Humans have used natural resources to make everyday supplies for thousands of years, but in the 1900s, synthetic plastics were discovered.

With its ability to take any shape and be generally cheaper to produce, synthetic plastics became a part of everyday life. But scientists say they also do not degrade in the environment, only breaking down to microplastics.

Emanuela Gionfriddo, an associate professor at the Department of Chemistry at the University at Buffalo, says a recent study in Toxicological Sciences found amounts of microplastics in human testicles. They also found the presence of microplastics in dog testicles as well.

"This was like kind of a shocking finding in research because you know there are … it’s not even very clear how the microplastic can reach certain organs in the human body," Gionfriddo said.

Gionfriddo says there’s a correlation between the presence of microplastics and a lower sperm count, which could potentially lead to infertility.

She adds that there needs to be more work done on how microplastics travel in the environment and reach humans, but it’s been hypothesized that they can be present in drinking water, food and in hair.

She adds that people need to do their part to help conservation efforts in the environment, whether it’s using fewer plastics, wearing clothes made of natural fibers or recycling properly.