Microplastics and Fertility: A Hidden Threat in Your Daily Coffee

Imagine starting your day with a steaming cup of coffee from Starbucks, served in a familiar paper cup. It’s a routine for millions, yet few realize that within just 10 minutes, the heat from that coffee can cause chemicals from the cup’s insulated plastic lining to leach into your drink. These tiny invaders, known as microplastics, are far more than a minor inconvenience—they’re a pervasive threat to our environment and our health, particularly our fertility.

Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters, originating from sources like degraded plastic waste, microbeads in cosmetics, and synthetic clothing fibers. They’ve infiltrated our water, food, air, and bodies, raising urgent questions about their impact on human reproduction.