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Prenatal microplastic exposure and umbilical cord blood androgenic and glucocorticoid hormones
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Researchers analyzed placental microplastic levels and umbilical cord blood hormones in over 1,300 pregnant women in China and found microplastics in every placental sample tested. Higher microplastic concentrations were associated with altered fetal hormone levels, including lower cortisol and cortisone and higher androgens like DHEA. The study suggests that prenatal microplastic exposure may disrupt the hormonal balance between stress hormones and androgenic hormones during fetal development.
Placental microplastic exposure has emerged as a potential environmental risk factor affecting fetal development. This study investigates the association between placental microplastic burden and umbilical cord hormone levels in a cohort of pregnant women from Shenyang, China. A total of 1324 pregnant women during 2022-2023 were enrolled. Placental microplastics were quantified using a laser direct infrared (LD-IR) chemical imaging system, targeting polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and polybutylene succinate (PBS). Umbilical cord blood cortisol, cortisone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and androstenedione were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Regression models were applied to assess individual microplastic associations, while quantile-based g-computation (g-comp) and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) were used to evaluate mixture effects. Microplastics were detected in all placental samples, with a median total concentration of 12 particles/10 g. Placental microplastic exposure was significantly associated with altered fetal hormone levels. Higher PVC, PBS, and total microplastic concentrations were linked to lower cortisol levels, while PVC, PP, and total microplastics were associated with reduced cortisone. In contrast, PBS and total microplastics were positively associated with DHEA, and PVC, PBS, and total microplastics correlated with increased androstenedione. The cortisol/DHEA and glucocorticoid/androgenic ratios were significantly reduced with higher microplastic exposure, suggesting endocrine disruption. Mixture analysis confirmed these trends, showing decreased glucocorticoids and increased androgens, with sex-stratified analysis indicating stronger cortisol reductions in boys and higher DHEA in girls. Overall, placental microplastic exposure was associated with altered fetal hormone levels, suggesting potential endocrine disruption while further studies are needed.
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Prenatal exposure to microplastics and biomarkers of renal dysfunction in umbilical cord blood: Evidence from a birth cohort in China
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Researchers analyzed placental tissue from 1,350 pregnant women in China for microplastic content and tested associations with renal biomarkers in umbilical cord blood, finding that prenatal microplastic exposure was linked to elevated markers of kidney dysfunction in newborns.
Effects of different micro- and nanoplastic polymers on steroidogenesis in a feto-placental in vitro model
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Scientists built a lab model of the placenta to test what happens when tiny plastic particles—like those found in bottled water and food packaging—come into contact with it. They found that several common plastic types can cross the placental barrier and disrupt hormone production, including hormones important for a healthy pregnancy. While this is a lab study (not proof of harm in real pregnancies), it raises real questions about whether the microplastics we're all exposed to daily could affect babies during development.
Early life in the Plasticene: short- and long-term effects of perinatal exposure to microplastics and plastic-associated chemicals – PART I
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This review summarizes existing research on how babies may be exposed to microplastics and plastic chemicals before birth. Studies found microplastics in the placenta, amniotic fluid and cord blood, with possible links to altered fetal growth and hormone levels, though evidence remains preliminary and limited by inconsistent study methods.
Placental microplastics contamination and its impact on thyroid function in newborns
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Researchers analyzed placental tissue from over 1,200 mother-child pairs and found microplastics present in the samples, then examined whether these levels were associated with thyroid hormone profiles in the newborns. The study found associations between placental microplastic contamination and variations in newborn thyroid function, which is critical for early growth and development. These findings suggest that prenatal microplastic exposure warrants further investigation as a potential factor in infant health.
Exposure to microplastics during pregnancy and fetal liver function
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Researchers detected microplastics in the placentas of nearly 90% of over 1,000 pregnant women and found that higher placental microplastic levels were linked to elevated liver enzymes in umbilical cord blood. This suggests that microplastics crossing the placenta may affect fetal liver function before birth, raising concerns about the health effects of prenatal plastic exposure.
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