Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Microplastic presence in boar semen: potential risks for reproductive health

Researchers detected microplastic particles in boar semen samples, raising questions about the effects of microplastic contamination on sperm quality and reproductive health in both animals and potentially humans.

2025 Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
Article Tier 2

Prevalence and implications of microplastic contaminants in general human seminal fluid: A Raman spectroscopic study

Microplastics were detected in all 40 semen samples from men in the general population with no occupational plastic exposure, with an average of 2 particles per sample and polystyrene being the most common type. Sperm exposed to different plastic types showed varying motility, suggesting that the kind of microplastic present may matter for male fertility.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 76 citations
Article Tier 2

Raman Microspectroscopy evidence of microplastics in human semen

Researchers found microplastic fragments in six out of ten human semen samples from men in a polluted region of southern Italy, identifying common plastics like polypropylene, polyethylene, and PET. The study proposes that microplastics enter semen through the reproductive tract after being ingested or inhaled, raising concerns about potential effects on male fertility.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 189 citations
Article Tier 2

The Presence of Microplastics in Human Semen and Their Associations with Semen Quality

Researchers found microplastics in 75% of human semen samples tested, with an average of 17 particles per gram, including 15 different plastic types. Notably, higher levels of polystyrene microplastics were associated with lower sperm concentration and reduced sperm motility. This is one of the first studies to directly link microplastic presence in human semen to poorer sperm quality, adding to growing concerns about plastics and male fertility.

2025 Toxics 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection and characterization of microplastics in the human testis and semen

Researchers detected microplastics in both human testis tissue and semen samples for the first time, finding an average of about 12 particles per gram in testis and different plastic types in semen. Polystyrene dominated in testis while polyethylene and PVC were most common in semen, providing critical evidence that microplastics can pollute the male reproductive system and raising concerns about potential fertility impacts.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 390 citations
Article Tier 2

Association of mixed exposure to microplastics with sperm dysfunction: a multi-site study in China

In a study of 113 men across three regions in China, microplastics were detected in all semen and urine samples tested, with eight different plastic types identified. The presence of certain microplastics, particularly PTFE (Teflon), was associated with reduced sperm quality, suggesting that microplastic exposure may pose risks to male fertility.

2024 EBioMedicine 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics are detected in bull and dog sperm and polystyrene microparticles impair sperm fertilization

This study found microplastic particles in the sperm of bulls and dogs for the first time, confirming that reproductive fluids are not shielded from plastic contamination. When bovine sperm was exposed to polystyrene microplastics at concentrations matching what was measured in the animals themselves, motility dropped and fertilization success declined, with resulting embryos showing higher levels of oxidative stress and cell death. These findings raise serious concerns about microplastics as a contributing factor to the global decline in male fertility across mammalian species, including humans.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene andPolyvinyl Chloride Nanoplastics inHuman Follicular Fluid and Seminal Plasma: Impact on Fertilizationand Sperm Quality

Researchers used pyrolysis GC/MS to detect polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) nanoplastics in follicular fluid and seminal plasma from 51 IVF couples. Both polymers were present in both reproductive fluids, and while associations with fertilization outcomes were not statistically significant, the detection of nanoplastics in human reproductive fluids represents a novel concerning finding.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Microplastics are detected in bull epididymal sperm and polystyrene microparticles impair sperm fertilization

Researchers found microplastics in all bull sperm samples tested, and when they exposed bovine sperm to polystyrene particles at concentrations matching those found naturally, the sperm's ability to fertilize eggs dropped significantly. Embryos produced from the exposed sperm also showed increased cell death and oxidative damage. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate that microplastics at levels already present in reproductive tissues can directly impair fertility.

2024 Biology of Reproduction 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Different types of nanoplastics exert varying degrees of toxicity on human sperm at semen-related concentrations

Researchers detected multiple types of nanoplastics in human semen using pyrolysis gas chromatography and then tested their effects on sperm function at the concentrations actually found. Polyethylene showed the highest toxicity, significantly reducing sperm viability, motility, and mitochondrial function, while polypropylene had no observable effects at semen-related concentrations. The findings indicate that different nanoplastic types pose varying levels of risk to male reproductive health.

2025 Reproductive Toxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Pd53-01 are Microplastics Present in Human Testicle Tissue? Analysis Using Infrared Spectroscopy

Researchers analyzed human testicular tissue samples using infrared spectroscopy to determine whether microplastics are present in human reproductive organs. The study found microplastic particles in testicular tissue, adding to growing evidence of widespread human internal contamination with plastic debris.

2024 The Journal of Urology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

171 Microplastics are present in bull epididymal sperm and polystyrene bead affects bovine sperm inducing oxidative stress on embryos

Microplastics were detected in bull epididymal sperm, and exposure of sperm to polystyrene beads induced oxidative stress that carried over into the resulting embryos. This conference abstract reports early evidence that plastic contamination of reproductive fluids may impair embryo quality, a finding relevant to understanding the potential fertility effects of widespread microplastic exposure in mammals including humans.

2023 Reproduction Fertility and Development 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene and Polyvinyl Chloride Nanoplastics in Human Follicular Fluid and Seminal Plasma: Impact on Fertilization and Sperm Quality

Researchers detected polyethylene and PVC nanoplastics in both the follicular fluid and seminal plasma of 51 couples undergoing IVF treatment. Higher levels of PVC nanoplastics in seminal plasma were associated with lower sperm concentration and fewer high-quality embryos, while nanoplastics in follicular fluid showed no significant effect on fertilization rates. This is among the first studies to directly measure nanoplastics in human reproductive fluids and link them to reduced fertility outcomes.

2025 ACS Nano 9 citations
Article Tier 2

The presence of microplastics in human semen and the protective role of nicotinamide mononucleotide against polystyrene nanoplastics-induced reproductive and early embryonic toxicity

Researchers detected microplastics, including polystyrene, in human semen samples using laser direct infrared spectroscopy, confirming that these particles reach the male reproductive tract. In laboratory and mouse experiments, polystyrene nanoplastics impaired sperm motility, increased oxidative stress, and disrupted early embryonic development in a dose-dependent manner. The study found that nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) effectively reversed many of these harmful effects by restoring antioxidant capacity, suggesting a potential protective intervention.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

O-280 Unveiling the hidden danger: detection and characterisation of microplastics in human follicular and seminal fluids

Researchers detected and characterized microplastics in human follicular fluid and seminal fluid, providing evidence that plastic particles are present in both male and female reproductive systems. Multiple types of microplastics were identified in the samples using advanced spectroscopic techniques. The findings add to growing evidence that microplastics reach human reproductive organs, raising important questions about their potential effects on fertility and reproductive health.

2025 Human Reproduction 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contaminationof Human Sperm before InVitro Fertilization Warrants Attention for Early Life Exposure Risks

Researchers investigated whether medical plasticware used in IVF procedures contaminates human sperm with microplastics, raising concerns about direct reproductive cell exposure to microplastics released during sperm extraction and handling.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Contributions of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in microplastic pollution research: A review

This review covers advances in Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques — including chemical imaging — for identifying polymer types in microplastic samples and tracing their fate in different environmental matrices.

2020 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 480 citations
Article Tier 2

Male infertility and its link to microplastics: A sterile future

This review examines the link between microplastic exposure and male infertility, summarizing evidence that microplastics and their chemical additives disrupt reproductive hormones, sperm quality, and testicular function in animal models and human studies.

2024 Journal of Biomedical Sciences
Article Tier 2

A novel method for purification, quantitative analysis and characterization of microplastic fibers using Micro-FTIR

Researchers developed an improved method for purifying, quantifying, and characterizing microplastic fibers using micro-FTIR spectroscopy, addressing the challenge that fibers are harder to process and identify than other microplastic shapes. The method improvements enable more accurate characterization of this common but technically challenging category of environmental microplastics.

2019 Chemosphere 191 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nanoplastics in human male reproduction: Immune disruption, blood–testis barrier, and clinic-ready biomarkers

This review synthesizes evidence that micro- and nanoplastics have been detected in human testes and semen, with experimental models showing they trigger oxidative stress, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and disruption of blood-testis barrier tight-junction proteins, collectively impairing sperm production and quality.

2025 Reproductive Toxicology
Meta Analysis Tier 1

O-192 The presence of microplastics in testicular tissue: implications for male infertility

This meta-analysis investigated the presence of microplastics in testicular tissue and found evidence of microplastic infiltration that may be linked to male infertility. The findings suggest that microplastic exposure could affect reproductive health, though more research is needed to fully understand the connection.

2025 Human Reproduction
Article Tier 2

Size-dependent deleterious effects of nano- and microplastics on sperm motility

In a mouse study, nano- and microplastics of four different sizes all impaired sperm movement quality, with the smallest particles (25-30 nanometers) causing the most damage. The tiny particles were able to penetrate into testicular cells, while larger particles could not. This research adds to growing evidence that microplastic exposure at environmentally realistic levels could contribute to declining male fertility, with nanoplastics posing the greatest risk due to their ability to enter reproductive tissues.

2024 Toxicology 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Recognition and detection technology for microplastic, its source and health effects

This review summarizes current knowledge about detecting microplastics and their effects on human health, covering methods like FTIR spectroscopy and Raman imaging. The authors highlight that micro- and nanoplastics can cause a range of health problems including oxidative stress, reduced reproductive ability, inflammation, and damage to the circulatory and respiratory systems. The review emphasizes the urgent need for better detection methods so that researchers and regulators can accurately assess how much microplastic people are actually exposed to.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of Microplastics in Synthetic Fibers Through FT-IR Microscope

This study used FTIR microscopy to identify and characterize microplastics derived from synthetic textile fibers in environmental samples. Synthetic fiber microplastics are among the most common types found in the ocean, and FTIR analysis is essential for confirming their identity and polymer composition.

2020 Journal of Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology