Sex toys are adding to the amount of plastic particles in our bodies that can pose a health hazard, scientists have revealed. Microplastic 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.

The team 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 consumer warnings. They looked at four types of currently available sex toys.

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."

Their study, published in the journal Risk Analysis will be discussed at the 2023 Society for Risk Analysis Annual Conference in Washington DC.