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Detection of microplastics in the feline placenta and fetus
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Researchers detected microplastics in both the placentas and fetuses of cats during early pregnancy, marking one of the first studies to document this in feline reproductive tissues. Using Raman spectroscopy, they identified 19 microplastic particles across samples from four of eight pregnant cats. The findings demonstrate that microplastics can cross the placental barrier and reach developing fetuses even in early pregnancy, raising questions about potential developmental effects.
The present study aimed to detect microplastics in feline placentas and fetuses in the early stage of pregnancy. For this study, 8 pregnant queens were evaluated. A standardized protocol for the digestion of biological matter was used, as well as a plastic-free approach for sample collection and manipulation. Microplastics were investigated by means of Raman spectroscopy, with the aim of identifying their composition. Four of eight animals were contaminated, with a total of 19 microplastics detected in both fetal and placental samples. Specifically, fetuses from cats 4 and 7 were contaminated, as were the placentas from cats 5, 6, and 7. This work demonstrates that microplastics can accumulate in feline placentas even at the early stage of pregnancy. Moreover, preliminary results of the presence of microplastics in feline fetuses are shown, suggesting that microplastics can cross the placental barrier.
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