Microplastics detected in tumor tissues of prostate cancer patients
Microplastics were found in the tumors of patients who underwent prostate cancer surgery, but experts emphasize that it has not yet been proven whether this causes cancer.
A small-scale pilot study conducted on prostate cancer patients found microplastic particles in tumor tissues. Experts note that while the finding is striking, it remains unclear whether microplastics are a cause or a consequence of cancer.
Findings of the pilot study
Microplastics were detected in the tumor tissue of 9 out of 10 patients operated on for prostate cancer.
It was observed that the average amount of microplastics in the tumor tissue was approximately 2.5 times higher compared to the neighboring benign tissue.
Causality uncertainty
The fact that the study covers only 10 patients and remains at the level of a congress abstract are among the significant limitations.
It is not yet known whether the microplastics were present before the tumor or if they accumulated due to a compromised vascular structure.
What laboratory experiments say
Animal and laboratory experiments show that microplastics can enter cells and trigger processes such as oxidative stress and DNA damage.
However, the high quantities used in experiments do not directly match daily human exposure, and it has not been proven to be a cause of cancer in humans.
Lack of scientific evidence
There is still no standard method to reliably measure individual microplastic exposure.
The absence of published robust human studies tracking exposure and demonstrating cancer development weakens the causal link.
Practical precautions that can be taken
Precautions such as not heating meals in plastic containers and avoiding consuming hot drinks in single-use plastics are considered reasonable.
Detox products on the market claiming to cleanse microplastics lack scientific evidence.