Researchers have raised concerns over a possible link between microplastics and prostate cancer after a new study found plastic particles in 90 per cent of prostate cancer tumours examined, with significantly higher concentrations in cancerous tissue than in nearby healthy prostate tissue.

The study was conducted in collaboration with Perlmutter Cancer Centre and Centre for the Investigation of Environmental Hazards. According to the research team, the study directly measures microplastic levels in prostate tumours and compares them with levels in noncancerous prostate tissue.

The researchers said they set out to explore whether exposure to microplastics could contribute to the development of prostate cancer, which, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), is the second most common cancer in men globally and the fourth most common cancer overall.

WHO said the disease remains a significant global health burden, with incidence rates projected to rise as populations age, with over 1.4 million new cases and 375,000+ deaths annually.

To carry out the investigation, the team examined prostate tissue collected from 10 patients undergoing surgery to remove the gland. Plastic particles were identified in nine out of 10 tumour samples and in 70 per cent of benign prostate tissue samples.

They describe the difference in concentration as notable and found that, on average, tumour samples contained about 40 micrograms of plastic per gram of tissue, compared with about 16 micrograms per gram in healthy tissue; approximately 2.5 times more plastic in cancerous samples.

Lead author of the study, Stacy Loeb, said the pilot study provided important evidence that microplastic exposure may be a risk factor for prostate cancer. She noted that earlier research had suggested possible links between microplastics and conditions such as heart disease and dementia, but that there had been little direct evidence specifically connecting them to prostate cancer.

Explaining how microplastics enter the human body, the researchers said plastics used in food packaging, cosmetics and other everyday products can break down into microscopic fragments when heated, worn down or chemically processed. These particles can enter the body through contaminated food, inhaled air or contact with the skin.

According to the team, previous studies have detected microplastics in nearly every organ, as well as in bodily fluids and even the placenta, although the full health implications remain unclear to researchers.

To minimise the risk of contamination during analysis, the team said it replaced plastic laboratory tools with alternatives made from aluminium, cotton and other nonplastic materials. All testing was conducted in controlled clean rooms designed specifically for microplastic analysis, given the widespread presence of plastic in medical and laboratory environments.

A senior author of the study, Vittorio Albergamo, said that by uncovering another potential health concern linked to plastic exposure, the findings highlighted the need for stricter regulatory measures to limit public exposure to such substances.

He added that the team plans to further investigate how microplastics behave inside the body and whether they may contribute to cancer formation. One possible mechanism under consideration, he said, is that the particles could trigger prolonged immune responses, leading to chronic inflammation in prostate tissue. Over time, such inflammation can damage cells and cause genetic changes that may result in cancer.

Albergamo emphasised that the study involved a small number of patients and that larger studies would be necessary to confirm the findings.

Prostate enlargement and cancer remain among the most frequently diagnosed conditions in men. Statistics from Project Pink Blue, a cancer awareness and support organisation, indicate that at least 49 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in Nigeria, with about 31 dying from the disease.