Fathers’ Microplastic Exposure May Raise Diabetes Risk in Daughters: Study

New Delhi: Exposure of fathers to microplastics may trigger metabolic dysfunctions in their children, with daughters facing a higher risk of developing diabetes, according to findings from animal studies.

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles measuring less than five millimetres, formed through the breakdown of consumer products and industrial waste. These particles have already been detected in human reproductive systems, raising growing concerns about their long-term health impact.

The study, published in the *Journal of the Endocrine Society*, is the first to establish a link between paternal exposure to microplastics and long-term health outcomes in the next generation.

“Our discovery opens a new frontier in environmental health, shifting the focus toward how both parents’ environments contribute to the health of their children,” said lead author Changcheng Zhou, Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of California, Riverside’s School of Medicine.

“These findings from a mouse study likely have implications for humans. Men planning to have children should consider reducing their exposure to harmful substances like microplastics to protect both their health and that of their future children,” he added.

For the study, researchers induced metabolic disorders—including high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, and excess body fat—in mouse models by feeding them a high-fat diet. Male mice were then exposed to microplastics, and the health outcomes of their offspring were analysed.

The results showed that female offspring of microplastic-exposed male mice were significantly more prone to metabolic disorders compared to offspring of unexposed fathers, despite all being fed the same high-fat diet.

“The exact reasons for this sex-specific effect are still unclear,” Zhou said.

“In our study, female offspring developed diabetic characteristics. We observed increased activity of pro-inflammatory and pro-diabetic genes in their livers—genes previously associated with diabetes. These changes were not seen in male offspring,” he explained.

While male offspring did not develop diabetes, they exhibited a slight but significant reduction in fat mass. In contrast, female offspring showed decreased muscle mass along with a higher incidence of diabetes.

Zhou stressed that the findings indicate plastic pollution may have consequences beyond the directly exposed individual, potentially leaving a biological imprint that increases the risk of chronic diseases in future generations.

— With inputs from IANS