Micro- and nanoplastics in the human genitourinary system: oncological impact - a systematic review.
Nicole Akpang, Jakub Kwiatkowski, Łukasz Zapała et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review evaluated the presence and impact of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in human urinary and male reproductive tissues. Fourteen cross-sectional studies were analyzed, revealing that MNPs were found in all examined tissues, with significantly higher concentrations in malignant compared to non-malignant tissues. This suggests a potential oncological relevance of MNPs.
Key findings
- MNPs were detected in kidney, prostate, testis, penis, ureter, and urinary bladder tissues.
- Malignant tissues consistently showed significantly higher microplastic concentrations than adjacent non-malignant tissues.
- Substantial heterogeneity in analytical techniques and reporting metrics was observed across studies.
Why it matters
The presence of micro- and nanoplastics in urological tissues raises concerns about their potential role in oncogenesis, highlighting the need for further research to understand their implications for cancer risk and management.
What to keep in mind
Substantial methodological heterogeneity limits comparability across studies.