Scientists make groundbreaking discovery as they find cause of so many unexplained cancers

Scientists believe that they may have identified the cause of so many unexplained cancers.

Scientists believe they have made a breakthrough in finding the cause of certain cancers. Credit: Flying Colours Ltd / Getty

A groundbreaking scientific review has uncovered a potential cause for certain cancers and health conditions that can’t be fully explained by genetics, diet, or lifestyle.

According to the Daily Mail, microplastics - tiny fragments of plastic less than 5mm in diameter - are being linked to colon and lung cancer, lung diseases, and infertility.

These alarming findings are based on an analysis of over 3,000 studies conducted by researchers at the University of California.

There's a potential link between microplastics and serious health issues, such as cancer. Credit: SEBASTIAN KAULITZKI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty

Microplastics can be found everywhere, infiltrating the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink.

They've been released into the environment through the breakdown of used items such as food containers, clothing packaging, cigarette filters, and even tires. 

Shockingly, the tiny fragments - which have contaminated the planet - have also been discovered causing inflammation in major human organs.

While individual microplastics may pose minimal direct harm, their presence could lead to tissue damage, liver and heart problems, and irreversible health impacts.

Microplastics have been released into the environment through the breakdown of used items. Credit: Alistair Berg / Getty

California researchers have revealed a potential connection between the tiny toxins exposure and the development of serious health issues, such as colon and lung cancer - two illnesses that have been affecting demographics that aren’t typically at risk.

The study, published in ACS Publications Environmental Science & Technology, noted that microplastics are "'suspected' to adversely impact the colon and small intestine in humans".

Researchers also added that the fragments contribute to intestinal cell death, chronic inflammation, and disruptions to the intestinal immune system.

The reproductive system isn’t spared either as the review highlighted how microplastics may impact hormonal balance, sperm quality, and testicular health in men as well as affecting ovarian function and placenta development in women.

In addition to this, there are links between microplastics detected in the placenta to low birth weight as well as associations between microplastics in amniotic fluid and pre-term births.

"We concluded that exposure to microplastics is 'suspected' to adversely impact sperm quality and testicular health in humans," the researchers added.

Microplastics have contaminated our oceans. Credit: Miguel Sotomayor / Getty

Microplastics are also suspected of damaging the respiratory system. The examination revealed that these particles cause chronic inflammation in the airways, lung injuries, and may even increase the risk of lung cancer.

Senior author Tracey J. Woodruff, a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at UCSF, explained: "These microplastics are basically particulate matter air pollution, and we know this type of air pollution is harmful," cited by the publication.

The researchers said that the tiny plastics "are widespread and mobile in the environment, being detected in air, surface water, coastal beaches, sediment, and food," adding: "They have been discovered in remote and pristine locations, including the Antarctic, deep ocean trenches, and Arctic sea ice."

With annual plastic production nearing 460 million metric tons - and expected to more than double by 2050 - human exposure to microplastics is only set to exacerbate.

Nicholas Chartres, PhD, the study’s lead author, has urged regulatory agencies and policy leaders "to consider the growing evidence of health harms from microplastics, including colon and lung cancer".

"We hope state leaders will take immediate action to prevent further exposures," he added.

Featured image credit: MICROGEN IMAGES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty