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Uptake, Transport, and Toxicity of Pristine and Weathered Micro- and Nanoplastics in Human Placenta Cells
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Researchers tested how both new and environmentally weathered micro- and nanoplastics are taken up by human placental cells in laboratory experiments. They found that the placental cells internalized and transported plastic particles regardless of whether they were pristine or aged, with some types affecting gene expression. The study suggests that placental cells are vulnerable to microplastic exposure and that weathering in the environment does not eliminate the particles' ability to enter human tissue.
Our results suggest that pristine and weathered MNPs are internalized and translocated in placental cells in vitro. Effects on gene expression observed upon pristine PS and HDPE particle exposure warrant further examination. More in-depth investigations are needed to better understand the potential health risks of MNP and chemicals associated with them under environmentally relevant exposure scenarios. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10873.
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