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Temporal trends in microplastic accumulation in placentas from pregnancies in Hawaiʻi
Summary
Using Raman spectroscopy, researchers analyzed discarded placentas in Hawaii and found that microplastic accumulation has increased significantly over the past 15 years. The types and sizes of plastic particles also changed over time, reflecting shifts in plastic production and environmental contamination. This study demonstrates that human tissue can serve as a biological record of plastic pollution exposure.
Microplastics are created for commercial use, are shed from textiles, or result from the breakdown of larger plastic items. Recent reports have shown that microplastics accumulate in human tissues and may have adverse health consequences. Currently, there are no standardized environmental monitoring systems to track microplastic accumulation within human tissues. Using Raman spectroscopy, we investigated the temporal exposures to plastic pollution in Hawaiʻi and noted a significant increase in the accumulation of microplastics in discarded placentas over the past 15 years, with changes in the size and chemical composition of the polymers. These findings provide a rare insight into the vulnerability and sensitivity of Pacific Island residents to plastic pollution and illustrate how discarded human tissues can be used as an innovative environmental plastic pollution monitoring system.