We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsInvestigating Exposure and Hazards of Micro- and Nanoplastics During Pregnancy and Early Life (AURORA Project): Protocol for an Interdisciplinary Study (Preprint)
The AURORA project protocol describes an interdisciplinary European study investigating micro- and nanoplastic exposures and their biological effects during pregnancy and early life, enrolling mother-child cohorts and combining biomonitoring with mechanistic research. The project aims to identify critical windows of developmental vulnerability to plastic pollution.
Investigating Exposure and Hazards of Micro- and Nanoplastics During Pregnancy and Early Life (AURORA Project): Protocol for an Interdisciplinary Study
This research protocol outlines an interdisciplinary study designed to investigate how micro- and nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy and early life may affect human health. The AURORA Project aims to assess both the extent of plastic particle exposure and potential hazards during these critical developmental windows. The study represents an important step toward understanding whether early-life plastic exposure poses risks to mothers and their children.
Risk assessing micro- and nanoplastics for early-life human health: the AURORA Horizon 2020 research project
The AURORA project is building a European risk assessment roadmap for nano- and microplastic exposure during early life, a period with distinct vulnerabilities. The project aims to inform EU regulatory decisions by closing data gaps on fetal, infant, and child exposure.
Risk assessing micro- and nanoplastics for early-life human health: the AURORA Horizon 2020 research project
The AURORA project is developing a European risk assessment roadmap for nano- and microplastic exposure during early life stages including fetal, infant, and child development. The project aims to fill critical data gaps and produce regulatory guidance for protecting the most vulnerable populations from microplastic-related risks.
Micro- and Nanoplastics and Fetal Health: Challenges in Assessment and Evidence from Epidemiological Studies
This review examines the emerging evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can reach the developing fetus during pregnancy, with animal studies showing potential effects on neurological development and placental blood flow. The study also highlights major challenges in accurately detecting and measuring these tiny particles in biological tissues from mothers and babies. The authors call for standardized methods and more human studies to better understand the risks of prenatal microplastic exposure.
Microplastics in the Perinatal Period: Emerging Evidence on Maternal Exposure, Placental Transfer, and Fetal Health Outcomes
This review summarizes emerging evidence that microplastics can cross the placenta and reach developing babies, having been detected in maternal blood, placental tissue, amniotic fluid, cord blood, and breast milk. The tiny plastic particles may damage the placenta, disrupt hormones, alter immune responses, and potentially affect fetal growth and brain development. While more research is needed, the findings raise serious concerns about microplastic exposure during pregnancy and its implications for infant health.
Year 116 of the plastic age: a Pandora’s box as a time bomb for pregnancy? Review of clinical and fundamental data on prenatal exposure to plastics
This review examined evidence for micro- and nanoplastic presence in the human placenta and assessed implications for pregnancy outcomes, synthesizing in vitro, ex vivo, and epidemiological data. Multiple plastic types were detected in placental tissue from the basal plate to fetal membranes, and the authors raised concerns about placental dysfunction and fetal developmental risk.
Impact of Microplastics on Pregnancy and Fetal Development: A Systematic Review
A systematic review of 12 studies confirmed the presence of microplastics ranging from 2.1 to 100 micrometers in human placentas and fetal tissue. Microplastic levels correlated with reduced birthweight, affected gestational age, diminished microbiome diversity, and impaired fetal growth and development, with lifestyle choices influencing placental microplastic burden.
Impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on early-life health: a roadmap towards risk assessment
Researchers proposed a detailed risk assessment roadmap specifically for how micro- and nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy and early childhood could harm fetal and infant development, noting that these tiny particles have already been detected in human placentas. The framework identifies critical gaps in dosing data, detection methods, and placental transfer research needed before reliable safety conclusions can be drawn.
The Invisible Threat: Microplastics in Human Blood and Placenta
This review summarized current evidence on microplastic detection in human blood and placenta, discussing what is known about how these particles enter the bloodstream and reach fetal tissue. The authors highlight the potential implications for maternal and fetal health.
Health Implications of Microplastic Exposure in Pregnancy and Early Childhood: A Systematic Review
This systematic review summarizes existing research on how microplastic exposure during pregnancy and early childhood may affect health. The evidence shows that microplastics can reach the placenta and may cause oxidative stress and inflammation, raising concerns about potential effects on fetal development and infant health during these vulnerable life stages.
Plastic and Life
Scientists developed new methods to detect tiny plastic particles in human placental tissue and found that these particles can get trapped in the placenta, with smaller pieces being retained more than larger ones. The research shows that plastic pollution has reached the most vulnerable stage of human life - unborn babies in the womb - though the particles don't seem to cross easily from mother to baby. This matters because we still don't know if these plastic particles could harm developing babies, making this an important area for future health research.
Placental Exposure to Nanoplastics Threatening the Maternal and Fetal Health
This review examines how nanoplastics reaching the placenta threaten maternal and fetal health, summarizing evidence from animal and in vitro studies showing that placental nanoplastic accumulation disrupts nutrient transport, immune function, and fetal development.
Microplastics in maternal blood, fetal appendages, and umbilical vein blood
Researchers detected 16 different types of microplastics in maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, and fetal tissues (placenta, amniotic fluid, fetal membrane, and umbilical cord) from 12 pregnant women who delivered by cesarean section. The most common plastics found were polyamide and polyurethane, and microplastic levels in amniotic fluid increased with maternal age and pre-pregnancy body weight, confirming that these particles can pass from mother to fetus.
Microplastics and the Placenta: A Call to Action for Perinatal Research
This commentary reviewed evidence that microplastics have been detected in human placental and neural tissues and discussed their potential effects on fetal development, including systemic inflammation, neurotoxicity, and endocrine disruption. The authors called for multidisciplinary perinatal research to understand and mitigate microplastic exposure during pregnancy.
Particulate Contamination of Human Placenta: Plastic and non-plastic
Researchers characterized both plastic and non-plastic particulate contaminants found in human placental tissue from healthy pregnancies. They detected microplastics alongside other particles in placenta samples collected from both vaginal and caesarean deliveries at an urban Canadian hospital. The findings add to growing evidence that the human womb is exposed to a variety of environmental particulate contaminants during pregnancy.
Quantification and visualization of micro- and nano-plastics transfer from maternal to fetal: A rat model study
Using europium-labeled nanoplastics and microplastics administered to pregnant rats, researchers quantitatively tracked maternal-to-fetal transfer using electron microscopy and mass spectrometry, providing first direct quantitative evidence of how these particles cross the placental barrier.
Microplastics exposure: implications for human fertility, pregnancy and child health
This review examines growing evidence that microplastics accumulate in the human placenta and may affect pregnancy outcomes and child development. Given that exposure during pregnancy can program lifelong health in offspring, the presence of these tiny plastic particles in reproductive tissues raises important concerns about fertility, pregnancy complications, and children's health.
Assessing microplastics as a novel threat to maternal-fetal health: Placental barrier penetration and fetal developmental consequences
This review addressed how microplastics cross the placental barrier and affect fetal development, covering cellular responses in placental tissue, animal model findings, and limited human study data. The authors concluded that transplacental microplastic transfer is a plausible mechanism for intergenerational health effects.
The Impact of Maternal Nanoplastic and Microplastic Particle Exposure on Mammal’s Offspring
This review summarizes research on how a mother's exposure to nanoplastics and microplastics during pregnancy can affect her developing baby. Studies show that these tiny plastic particles can cross the placenta and reach the fetus, potentially harming brain development, the reproductive system, metabolism, and the immune system of offspring. The review calls for more research using realistic exposure levels to better understand the risks of prenatal microplastic exposure to human babies.
What Health Concerns Could Micro and Nanoplastics Pose for Infants? A Review
Microplastics and nanoplastics have been detected in human placentas, meconium, and infant faeces, meaning babies can be exposed before and immediately after birth. This review examines what these early-life exposures might mean for infant health and development, and discusses broader policy responses to reduce plastic overproduction as the most direct route to protecting future generations.
Placental plastics in young women from general population correlate with reduced foetal growth in IUGR pregnancies
Researchers analyzed placenta samples from 43 women and found plastic particles present, then examined whether their presence correlated with birth outcomes. They found a significant association between higher concentrations of placental plastics and reduced fetal growth in pregnancies affected by intrauterine growth restriction. The study provides early evidence suggesting that plastic particle accumulation in the placenta may be linked to impaired fetal development.
Editorial: Maternal-fetal interface: new insight in placenta research, volume II
This editorial compiles research showing that microplastics have been detected in human placental tissue and induce cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and metabolic disturbances in placental explants. The collection of studies underscores that environmental contaminants including microplastics represent a significant and urgent threat to placental function and fetal development.
A Systematic Review of the Placental Translocation of Micro- and Nanoplastics
Nine out of eleven studies confirmed that micro- and nanoplastics can cross the placental barrier, with translocation depending on particle size, charge, chemical modification, and protein corona formation. Animal and in vitro studies showed emerging evidence of placental and fetal toxicity from plastic particle exposure.