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Impact of leachate from boiled-water-treated plastic products on male reproductive health: insights from transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling
Summary
Mice exposed daily for six months to leachates from five common plastic types — including polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and PET — showed testicular tissue damage, reduced sperm production, and significant disruptions to gene expression and metabolic pathways related to male reproductive function. The chemicals that leached from the plastics when treated with boiling water (simulating cooking or hot beverage preparation) drove hormonal and cellular changes consistent with reduced fertility. This study raises practical concerns about the reproductive health risks of using plastic cookware and food containers with hot liquids.
Given the extensive use of plastic materials in modern society, there is an escalating concern about the potential risks associated with exposure to plastic products.This study investigated the impact of plastic leachates from boiled-water-treated products, including polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (PEH), low-density polyethylene (PEL), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), on male reproductive health.Experimental mice were administered daily doses of the plastic leachates for 180 consecutive days.Histological analysis of the testes and epididymis was conducted, revealing vacuolization and absence of sperms in the seminiferous tubules of mice treated with PP, PEH, PEL, and PS, while PET exhibited lower reproductive toxicity.Furthermore, transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling were employed to identify key genes and metabolites related to plastic exposure.Transcriptome analysis showed significant changes in genes associated with spermatogenesis following exposure to leachates, while metabolome analysis indicated an impact on the lipid metabolism pathway.Overall, the study provides evidence that oral exposure to leachates from boiled-water-treated plastic products could negatively affect spermatogenesis and lipid metabolism, thereby posing risks to male reproductive health.These findings offer crucial insights into the potential risks associated with plastic consumption and may advocate for the selection of relatively safe plastic products for everyday use.