Plastic is used in large quantities in India. One of the main reasons for this is that it gets much cheaper than glass and steel etc. and the risk of its breakdown is very low and it lasts years. But do you know that by using plastic, you may have to face many serious diseases later. Plastic not only damages the environment, but by using it, microplastic particles also go into the body.
These microplastic particles have a bad effect on fertility along with disturbances in the level of hormones in the body. Also, the risk of cancer like chronic disease increases significantly. India is the world’s largest plastic waste producer.
What are microplastic?
5 mm small plastic particles, called microplastic, are considered biologically active. A study has revealed that microplastic people have been found in blood, lungs, heart, placenta, breast milk and sperm. Microplastics mostly contain EDC (endocrine disorpting chemicals), these chemicals block natural hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, thyroid, and cortisol and can cause many problems in the body.
- Bisphenol A (BPA) and BPS: Water bottles, food containers, and thermal paper are used.
- Fthalets: Plastic is used to soft and found in beauty products, toys, and IV tubing.
- PFAS: Food packaging and non-sticks are found in cookware.
What came out in the study
A recent study in China and India revealed that the presence of microplastic in the semen reduced the number of sperm, concentration and dynamics. Come into contact with BPA and Fothalates reduces testosterone levels and increases the level of luteinizing hormone (LH). This increases the risk of endocrine disorder. This study revealed that using microplastic has a very bad effect on the breeding health of men.
Published animal studies in Food and Chemical Toxicology (2023) showed that low doses of polystyrene microplastics (20 μg/l) also disrupt the level of testosterone, disrupts sperm production and damage blood-speculation (blood-Testis barrier). Similar effects were seen in the ovary, where microplastics reduced the level of anti-mulerian hormones, trigger oxidative stress and increase the risk of cell damage.