American researchers detected microplastics in nearly all prostate cancer tumours examined in a recent study, finding that the tumour tissue contained about 2.5 times more plastic than nearby healthy prostate tissue, they noted.
The scientists said this was the first Western study to directly measure plastic particles in prostate tumours, and while more research is needed, their findings suggest microplastic exposure could play a role in cancer development.
Their study was presented orally at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium last month.
The research found tiny plastic particles in nine out of 10 men diagnosed with prostate cancer during the investigation, which was carried out at NYU Langone Health, including its Perlmutter Cancer Centre and Centre for the Investigation of Environmental Hazards.
The research team set out to explore whether exposure to microplastics could contribute to the development of prostate cancer, which the American Cancer Society identifies as the most common cancer among men in the United States.
How mcroplastics enter the human body
Plastic materials used in food packaging, cosmetics, and many everyday products can break down into microscopic fragments when heated, worn down, or chemically processed. These particles enter the body through food, breathing contaminated air, or contact with the skin.
Previous research has detected microplastics in nearly every organ, as well as in bodily fluids and even the placenta, but despite their widespread presence, scientists still do not fully understand how these may affect human health.
Cancerous tissue
The researchers examined prostate tissue collected from 10 patients undergoing surgery to remove the gland. Plastic particles were identified in 90% of tumour samples and in 70% of benign prostate tissue samples.
The difference in concentration was notable. On average, tumour samples contained about 2.5 times more plastic than healthy tissue (about 40 micrograms of plastic per gram of tissue compared with 16 micrograms per gram).
“Our pilot study provides important evidence that microplastic exposure may be a risk factor for prostate cancer,” said study lead author Stacy Loeb, MD, a Professor in the NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Departments of Urology and Population Health.
Loeb noted that earlier research had suggested possible links between microplastics and conditions such as heart disease and dementia, but there had been little direct evidence tying them specifically to prostate cancer.
Rigorous testing
To conduct the analysis, scientists first reviewed tumour and benign tissue samples under visual inspection. They then used specialised instruments to measure the quantity, chemical composition, and structure of microplastic particles. The team focused on 12 of the most common plastic molecules.
Because plastic is widely used in medical and laboratory equipment, they took extra precautions to prevent contamination. They replaced plastic tools with alternatives made from aluminium, cotton, and other non-plastic materials.
All testing was performed in controlled clean rooms designed specifically for microplastic analysis.
“By uncovering yet another potential health concern posed by plastic, our findings highlight the need for stricter regulatory measures to limit the public’s exposure to these substances, which are everywhere in the environment,” said study senior author Vittorio Albergamo, PhD.
Albergamo, an assistant Professor in the NYU Grossman School of Medicine's Department of Paediatrics, said the team plans to further investigate how microplastics behave inside the body and whether they may contribute to cancer formation.
One possibility under consideration is that the particles trigger a prolonged immune response (inflammation) within prostate tissue. Over time, chronic inflammation can damage cells and cause genetic changes that lead to cancer.
He emphasised that the study involved a small group of patients and that larger studies would be necessary to confirm the findings.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in eight men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.
Study details
Microplastics and prostate cancer
Stacy Loeb
Presented at ASCO symposium on 28 February 2026
Background
Plastics are ubiquitous in our environment. Tiny plastic particles called microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) have been found in many human tissues. A recent study of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy found that patients with MNPs in their plaques were 4.5 times more likely to experience myocardial infarction, stroke or death. Preclinical data also suggests a potential link of MNPs with cancer; however, direct evidence of a link to human prostate cancer (PCa) is limited. The objective of our study was to determine whether MNPs are found in human PCa, and to compare levels of MNPs between tumour tissue versus benign tissue.
Methods
We recruited 10 patients with PCa undergoing radical prostatectomy. The prostatectomy specimen was transported in a metal container, and underwent plastic-free pathological evaluation by an expert uro-pathologist. Separate samples of tumour tissue and benign tissue from elsewhere in the prostate were then transferred to the lab where we used two different techniques for MNP evaluation: (1) visual inspection in tandem with Raman microscopy to assess MNP particle abundance, size, and other characteristics, and (2) pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (py-GC/MS) to identify and quantify MNPs on a mass basis. Descriptive statistics were used to tally the type and concentration of MNPs identified.
Results
Microplastic particles were detected in 60% of patient samples using Raman, with individual particles ranging from 1.2 µm to 40.3 µm in diameter. Tumour tissue had a greater number of particles per sample than benign tissue. Using Py-GC/MS, we found MNPs in 90% of patients (90% of tumour and 70% of adjacent benign tissue). Tumour tissue concentrations of microplastics tended to be higher than para-tumour tissue concentrations. The mean concentration of MNP was 39.8 (µg/g) (median 16.3) in tumour tissue, compared to a mean of 15.5 (µg/g) (median 7.0) in adjacent benign tissue. With respect to particle types, nylon-6 and polystyrene were found above the method detection limit in the largest number of samples using py-GC/MS, while polyethylene and polyethylene copolymers were also identified on Raman.
Conclusions
Microplastics were found in tissue samples from 9 out of 10 patients with prostate cancer using either method, with greater concentration in tumour tissue compared to benign tissue. Additional research is in progress to study the link between MNPs with prostate carcinogenesis.
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