Recent scientific evidence suggests that men planning to start a family should be cautious about their exposure to microplastics. A new study from the UC Riverside School of Medicine indicates that microplastics in a father’s body can trigger metabolic disorders in his daughters, including high blood sugar and insulin resistance.
Microplastics are now ubiquitous, found in our water, food, and the air we breathe. This study shows that when fathers are exposed to these particles, the biological impact extends to the next generation. Lead author Professor Changcheng Zhou noted that the environment of both parents plays a crucial role in a child’s health. The study suggests that paternal exposure combined with a high-fat diet creates a ‘perfect storm’ for metabolic dysfunction.
In the lab experiments, daughters of exposed fathers failed to process blood sugar efficiently even after insulin injections. Their liver genes associated with diabetes became hyperactive, and they suffered from muscle weakness. This discovery marks a significant shift in environmental health research, moving the focus toward how paternal health history shapes the long-term wellness of daughters.