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Microplastic trafficking in maternal-fetal system: a systematic review and quantitative profiling linking particle characteristics to developmental biology
Summary
This review pulls together existing research to show that tiny plastic particles show up not just randomly, but in specific patterns across the placenta, breast milk, amniotic fluid, and even the uterine lining — with the smallest particles (under 100 micrometers) most likely to cross into the fetus. This matters because it suggests plastic exposure during pregnancy isn't just about how much plastic is in the environment, but about how particle size and type interact with the body's own biology, meaning some stages of pregnancy and breastfeeding may carry more risk than others. More research is still needed to understand what this exposure actually means for babies' health.
Microplastics (MPs) have been detected across multiple maternal and neonatal biological matrices, suggesting widespread exposure during critical developmental stages. However, the mechanisms shaping their distribution and accumulation within the maternal–fetal system remain poorly understood. This systematic review and quantitative synthesis provides a comprehensive quantitative profiling of MP burden across six maternal and neonatal biological matrices placenta, breast milk, endometrium, amniotic fluid, meconium, and feces. Our analysis reveals three critical insights: (1) Tissue‑specific MP signatures, with placental samples showing a 2.3‑fold higher fragment proportion and polypropylene (PP) dominance, suggesting selective barrier permeation; (2) A striking endometrial MP accumulation, implicating this tissue as a potential reservoir for intergenerational transfer; and (3) Distinct polymer clustering in perinatal matrices (polyamide/polyurethane (PA/PU) in breast milk vs. polyethylene terephthalate/polycarbonate (PET/PC) in amniotic fluid), indicating distinct exposure windows. Multivariate modeling confirms size‑dependent transport transplacental passage correlates strongly with <100 µm polymers. Crucially, we demonstrates that the majority of the variance in MP distribution stems from interactions between particle characteristics and developmental biology, thereby challenging conventional exposure paradigms based on environmental concentration alone. These findings establish a quantitative framework for understanding MP trafficking in perinatal systems and highlight the importance of integrating particle characteristics and biological context into future exposure and risk assessments.