Detection of microplastics in the human penis.


Journal

International journal of impotence research
ISSN: 1476-5489
Titre abrégé: Int J Impot Res
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9007383

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
19 Jun 2024
Historique:
received: 21 03 2024
accepted: 04 06 2024
revised: 29 05 2024
medline: 19 6 2024
pubmed: 19 6 2024
entrez: 18 6 2024
Statut: aheadofprint

Résumé

The proliferation of microplastics (MPs) represents a burgeoning environmental and health crisis. Measuring less than 5 mm in diameter, MPs have infiltrated atmospheric, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems, penetrating commonplace consumables like seafood, sea salt, and bottled beverages. Their size and surface area render them susceptible to chemical interactions with physiological fluids and tissues, raising bioaccumulation and toxicity concerns. Human exposure to MPs occurs through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. To date, there is no direct evidence identifying MPs in penile tissue. The objective of this study was to assess for potential aggregation of MPs in penile tissue. Tissue samples were extracted from six individuals who underwent surgery for a multi-component inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP). Samples were obtained from the corpora using Adson forceps before corporotomy dilation and device implantation and placed into cleaned glassware. A control sample was collected and stored in a McKesson specimen plastic container. The tissue fractions were analyzed using the Agilent 8700 Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR) Chemical Imaging System (Agilent Technologies. Moreover, the morphology of the particles was investigated by a Zeiss Merlin Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), complementing the detection range of LDIR to below 20 µm. MPs via LDIR were identified in 80% of the samples, ranging in size from 20-500 µm. Smaller particles down to 2 µm were detected via SEM. Seven types of MPs were found in the penile tissue, with polyethylene terephthalate (47.8%) and polypropylene (34.7%) being the most prevalent. The detection of MPs in penile tissue raises inquiries on the ramifications of environmental pollutants on sexual health. Our research adds a key dimension to the discussion on man-made pollutants, focusing on MPs in the male reproductive system.

Identifiants

pubmed: 38890513
doi: 10.1038/s41443-024-00930-6
pii: 10.1038/s41443-024-00930-6
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Informations de copyright

© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.

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Auteurs

Jason Codrington (J)

Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

Alexandra Aponte Varnum (AA)

Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

Lars Hildebrandt (L)

Institute of Coastal Environmental Chemistry, Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str 1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany.

Daniel Pröfrock (D)

Institute of Coastal Environmental Chemistry, Department for Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str 1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany.

Joginder Bidhan (J)

Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

Kajal Khodamoradi (K)

Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

Anke-Lisa Höhme (AL)

Institute of Membrane Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str 1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany.

Martin Held (M)

Institute of Membrane Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Str 1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany.

Aymara Evans (A)

Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

David Velasquez (D)

Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

Christina C Yarborough (CC)

Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

Bahareh Ghane-Motlagh (B)

Dr. J.T. MacDonald Foundation BioNIUM, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

Ashutosh Agarwal (A)

Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

Justin Achua (J)

University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.

Edoardo Pozzi (E)

Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Urology, Milan, Italy.

Francesco Mesquita (F)

Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

Francis Petrella (F)

Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

David Miller (D)

Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

Ranjith Ramasamy (R)

Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA. ramasamy@miami.edu.

Classifications MeSH