#Endocrinedisruptors

Tiny plastic particles, no wider than a human hair, have made their way into an alarming new corner of human biology: the fluids surrounding eggs in women and sperm in men. The latest research, unveiled at the 2025 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference and published in the journal Human Reproduction, provides the clearest evidence yet of microplastics’ persistent ability to infiltrate the most sensitive aspects of our bodies—raising serious questions about fertility, long-term health, and the true cost of our reliance on plastics (Earth.com; CNN).

A landmark international study has revealed that phthalates—a class of chemicals widely used in common household plastics—may be responsible for more than 350,000 deaths from heart disease around the world in a single year. The research specifically identifies di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), a primary plasticizer in consumer products ranging from food packaging to personal care items, as a significant contributor to cardiovascular mortality, marking an urgent public health concern for both global and Thai communities (CNN, Washington Post, NYU Langone).

Recent research is drawing unexpected parallels between the reproductive lives of seals and the challenges facing human fertility, sparking fresh conversations about the hidden environmental factors impacting reproductive health worldwide. As reported in a feature by Oceanographic Magazine, scientists are turning their attention to seals — charismatic marine mammals that live far from hospitals and clinics — in hopes of unraveling why fertility rates are declining across species, including humans (Oceanographic Magazine).