Researchers at San Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli Hospital in Rome reported
finding microplastic particles in the placenta of four women who had normal
pregnancies and births. The babies were delivered using a plastic-free protocol
to prevent contamination.
The particles were found on both sides of the placenta
and in the chorioamniotic membranes, most of them 10 microns in size, which
means they are small enough to enter and travel through the bloodstream. The
microplastics may have emanated from packaging, paints, or cosmetics that were
either used, consumed, or inhaled by the mothers. Globally, more than 300
million tons of plastics are produced each year. While only 9% of plastic waste
is recycled, the majority ends up in landfills and waterways, polluting the
environment.
Previous studies have found microplastics in food, sea salt, and
drinking water, but this is the first time they have reportedly been found in a
human placenta — this discovery might point to broader contamination of the
environment with microplastics. In total, 12 pieces of plastics were found
between the four women. Only 4% of each placenta was analyzed, so it's possible
the total number of foreign bodies could be higher. Researchers say that further
research is needed to determine how placental microplastics could impact fetalgrowth and immune system development
.
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