Temporal trends in microplastic accumulation in placentas from pregnancies in Hawaiʻi
Environment International2023
84 citations
?
Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 65
?
0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Alexandre Urban Borbely
Rodrigo Barbano Weingrill,
Rodrigo Barbano Weingrill,
Rodrigo Barbano Weingrill,
Aldilane Lays Xavier Marques,
Aldilane Lays Xavier Marques,
Rodrigo Barbano Weingrill,
Aldilane Lays Xavier Marques,
Aldilane Lays Xavier Marques,
Men‐Jean Lee,
Men‐Jean Lee,
Lais Farias Azevedo de Magalhaes Oliveira,
Jacob Garcia,
Lais Farias Azevedo de Magalhaes Oliveira,
Aldilane Lays Xavier Marques,
Paula Benny,
Men‐Jean Lee,
Alexandre Urban Borbely
Aldilane Lays Xavier Marques,
Aldilane Lays Xavier Marques,
Paula Benny,
Paula Benny,
Jacob Garcia,
Paula Benny,
Johann Urschitz,
Jonathan M. Riel,
Jonathan M. Riel,
Rodrigo Barbano Weingrill,
Johann Urschitz,
Jonathan M. Riel,
Jonathan M. Riel,
Kevin Saiki,
Kevin Saiki,
Alexandre Urban Borbely
Johann Urschitz,
Johann Urschitz,
Kevin Saiki,
Kevin Saiki,
Jacob Garcia,
Samuel T. Souza,
Jacob Garcia,
E. J. S. Fonseca,
Lais Farias Azevedo de Magalhaes Oliveira,
Lais Farias Azevedo de Magalhaes Oliveira,
Lais Farias Azevedo de Magalhaes Oliveira,
Lais Farias Azevedo de Magalhaes Oliveira,
Lais Farias Azevedo de Magalhaes Oliveira,
E. J. S. Fonseca,
E. J. S. Fonseca,
Alexandre Urban Borbely
Rodrigo Barbano Weingrill,
Lais Farias Azevedo de Magalhaes Oliveira,
Samuel T. Souza,
Johann Urschitz,
Johann Urschitz,
Samuel T. Souza,
Alexandre Urban Borbely
Samuel T. Souza,
Alexandre Urban Borbely
E. J. S. Fonseca,
Samuel T. Souza,
Flavio de Oliveira Silva D’Amato,
Flavio de Oliveira Silva D’Amato,
E. J. S. Fonseca,
Rodrigo Barbano Weingrill,
Flavio de Oliveira Silva D’Amato,
Flavio de Oliveira Silva D’Amato,
Rodrigo Barbano Weingrill,
Uéslen Rocha,
Uéslen Rocha,
Alexandre Urban Borbely
Jacob Garcia,
Johann Urschitz,
Rodrigo Barbano Weingrill,
Johann Urschitz,
Mariana Lima Dutra,
Johann Urschitz,
Lais Farias Azevedo de Magalhaes Oliveira,
Johann Urschitz,
Men‐Jean Lee,
Mariana Lima Dutra,
Mariana Lima Dutra,
Lais Farias Azevedo de Magalhaes Oliveira,
Johann Urschitz,
Johann Urschitz,
Mariana Lima Dutra,
Johann Urschitz,
Alexandre Urban Borbely
Aldilane Lays Xavier Marques,
Aldilane Lays Xavier Marques,
Johann Urschitz,
Samuel T. Souza,
Alexandre Urban Borbely
Alexandre Urban Borbely
E. J. S. Fonseca,
Alexandre Urban Borbely
Alexandre Urban Borbely
Alexandre Urban Borbely
Johann Urschitz,
Johann Urschitz,
Rodrigo Barbano Weingrill,
Johann Urschitz,
Rodrigo Barbano Weingrill,
Johann Urschitz,
Rodrigo Barbano Weingrill,
Johann Urschitz,
Johann Urschitz,
Johann Urschitz,
Johann Urschitz,
Johann Urschitz,
Johann Urschitz,
Alexandre Urban Borbely
Alexandre Urban Borbely
Alexandre Urban Borbely
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.