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Effects of micro- and nanoplastics exposure on male semen quality and associated mechanisms: A research progress review
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Tiny plastic particles called micro- and nanoplastics are showing up everywhere, including inside our bodies—and this review of existing research suggests they can build up in the testes and semen, where they're linked to lower sperm count, weaker sperm movement, and abnormally shaped sperm. Scientists think these plastics may harm sperm by triggering cell stress, inflammation, and hormone disruption, though most evidence so far comes from animal and lab studies rather than large human trials. Given the ongoing global decline in male fertility, this is a good reason to reduce unnecessary plastic exposure while researchers work to confir
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs), as emerging environmental pollutants, have ubiquitously contaminated global ecosystems and even human tissues, raising significant concerns about their potential health risks. The global decline in male reproductive health, particularly semen quality, is thought to be strongly linked to environmental pollutant exposure. This review summarized the latest research progress on the effects of MNP exposure on male semen quality and its underlying mechanisms. Existing evidence indicates that MNPs can enter the human body through multiple pathways such as inhalation and ingestion, accumulate in the reproductive system including the testes and semen. This accumulation is associated with the deterioration of semen quality parameters, manifesting as decreased sperm concentration, reduced sperm motility, and abnormal sperm morphology. The proposed mechanisms primarily include oxidative stress, inflammatory response, endocrine disruption, and apoptosis. This paper systematically reviewed the findings and limitations of current research and provided perspectives on future directions, including the effects of long-term low-dose exposure, validation in human epidemiological studies, and the risks of mixed exposures, to provide a scientific basis for a comprehensive assessment of the male reproductive toxicity of MNPs.
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Microplastic Exposure and Male Infertility: Mechanisms, Effects on Semen Quality and Emerging Human Evidence
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This review summarizes research on tiny plastic particles found in human semen and testicular tissue. In rodent studies, exposure was linked to cell damage, hormone disruption, and reduced sperm count and quality; human studies show similar associations but are too limited to prove the particles cause male infertility.
The Impact of Microplastics on Male Fertility
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Microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in testicular tissue and disrupt spermatogenesis through oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine disruption, and structural damage to reproductive cells, consistently impairing sperm quality in experimental models. With global plastic production accelerating alongside documented declines in semen quality, this review highlights microplastic exposure as a plausible environmental contributor to male infertility warranting urgent human study.
Microplastics and male reproductive toxicity: Research progress on injury pathways and regulatory mechanisms
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This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic particles from our environment can build up in male reproductive organs, where they've been linked to lower sperm quality in humans. Studies in animals and cells suggest these plastics may sneak past the body's natural defenses in the testicles, causing cell damage, inflammation, and hormone disruption that harms sperm production. While more research is needed to confirm exactly how much risk this poses to human fertility, the findings add to growing concerns about everyday plastic exposure and reproductive health.
Micro- and nanoplastic exposure: male reproductive toxicity, underlying mechanisms, and research prospects
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This review summarizes existing research on how tiny plastic particles, which can enter the body through food, air, or skin, may harm male fertility. It describes proposed biological mechanisms, including cell damage, hormone disruption, and gut bacteria changes, linked to reduced sperm quality in studied models.
Unveiling the Insidious Role of Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Compromising Male Fertility
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This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics, already found in human semen and testicular tissue, may damage sperm production by causing cell stress, disrupting hormones, and even altering gut bacteria that support reproductive health. The risk grows when these plastics mix with other pollutants like heavy metals, suggesting real-world exposure could be more harmful than lab studies of plastics alone. While more research is needed, this adds to growing concern that everyday plastic pollution may be quietly contributing to declining male fertility worldwide.
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