ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (TND) — Researchers at the University of New Mexico last week announced findings revealing the presence of microplastics in 100% of testicles involved in a study.
Microplastics are extremely small particles of debris that break down from larger plastic waste in the ocean, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These particles can prove harmful to humans and animals if ingested.
The study examined 47 canine and 23 human testicles for the presence of 12 types of microplastics. Each of the organs involved were found to contain some amount of microplastics.
The average age of humans studied was 35, meaning their exposure to microplastics likely began decades ago, researchers said.
The impact on the younger generation might be more concerning,” researcher Xiaozhong Yu said.Researchers also reported uncovering a correlation between the presence of certain types of plastic and reduced canine sperm count.
“At the beginning, I doubted whether microplastics could penetrate the reproductive system,” Yu said. “When I first received the results for dogs I was surprised. I was even more surprised when I received the results for humans.”
Compared to rats and other animals, dogs are closer to humans,” Yu continued. “Physically, their spermatogenesis is closer to humans and the concentration has more similarity to humans.”These findings, Yu added, should not be cause for alarm.
“We don’t want to scare people,” Yu said. “We want to scientifically provide the data and make people aware there are a lot of microplastics. We can make our own choices to better avoid exposures, change our lifestyle and change our behavior.”
A post about the study on X earned 15 million views as of Tuesday afternoon, spurring numerous memes and sarcastic reactions on the topic.
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