Antioxidants in fruits and flowers seem to counteract harmful effects of microplastics, study shows

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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/24/antioxidants-fruits-flowers-microplastics

Antioxidants in fruits and flowers seem to counteract harmful effects of microplastics, study shows

Anthocyanins in nuts, fruits and vegetables seem to lessen harmful effects of microplastics on reproductive systems

Tom Perkins
Mon 24 Feb 2025 07.00 EST

Antioxidants that give fruits and flowers their vibrant colors seem to counteract some of the most dangerous reproductive system effects of exposure to microplastics, such as decreased fertility, and could ultimately be used in developing treatments, new peer-reviewed research shows.

The paper focused on microplastics’ reproductive toxicity and plant compounds called anthocyanins, which are widely found in nuts, fruits and vegetables. The new review of scientific literature on anthocyanins found that the compounds are probably protective against a range of plastic-induced impacts on hormones, reductions in testosterone and estrogen, decreased sperm counts, lower sperm quality, erectile dysfunction and ovarian damage.

“The search for natural compounds to counteract these harmful effects is ongoing, with anthocyanins emerging as a promising candidate,” wrote the study’s authors, who are with the Finland-China Food and Health Network.

“[Anthocyanins] have demonstrated potential protective effects against reproductive toxicity induced by microplastics.”

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