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Tier 2
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Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence.
Reproductive & Development
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Plasticenta: First evidence of microplastics in human placenta
Environment International2020
2970 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 60
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Antonio Ragusa,
Antonio Ragusa,
Oliana Carnevali,
Antonio Ragusa,
Antonio Ragusa,
Antonio Ragusa,
Antonio Ragusa,
Antonio Ragusa,
Antonio Ragusa,
Antonio Ragusa,
Antonio Ragusa,
Antonio Ragusa,
Antonio Ragusa,
Antonio Ragusa,
Denise Rinaldo,
Valentina Notarstefano,
Alessandro Svelato,
Alessandro Svelato,
Denise Rinaldo,
Valentina Notarstefano,
Valentina Notarstefano,
Elisabetta Giorgini
Elisabetta Giorgini
Maria Matta,
Maria Matta,
Criselda Santacroce,
Criselda Santacroce,
Denise Rinaldo,
Alessandro Svelato,
Denise Rinaldo,
Valentina Notarstefano,
Valentina Notarstefano,
Valentina Notarstefano,
Valentina Notarstefano,
Criselda Santacroce,
Criselda Santacroce,
Denise Rinaldo,
Antonio Ragusa,
Piera Catalano,
Piera Catalano,
Denise Rinaldo,
Valentina Notarstefano,
Valentina Notarstefano,
Alessandro Svelato,
Valentina Notarstefano,
Antonio Ragusa,
Valentina Notarstefano,
Elisabetta Giorgini
Oliana Carnevali,
Valentina Notarstefano,
Valentina Notarstefano,
Alessandro Svelato,
Oliana Carnevali,
Oliana Carnevali,
Alessandro Svelato,
Oliana Carnevali,
Antonio Ragusa,
Elisabetta Giorgini
Elisabetta Giorgini
Antonio Ragusa,
Criselda Santacroce,
Valentina Notarstefano,
Criselda Santacroce,
Fabrizio Papa,
Oliana Carnevali,
Fabrizio Papa,
Alessandro Svelato,
Mauro Rongioletti,
Mauro Rongioletti,
Mauro Rongioletti,
Mauro Rongioletti,
Oliana Carnevali,
Elisabetta Giorgini
Oliana Carnevali,
Piera Catalano,
Oliana Carnevali,
Elisabetta Giorgini
Mauro Rongioletti,
Denise Rinaldo,
F. Baiocco,
F. Baiocco,
Denise Rinaldo,
Mauro Rongioletti,
F. Baiocco,
F. Baiocco,
Mauro Rongioletti,
Mauro Rongioletti,
Simonetta Draghi,
Simonetta Draghi,
Elisabetta Giorgini
Elisabetta D’Amore,
Elisabetta D’Amore,
Oliana Carnevali,
Piera Catalano,
Elisabetta D’Amore,
Elisabetta D’Amore,
Denise Rinaldo,
Denise Rinaldo,
Denise Rinaldo,
Elisabetta Giorgini
Denise Rinaldo,
Criselda Santacroce,
Criselda Santacroce,
Maria Matta,
Valentina Notarstefano,
Maria Matta,
Maria Matta,
Maria Matta,
Oliana Carnevali,
Elisabetta Giorgini
Elisabetta Giorgini
Elisabetta Giorgini
Summary
In a landmark study, researchers detected microplastics in human placental tissue for the first time, finding 12 plastic fragments in placentas from four out of six women with healthy pregnancies. The particles were identified as polypropylene and dyed plastics likely from packaging or cosmetics, raising concerns about potential effects on fetal development and pregnancy.
Microplastics are particles smaller than five millimeters deriving from the degradation of plastic objects present in the environment. Microplastics can move from the environment to living organisms, including mammals. In this study, six human placentas, collected from consenting women with physiological pregnancies, were analyzed by Raman Microspectroscopy to evaluate the presence of microplastics. In total, 12 microplastic fragments (ranging from 5 to 10 μm in size), with spheric or irregular shape were found in 4 placentas (5 in the fetal side, 4 in the maternal side and 3 in the chorioamniotic membranes); all microplastics particles were characterized in terms of morphology and chemical composition. All of them were pigmented; three were identified as stained polypropylene a thermoplastic polymer, while for the other nine it was possible to identify only the pigments, which were all used for man-made coatings, paints, adhesives, plasters, finger paints, polymers and cosmetics and personal care products.