female infertility
By University of California - San Francisco
A comprehensive review of approximately 3,000 studies highlights the potential dangers of these particles. They have been associated with serious health concerns such as male and female infertility, colon cancer, and impaired lung function.
Additionally, these particles may trigger chronic
pulmonary inflammation, which could elevate the risk of lung cancer.
“These microplastics are basically particulate matter air pollution, and we know this type of air pollution is harmful,” said Tracey J. Woodruff, PhD, MPH, a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at UCSF.
Woodruff directs the Program on Reproductive Health &
the Environment (PRHE) and is the senior author of the study, which was
recently published in the journal Environmental Science &
Technology.
Small particles, big problem
Microplastics are less than 5 millimeters – smaller than a
grain of rice – and they are ubiquitous in the environment. Each year,
companies around the world produce nearly 460 million metric tons of plastic.
That is projected to reach 1.1 billion by 2050.
A major source of plastic in the air is driving. Friction
wears down tires along with the road surface, sending plastic fragments into
the air.
The paper is the first systematic review of microplastics
using gold-standard methods approved by the National Academy of Sciences.
Most of the studies in the review were based on animals. But
the researchers said the conclusions likely also apply to humans since they
share many of the same exposures.
The study expands on a report the researchers worked on last year with the
California State Policy Evidence Consortium (CalSPEC). The
Consortium includes experts across the UC system and provides evidence for
policymakers in the California State Legislature.
“We urge regulatory agencies and policy leaders to consider
the growing evidence of health harms from microplastics, including colon and
lung cancer,” said Nicholas Chartres, PhD.
Chartres, the study’s first author, led the science and
policy team at PRHE and is now at the University of Sydney. “We hope state
leaders will take immediate action to prevent further exposures.”
Reference: “Effects of Microplastic Exposure on Human
Digestive, Reproductive, and Respiratory Health: A Rapid Systematic Review” by
Nicholas Chartres, Courtney B. Cooper, Garret Bland, Katherine E. Pelch,
Sheiphali A. Gandhi, Abena BakenRa and Tracey J. Woodruff, 18 December
2024, Environmental Science & Technology.
DOI:
10.1021/acs.est.3c09524
The CalSPEC pilot was funded through the University of
California Office of the President Major Projects and Initiatives Fund (UCOP
proposal number 202110-121-AA) and a grant from the JPB Foundation
(G-2022-3608).
