"Just One Word: Microplastics"

[Dark Lightning]

Plastic Man

[Icarus]

Here is an article that foretells the end of the inhabited world............ or something of that sort. Well alright maybe it will be quicker if we use Nukes or a giant asteroid smacks Mother Earth.

https://www.propublica.org/article/3m-forever-chemicals-pfas-pfos-inside-story?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us

Lengthy article, perhaps an interesting read.

[Dark Lightning]

Interesting, and annoying. I just wonder what the people who cover this shit up eat and drink? One would think that not poisoning themselves would be a motivating factor for finding alternatives. 3M has so many smart people, right?

[The Magic Pudding..]

Interesting, and annoying. I just wonder what the people who cover this shit up eat and drink? One would think that not poisoning themselves would be a motivating factor for finding alternatives. 3M has so many smart people, right?

Is your water the quality you would like it to be? It might look clear and taste fine, but could it be better? An under sink or whole house water filtration system from 3M can help reduce particulates, sediment, chlorine taste and odour from your water.

[Dark Lightning]

   Talk about the fox guarding the henhouse!

[Icarus]

NPR radio today had research microbiologist guest speakers. They were studying our plastic problem. The plastic bags that we use to transport our groceries from the market to our homes is mostly polyethylene. Those little bags are ubiquitous because many merchants, such as restaurants, hardware stores,florists, etc  use the bags as a convenience to the customer.

What becomes of those bags. Voila! They are convenient for discharging ordinary kitchen litter. Toss in the trash collector bins and they end up in the local landfill. There they disintegrate over time.

Here is the kicker.............It has been established that there are microparticles of that stuff finding its way into human bodies. That is old news, but where does this particular microplastic concentrate within the human body. The testicles. Yep, testicles !   So far, that has not been shown to have an unwelcome influence on our sex lives.......

[Tank]

Natural selection at it's finest. It's almost like something is in control!

[Recusant]

An article about the item noted by Icarus above. Of course it's not just our species that has microplastics in our junk.

"UNM Researchers Find Microplastics in Canine and Human Testicular Tissue" | University of New Mexico Newsroom

University of New Mexico researchers have detected significant concentrations of microplastics in the testicular tissue of both humans and dogs, adding to growing concern about their possible effect on human reproductive health.

In a new paper published in the journal Toxicological Sciences, a team led by Xiaozhong "John" Yu, MD, PhD, MPH, a professor in the UNM College of Nursing, reported finding 12 types of microplastics in 47 canine and 23 human testes.

"Our study revealed the presence of microplastics in all human and canine testes," Yu said. The team was also able to quantify the amount of microplastics in the tissue samples using a novel analytical method that revealed correlations between certain types of plastic and reduced sperm count in the canine samples.

Yu, who studies the impact of various environmental factors on the human reproductive system, said heavy metals, pesticides and endocrine-disrupting chemicals have all been implicated in a global decline in sperm count and quality in recent years. A conversation with his colleague Matthew Campen, PhD, a professor in the UNM College of Pharmacy who has documented the presence of microplastics in human placentas, led him to wonder whether something else might be at work.

[Continues . . .]

The paper is behind a paywall.

Abstract:

The ubiquitous existence of microplastics and nanoplastics raises concerns about their potential impact on the human reproductive system. Limited data exists on microplastics within the human reproductive system and their potential consequences on sperm quality. Our objectives were to quantify and characterize the prevalence and composition of microplastics within both canine and human testes and investigate potential associations with the sperm count, and weights of testis and epididymis.

Using advanced sensitive pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, we quantified 12 types of microplastics within 47 canine and 23 human testes. Data on reproductive organ weights, and sperm count in dogs were collected. Statistical analyses, including descriptive analysis, correlational analysis, and multivariate linear regression analyses were applied to investigate the association of microplastics with reproductive functions.

Our study revealed the presence of microplastics in all canine and human testes, with significant inter-individual variability. Mean total microplastic levels were 122.63 µg/g in dogs and 328.44 µg/g in humans. Both humans and canines exhibit relatively similar proportions of the major polymer types, with PE being dominant. Furthermore, a negative correlation between specific polymers such as PVC and PET and the normalized weight of the testis was observed. These findings highlight the pervasive presence of microplastics in the male reproductive system in both canine and human testes, with potential consequences on male fertility.

Related study described below.

"Microplastics found in every semen sample tested by research team" | Medical Xpress

A team of public health researchers affiliated with multiple institutions in China has found microplastics in the semen of every sample they tested. In their study, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, the group looked for microplastics in semen samples obtained from 36 healthy adult men.

Prior research has shown that microplastics are nearly everywhere, found on mountaintops, remote islands, in the upper atmosphere and the depths of the world's oceans. They have also been found in every organ in the human body.

In a recent discovery, scientists found that the average person consumes plastic in amounts equal to about one credit card every week. The researchers note that plastics can enter the body in multiple ways, such as through drinking from water bottles, breathing air particulates, or eating food heated in plastic containers. They further note that it is now practically impossible for people to avoid ingesting microplastics.

The health impacts remain unknown, but many scientists around the world are looking into it, suspecting microplastic ingestion may be behind many inflammatory diseases.

[Continues . . .]

Another paywalled paper:

Abstract:

Microplastics are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that have been detected in human semen from polluted areas, yet their prevalence and effects in the general population remain largely unexplored. To examine microplastic presence, abundance, polymer types, and associations with semen quality parameters in individuals without occupational exposures, this study was conducted by collecting semen samples from 40 participants undergoing premarital health assessments in Jinan, China.

Raman microspectroscopy was employed to identify, quantify, and categorize microplastic polymers, sperm motility was assessed via computer-assisted analysis, and morphology was evaluated through Diff-Quik staining. Correlations between demographics, semen parameters, and microplastic content were examined by statistical analysis.

We found that microplastics were detected in all semen samples, with 2 particles per sample (ranging from 0.72 to 7.02 μm). Eight distinct polymers were identified, with polystyrene (31 %) being most prevalent. Semen exposed to polystyrene demonstrated higher sperm progressive motility as compared to polyvinyl chloride exposure group (43.52 ± 14.21 % vs 19.04 ± 13.46 %). Sperm morphological abnormalities were observed but not significantly associated with specific plastic types.

In conclusion, this study reveals microplastic contamination in semen from individuals without occupational exposure, with PS, PE, and PVC being the most prevalent and exhibiting differential correlations with sperm progressive motility, and highlight the need for further research into the potential reproductive impacts of microplastic exposure.