First evidence of microplastics in human ovarian follicular fluid: an emerging threat to female fertility
Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue, with over 400 million tons produced annually and projections of 1.1 billion tons by 2050. Microplastics (MPs), ranging from 5 mm to 1 micron, are pervasive in the environment. They are found in air, sea, freshwater, soils, food chains and studies show that tiny MPs, smaller than 10 μm, can cross cellular membranes, posing potential health risks through oxidative stress, inflammation, immune dysfunction, neurotoxicity and reprotoxicity. In recent years, research has shown that microplastics have negative effects on the female reproductive systems of animals. However, there is still a lack of evidence on how the accumulation of microplastics affects the reproductive health of human females. This study aimed to examine the presence of microplastics in the ovarian follicular fluid of 18 women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment whose samples were processed using a patented method endorsed nationally and internationally. Plastic particles