Discovery of Microplastic Particles in 90% of Prostate Cancer Cases

SadaNews - A recent study has revealed the presence of microplastic particles in nine out of ten prostate cancer tumors examined, with concentrations approximately 2.5 times higher in the cancerous tissues compared to adjacent healthy tissues.

The study, conducted by researchers at NYU Langone Health and the Grossman School of Medicine in New York, is the first study in the West to directly measure microplastic levels within prostate tumors and compare them to non-cancerous tissues.

Microplastics are tiny fragments that arise from the breakdown of plastics used in packaging, cosmetics, and everyday products. They can enter the body through food, inhalation of contaminated air, or even through the skin.

These particles have previously been detected in various organs of the body, in the blood, and even in the placenta; however, their health impact remains the subject of ongoing scientific research.
The researchers examined samples of prostate tissue from 10 patients who underwent gland removal surgery. They found plastic particles in 90% of the cancerous samples, compared to 70% of benign samples.

In terms of quantity, the average concentration of plastic in the tumors was around 40 micrograms per gram of tissue, compared to about 16 micrograms in adjacent healthy tissues.

The researchers believe that these differences may indicate a potential link between exposure to microplastics and the risk of developing prostate cancer, which is the most common cancer among men in the United States.

Given the prevalence of plastic in medical and laboratory tools, the team took stringent precautions to prevent sample contamination, replacing plastic tools with aluminum and cotton materials, and conducting analyses in clean rooms dedicated to the study of microplastics.

Scientists also employed advanced analytical techniques to measure the quantity of the particles and determine their chemical composition, focusing on 12 types of the most common plastic compounds.

Chronic Inflammation Hypothesis

One of the hypotheses currently being investigated by the team is that plastic particles may trigger a chronic immune response within prostate tissues. Over time, persistent inflammation could lead to cellular damage and genetic changes that contribute to cancer development.

However, the researchers emphasized that the study's small scale does not establish a direct causal relationship, necessitating larger studies to confirm the findings and understand potential mechanisms.
With increasing evidence of microplastic prevalence in the environment and the human body, these results raise new questions about the impact of chronic plastic exposure on public health.

Yet, experts confirm that there is still a long way to go before definitively establishing the role of these particles in the onset of prostate cancer, and the current results represent a first step in a research path that requires broader and more detailed data.