Tiny plastic particles could be causing a big problem in women's health. New research suggests microplastic pollution may play a startling role in increasing women's reproductive cancer risks.
What's happening?
Scientists have been increasingly concerned that microplastics — tiny particles resulting from plastic degradation — pose serious risks to human health. These microscopic particles have been detected all over the human body, including in reproductive tissue, raising alarm about their health impacts. While their widespread presence is undeniable, the full extent of their impact on human health is still being uncovered.
Now, a team of researchers in China recently published the "first systematic profiling of microplastics in endometrial cancer tissues." According to the research, the endometrium — the lining of the uterus — may be more likely to trap microplastics because of its constant "remodeling" and many blood vessels. And that could have devastating impacts on women's reproductive health.
For the study, scientists analyzed 32 endometrial tissue samples from cancer and cancer-free patients. Microplastics were found in every sample, showing how common the pollutant is in human reproductive tissue. But notably, the endometrial cancer tissues contained significantly higher levels of microplastics than normal — or non-cancerous — endometrial tissues.
