Let's talk about polyester (plastic in textile form) and microplastic risks on our health. Textiles are the largest source of microplastic pollution in our oceans. When washed, synthetic materials release tiny plastic microfibers aka microplastics.
MEN, let's start with you. If you're interested in pro-creating, don't wear polyester underpants. Turns out "...fertile men can be rendered azoospermic [aka no sperm] by wearing the polyester sling."(source) It appears reversible in this study but other studies in dogs wearing polyester underpants 😂 show it produced significant decrease in sperm count and motile sperms, with an increase in abnormal forms; the testicular biopsy showed degenerative changes."(source)
Most recently the Guardian reported that, "Microplastics have been found in human testicles, with researchers saying the discovery might be linked to declining sperm counts in men. The scientists tested 23 human testes, as well as 47 testes from pet dogs. They found microplastic pollution in every sample."
And here is a host of other reasons microplastics may be a significant cause of male infertility. Yikes.
LADIES, in a similar study, female dogs "...wearing polyester-containing textile showed diminished serum progesterone...and did not conceive on mating or insemination."
A recent landmark trial out of Italy provided "...the first data of their kind show[ing] a link between these microplastics and human health. A study of more than 200 people undergoing surgery found that nearly 60% had microplastics or even smaller nanoplastics in a main artery. Those who did were 4.5 times more likely to experience a heart attack, a stroke or death in the approximately 34 months after the surgery than were those whose arteries were plastic-free."
In addition, "...various examples of damage caused by microplastics have been reported, such as microplastic accumulation in the bodies of marine and aquatic organisms (leading to malnutrition), inflammation, reduced fertility, and mortality."(source)
This is the most comprehensive paper I have read compiling the findings of many studies of the potential effects of microplastics in our and our baby's bodies. "Exposure to MPs/NPs [aka microplastics/nanoplastics] will interfere with reproductive endocrine in female, which will inhibit gonadotropic hormones and steroidogenesis. It will also cause a decline of energy allocated to reproduction and induce oxidative stress in female reproductive system."