Men vs. Plastics

Plastics are all over the planet. Plastics are in our bodies, our food, our air, and our soil, all of this we are getting more familiar with. But plastics are also in the human penis and that takes some getting used to - it is disgusting, disheartening, and an all around bummer, but true. What is more disturbing however is how it got there in the first place and what impact it is having on us.

A new study from the International Journal of Impotence Research, recently reported that it had detected microplastics in all of the test subject's penises. This is leading to many questioning just what is being put into our bodies and what effect it is having on us. Plastics and the additive chemicals used in their production have been linked to an increase of infertility amongst men and are potentially linked to impotence as well.

This should be alarming to everyone with a penis. If any other industry was actively causing erectile dysfunction and infertility as blatantly as the plastics industry, it wouldn't be tolerated. So why do we continue to give plastics a pass? Many of the additives that leach out of plastics include chemicals called phthalates or plasticizers, which make plastics more flexible. Or chemical compounds like BPA (Bisphenol A), which make plastics more durable. BPA is already classified as an Endocrine Disrupting Chemical (EDC) which means it comes with a whole host of health related issues all of its own.

Research suggests the health implications presented by microplastics and their additive chemicals extend to children even before birth. There's evidence microplastics can interrupt maternal-fetal communication and potentially damage DNA. Some studies report finding links between microplastics and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Reports have linked microplastics to autism and other endocrine disruption issues which can (amongst other things) manifest as early onset puberty. As well as association with some cancers, including in the prostate gland of fetuses.

So, imagine a scenario where a well-known razor company suddenly announces, "Sorry folks, but as it turns out what you have been shaving with has been depositing tiny bits of metal into your genitals and making you infertile." Public reaction would be one of pure outrage and panic. No one would trust the brand, everyone would stop shaving and people would demand answers and accountability immediately.

Now, let's consider plastic. Plastic is one of the most, if not the most ubiquitous man-made material, on Earth. We have it wrapping our food, in our toiletries, our carpets, furniture, clothes, cars, toys, it's in our medical devices, and a large component of our modern electronics. Despite its startling widespread use, scrutiny and monitoring of plastic is minimal. Unlike the hypothetical razor blades that would incite immediate and widespread concern, with a worldwide ban in days, plastic has discreetly integrated itself into nearly every aspect of our lives with zero accountability.

Scientists now have a database of the known chemicals that are utilized in the production of plastics. There are 16,000 plastic chemicals and at least 4,200 are extremely toxic to humans, and only 980 of those have been regulated across the globe.

Up until recently all health implications have been largely ignored, maybe this new 'penis problem' will wake everyone up to the reality that plastics are an environmental and human health problem!