Salerno, Italy – Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery, with microplastics found in human ovary follicular fluid for the first time. This new revelation has sparked concerns about the potential impact of these pervasive and harmful substances on women’s fertility. The study, published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, examined 18 women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment at a fertility clinic in Salerno, Italy. The researchers detected microplastics in the follicular fluid of 14 of the participants.
Follicular fluid plays a crucial role in providing essential nutrients and biochemical signals for the development of eggs. The contamination of this process with plastic particles could have significant implications for fertility, hormonal balance, and overall reproductive health, according to the authors of the study. Luigi Montano, a researcher at the University of Rome and the lead author of the study, described the findings as both a major step towards understanding the effects of microplastics on women’s reproductive health and “very alarming”.
Microplastics, along with smaller nanoplastics, have been found in various environmental locations, from the summit of Mount Everest to the depths of the Mariana Trench. One of the primary exposure routes to these harmful substances is believed to be through food, as recent studies have detected microplastics in all meat and produce products tested. What makes microplastics particularly dangerous is their ability to contain a wide range of toxic chemicals linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, hormone disruption, and developmental toxicity.
Montano’s research not only uncovered microplastics in human ovary follicular fluid but also in human urine and semen. He suspects that these microplastics are contributing to the decline in sperm counts and quality, particularly in areas with high pollution levels. While men may be more susceptible to the toxic effects of microplastics, women are also at risk. Animal studies have shown a connection between the presence of microplastics and ovarian dysfunction, reduced oocyte maturation, and fertility issues.
The study suggests a possible correlation between the concentration of microplastics and reproductive health in the women studied. Montano emphasized that highly toxic chemicals like bisphenol, phthalates, and Pfas use microplastics as a “Trojan horse” to enter the body and ovaries, posing a significant risk to women’s reproductive health. Xiaozhong Yu, a microplastics researcher at the University of New Mexico, hailed the follicular fluid study as a critical finding, emphasizing the need for further research to determine the level of exposure at which adverse effects begin to occur.