As microplastics are found in the penises of men being treated for erectile dysfunction, experts warn that food packaging and bottled water could pose a threat to sexual health

Microplastics used in food packaging can get into the penis and cause sexual problems, experts warn.

The discovery was made by researchers who examined the penile tissue of men undergoing erectile dysfunction surgery and found the tiny particles in eight out of 10 samples.

They labeled the discovery as ‘concerning’ and claimed that microplastics could affect the muscle function of the penis.

Microplastics are plastic fragments as small as two micrometers, or two-thousandths of a millimeter.

These particles end up in food, water supplies and even the air when plastic products break down naturally.

Recent studies have identified microplastics in nature human lung tissue, in maternal and fetal placental tissues, in human breast milk and in human blood.

A growing number of studies have already linked them to the development of cancer, heart disease and dementia and even lower quality sperm.

Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy, co-author of the latest study and former director of reproductive urology at the University of Miami, said: ‘The penis is a vascular, spongy organ and therefore absolutely fragile.

‘During an erection, one-fifth of the blood volume in the entire body is pumped to the penis.

He added: ‘We know that erectile dysfunction is multifactorial. You need good hormones, nerves, blood supply and good smooth muscle tissue for an erection to occur.

‘We discovered that microplastics were present in the smooth muscle of the penis.

“All we know is that they’re not supposed to be there, and we suspect that this could lead to smooth muscle dysfunction.”

He added: ‘As a society we need to be aware that drinking water from plastic water bottles, getting takeaway food in plastic containers and, worse still, microwaving food in plastic containers contributes to things are in our bodies that shouldn’t be. over there.

“And the penis is the one organ that everyone will pay attention to.”

The researchers, who analyzed the tissue of five men, found that almost half (47.8 percent) of microplastics polyethylene terephthalate, commonly used to make clothing and food and beverage packaging.

Polypropylene – a harder microplastic also used in packaging – made up more than a third (34.7 percent) of the substances.

Some were as large as half a millimeter.

Erectile dysfunction affects 4.3 million men in Britain, including half of all men aged 40 to 70. One in ten will experience erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives. Drugs such as Viagra (pictured) are used to treat erectile dysfunction in at least two-thirds of cases, according to the NHS

Writing in the diary, IJIR: Your Journal of Sexual Medicinethe scientists say: ‘Our study presents a groundbreaking investigation into the presence of microplastics in penile tissue.

‘The detection of microplastics in penile tissue raises questions about the effects of environmental pollutants on sexual health.’

Erectile dysfunction affects 4.3 million men in Britain, including half of all men aged 40 to 70.

One in ten will suffer from erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives.

According to the NHS, drugs like Viagra are used to treat erectile dysfunction in at least two-thirds of cases.

Erectile dysfunction often acts as an indicator of a man’s overall health.

The inability to get or maintain an erection could be the result of undiagnosed high cholesterol or high blood pressure, or even a warning sign of cardiovascular disease, according to experts.

This is because the blood vessels need to dilate so that blood can flow to the penis and a man can get an erection.

But cardiovascular disease can narrow the blood vessels, allowing less blood to flow through them, making it difficult to get or keep an erection.