A study from the New York University, presented at the Genitourinary Cancers Symposium of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, detected microplastics in prostate tumors at levels 2.5 times higher than in healthy tissue.
The cancerous tissue contained on average 40 micrograms of plastic per gram, compared to 16 micrograms in benign areas. 90% of the tumor samples showed microplastics, while 70% of the healthy tissue also evidenced their presence.
Study Methodology
The team led by Dr. Stacy Loeb, professor of Urology and Population Health, worked with samples from ten patients who underwent total prostatectomy.
- To avoid cross-contamination, laboratory plastic materials were replaced with aluminum and cotton tools.
- The samples were processed in clean rooms designed for microplastics studies.
- The concentration, chemical composition, and structure of different types of plastics present in the tissues were identified.
Possible Implications
The researchers suggest that microplastics could:
- Trigger persistent inflammatory responses in prostate tissue.
- Cause cellular damage and genetic alterations linked to tumor development.
- Become a new environmental risk factor for prostate cancer.
Dr. Vittorio Albergamo warned that this finding exposes “another potential health issue posed by plastic” and emphasized the need for regulations to reduce human exposure.
Scientific Context
This study is the first systematic evaluation of microplastics in cancerous prostate tissues in a Western context. However, specialists clarified that it will be necessary to expand the patient sample to confirm the results.
Other studies had already detected microplastics in:
- Human organs.
- Biological fluids.
- Placenta.
These particles come from the degradation of packaging, textiles, cosmetics, and everyday products, entering the body through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact.
Health Relevance
In the United States, one in eight men is diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. If future research consolidates the relationship between microplastics and prostate tumors, the finding could alter the understanding of environmental factors involved in this disease.
The New York University study opens a new front in research on the effects of microplastics on human health. Although a definitive causal relationship cannot yet be established, the evidence suggests that these particles could play a role in the development of cancers and other chronic diseases.
The research reinforces the need for stricter environmental policies and greater control over everyday exposure to plastic.
