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Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Emerging Threats to Male Reproductive Health, Spermatogenesis, and Fertility
Summary
Researchers review growing evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics, now detected in human semen and testicular tissue, disrupt spermatogenesis and testosterone production through oxidative stress, endocrine-disrupting additives, and blood-testis barrier damage, while also linking these mechanisms to elevated prostate cancer risk.
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are now detected in human semen, testicular tissue, and the male reproductive tract. Chronic exposure disrupts spermatogenesis, reduces sperm count/motility/morphology, and impairs testosterone production through oxidative stress, inflammation, blood-testis barrier disruption, and endocrine effects of plastic additives (phthalates, BPA). Emerging data also link MNPs to increased prostate cancer risk via similar pathways. This perspective reviews the mechanisms and evidence linking MNPs to male infertility and prostate carcinogenesis and proposes interaction-mediated therapeutic strategies under the Cythera Bio platform as a proactive countermeasure.