Microplastics are present in follicular fluid and compromise gamete function in vitro: Is the Anthropocene throw-away society throwing away fertility?

Decades of careless use and improper disposal have resulted in plastic pollution accumulating almost everywhere on earth, yet the health implications of the billions of tons of plastic pollution scattered across the planet's terrestrial ecosystems are largely unknown. We show that microplastics are present in the follicular fluid of women and domestic cows. We found that the concentrations of microplastics that naturally occurred in follicular fluid were sufficient to compromise the normal functioning of both male and female bovine gametes in vitro. Proteomics analysis of oocytes further revealed how microplastic can disrupt the expression of proteins associated with normal oocyte function. Microplastics also negatively affected sperm function in vitro. Collectively, these findings demonstrate how microplastics may be contributing to the widespread declines in fertility that have been occurring over recent Anthropocene decades. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.