Microplastics Found in 90% of Prostate Cancer Tumors

Study finds double the concentration of plastic particles in cancerous tissue compared to healthy prostate tissue.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A new study from NYU Langone Health has found that small fragments of plastic were present in the tumors of 90% of prostate cancer patients examined. The cancerous tissue contained more than double the amount of plastic particles compared to healthy prostate tissue samples.

Why it matters

The discovery of microplastics embedded within prostate tumor tissue raises concerning questions about the potential health impacts of widespread plastic pollution and the need for further research into the relationship between microplastics and cancer development.

The details

Researchers analyzed tissue samples from 10 prostate cancer patients who underwent surgery to remove their entire prostate gland. Using specialized equipment, they identified plastic particles in 90% of the tumor samples and 70% of the benign tissue samples. The cancerous tissue contained an average of 40 micrograms of plastic per gram of tissue, compared to 16 micrograms in the healthy tissue.

  • The study findings were presented on February 26, 2026 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco.

The players

NYU Langone Health

An academic medical center and research institution based in New York City.

Vittorio Albergamo

Assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and senior author of the study.

David Sidransky

Oncologist and medical advisor at SpotitEarly, a startup that offers an at-home breath-based test to detect early-stage cancer.

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What they’re saying

“By uncovering yet another potential health concern posed by plastic, our findings highlight the need for stricter regulatory measures to limit the public's exposure to these substances, which are everywhere in the environment.”

— Vittorio Albergamo, Assistant professor, NYU Grossman School of Medicine (Study press release)

“What is most striking is not that microplastics were detected, but that they were found embedded within tumor tissue itself. While complete avoidance is unrealistic, people can take practical steps to reduce exposure.”

— David Sidransky, Oncologist and medical advisor, SpotitEarly (Fox News Digital)

What’s next

Researchers say a larger sample size is needed to confirm the findings, and further research is required to determine if microplastics are biologically active in ways that could promote cancer development.

The takeaway

This study provides the first direct evidence linking microplastics to prostate cancer, underscoring the urgent need to better understand the potential health impacts of widespread plastic pollution and take steps to limit public exposure, even if complete avoidance is unrealistic.