Researchers Find Microplastics in Nearly All Prostate Cancer Tumours, Raising Concerns
A recent pilot study has uncovered a surprising fact about the presence of microplastics in the human body. Researchers found microscopic plastic particles in nine out of ten men diagnosed with prostate cancer. More alarmingly, the concentration of these plastics was significantly higher in malignant tumours compared to healthy prostate tissue.
This study, conducted at NYU Langone Health, is the first Western study to directly measure plastic particles in prostate tumours. The findings provide strong evidence of a link between environmental exposure and the most common cancer affecting men in the United States.
The research team examined prostate tissue from 10 patients who underwent prostate removal surgery. The results showed that plastic particles were identified in 90% of tumour samples and 70% of benign (non-cancerous) prostate tissue samples.
The difference in concentration was also striking. On average, tumour samples contained 2.5 times more plastic than healthy tissue, with approximately 40 micrograms of plastic per gram of tissue, compared to 16 micrograms in normal tissue.
“Our pilot study provides important evidence that exposure to microplastics may be a risk factor for prostate cancer,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Stacy Loeb, a professor in the Department of Urology and Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Dr. Loeb noted that while previous research has linked microplastics to heart disease and dementia, direct evidence linking them specifically to prostate cancer has been limited until now.
Microplastics come from food packaging, cosmetics, and everyday products that break down due to heat or chemical processes. These particles enter the body through food, air, and skin contact.
Researchers suspect that the presence of these particles triggers a prolonged immune response or chronic inflammation in prostate tissue. Over time, this inflammation can damage cells and cause genetic changes that lead to cancer.
“By uncovering another potential health problem caused by plastics, our findings highlight the need for stricter regulations to limit public exposure to these substances, which are ubiquitous in the environment,” said the study’s senior author, Dr. Vittorio Albergamo.
Given that plastics are commonly used in medical and laboratory equipment, the research team took extra precautions to prevent contamination. They replaced plastic tools with alternative materials made of aluminium and cotton. All tests were also conducted in a clean room specifically designed for microplastic analysis.
Although these results are significant, Dr. Albergamo emphasised that this study involved a small group of patients. Further research with a larger scale is needed to confirm these findings and better understand how microplastics behave in the human body.
The study is scheduled to be presented on February 26 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. (Science Daily/Z-2)