Scientists have warned against the use of sex toys, noting that it can cause metabolic disorders like diabetes and even damage the nervous system.
According to the new research, Micro-plastic particles from numerous sources are ingested and absorbed into the bloodstream and can cause metabolic disorders such as diabetes.
They can also disrupt immune responses and damage the nervous system as well as reproductive and developmental systems.
Now, along with air pollution and contact with other plastics, a new source of contamination, sex toys, has been identified by scientists as a serious body and blood pollutant.
Researchers at Duke University and Appalachian State University are warning of the possible dangers after finding that sex toys also contain phthalates which can affect hormone levels and are present in concentrations that exceed US consumer warnings.
They looked at four types of currently available sex toys: anal toys, beads, dual vibrators, and external vibrators.
In order of most to least micro-and-nano-plastic release, results found that the anal toy released the most particles, followed by beads, dual vibrators and external vibrators.
Lead author Dr Joana Sipe said: “We assert that since the measured presence of phthalates in our small sample size exceeds the exposure limit for the same chemicals in the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations in children’s toys, investigations into whether or not the risk scenarios are also similar in sex toys are prudent for public health protection.”
