Endocrine Disruption and Reproductive Health in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic Review of Microplastics
Abstract
ABSTRACT Microplastics pollution is a widespread environmental issue in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), where factors such as urbanization, insufficient waste management, and coastal vulnerability may increase exposure risks. Microplastics can act as carriers for endocrine‐disrupting chemicals (EDCs), but a comprehensive synthesis of region‐specific evidence linking this contamination to reproductive health outcomes has been lacking. This systematic review examines the evidence regarding the impact of microplastics pollution on reproductive health across species in LAC, identifies contamination hotspots and exposure pathways, and highlights gaps in policy and research. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we analyzed 30 peer‐reviewed studies (2014–2024) from 12 LAC nations. Due to significant heterogeneity in study designs, populations, and outcomes, a narrative synthesis was conducted to integrate evidence from environmental monitoring, animal toxicology, and human biomonitoring studies. Risk of bias was assessed using design‐specific tools. The evidence indicates widespread microplastics contamination in LAC, with notable hotspots in coastal Colombia (4.54 particles/m 2 ), Argentine riverine systems (30 780 particles/m 2 ), and Mexican groundwater (18.3 particles/L). Overall, 82% of assessed sites were classified as “Dirty” to “Extremely Dirty.” Animal studies reported that microplastics exposure was associated with reproductive toxicity, including reduced sperm…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Green Chemistry: A Framework for a Sustainable Future
- Nano/micro-plastic, an invisible threat getting into the brain
- Emerging contaminants antibiotic resistance genes and microplastics in the environment: Introduction to 21 review articles published in CREST during 2018–2022
- Water Resources and Sustainable Development
- Nano- and microplastics in the workplace
- Water Enclosure and World-Literature: New Perspectives on Hydro-Power and World-Ecology
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.