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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to First identification of microplastics in umbilical cord blood and their direct target proteins: A pioneering discovery
ClearMicroplastics 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.
Microplastic exposure in daily life and the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension: A study on the association between environmental pollutants and maternal-fetal health outcomes
In a study of pregnant women, those with pregnancy-induced high blood pressure had 1.46 times more microplastics in their umbilical cords than healthy pregnant women, with polyethylene and polycarbonate being especially elevated. Microplastic exposure was linked to use of plastic containers and takeout meals, and higher levels were associated with worse outcomes for newborns. While this preliminary study has limitations, it suggests that everyday microplastic exposure during pregnancy may be connected to dangerous blood pressure complications.
Multispectroscopic Investigations of the Binding Interaction between Polyethylene Microplastics and Human Hemoglobin
Scientists used multiple spectroscopic techniques to investigate whether polyethylene microplastics can bind to human hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in blood. They found that microplastic particles do interact with hemoglobin, altering its structural shape and potentially affecting its function. The findings raise questions about what might happen when microplastics enter the human bloodstream and interact with essential blood proteins.
Prenatal exposure to microplastics and biomarkers of renal dysfunction in umbilical cord blood: Evidence from a birth cohort in China
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.
Exposure to microplastics during pregnancy and fetal liver function
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.
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.
Discovery of microplastics and nanoplastics in pediatric myocardium and blood
Researchers detected microplastics and nanoplastics in the heart tissue and blood of 27 pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery, with polyethylene found in 100 percent of myocardial samples. Newborns had the highest concentrations of plastic particles in their heart tissue, and matching plastic types were found in mothers' placentas and umbilical cord blood, suggesting prenatal transfer. The study provides the first evidence that micro- and nanoplastics are present in children's cardiac tissue, raising concerns about early-life exposure.
Probing the toxic interactions between polyvinyl chloride microplastics and Human Serum Albumin by multispectroscopic techniques
Scientists used multiple spectroscopic techniques to characterize how PVC microplastics interact with human serum albumin (the most abundant protein in blood), finding that PVC binds to albumin, alters its structure, and may affect the protein's ability to carry drugs and nutrients.
Prenatal microplastic exposure and umbilical cord blood androgenic and glucocorticoid hormones
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.
Poly(vinyl chloride) microplastics induce structural and functional alterations in myoglobin
Researchers exposed myoglobin—an oxygen-binding protein in heart and skeletal muscle—to polyvinyl chloride microplastics and found significant structural and functional alterations, raising concerns about how PVC particles accumulating in tissues could disrupt cellular oxygen transport.
Identification of micro-/nanoplastics in human placental blood using comprehensive multidimensional pyrolysis - gas chromatography x ion mobility mass spectrometry
Researchers developed a new analytical method using pyrolysis and advanced mass spectrometry to detect micro- and nanoplastics in human placental blood while reducing false positive results. They identified polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene particles in placental blood samples. The study provides improved tools for accurately measuring plastic contamination in human tissues, which is essential for understanding potential health effects.
Detection of micro- and nanoplastics in cerebrospinal fluid and blood: Implications for brain diseases
Researchers measured micro- and nanoplastic concentrations in paired cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples from patients with neurological conditions. They detected five types of plastic polymers in both fluids, with blood containing significantly higher concentrations than cerebrospinal fluid, and found correlations between plastic levels in the two fluids among patients with neuroimmune and neuroinfectious conditions. The study also identified disrupted metabolic pathways associated with higher plastic concentrations, suggesting a potential link between plastic particle exposure and changes in brain chemistry that warrants further investigation.
Quantitation of micro and nanoplastics in human blood by pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Researchers developed and validated an improved method using pyrolysis-gas chromatography to measure specific plastic polymer types in human blood, detecting plastics in 64 out of 68 blood samples tested with a mean concentration of 268 nanograms per milliliter. Polyethylene was the most common polymer found, underscoring that microplastic and nanoplastic particles are already circulating inside the human body.
Discovery and analysis of microplastics in human bone marrow
For the first time, researchers detected microplastics in human bone marrow, finding plastic particles in all 16 samples tested. The most common types were polyethylene and polystyrene, with about 90% of particles smaller than 100 micrometers. This discovery shows that microplastics can penetrate deep into the body and reach the tissue where blood cells are made, raising questions about potential effects on blood cell production and immune function.
New universal approach for microplastics detection in tissues retains histology and reveals unprecedented quantities in placental samples
Researchers developed a new universal method for detecting micro- and nanoplastics in tissue samples that preserves tissue histology, allowing simultaneous plastic detection and morphological analysis of the same sample to better characterize MP tissue distribution and pathological effects.
Molecular Interaction of Functionalized Nanoplastics with Human Hemoglobin
Scientists investigated how functionalized nanoplastic particles interact with human hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in blood. Using multiple spectroscopic techniques, they found that nanoplastics bind to hemoglobin and alter its structure, with amine-functionalized particles showing the strongest binding. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure could potentially interfere with hemoglobin function, raising questions about the effects of plastic particles in the bloodstream.
Placental Micro- and Nanoplastic Contamination: A Systematic Review of Eco-Exposome Pathways to Preterm Birth and Neonatal Outcomes
This systematic review examined evidence that micro- and nanoplastics have been found in human placentas and may be linked to preterm birth. The particles appear to cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of placental function through multiple molecular pathways, raising concerns about the impact of plastic pollution on pregnancy outcomes and newborn health.
Quantitation and identification of microplastics accumulation in human placental specimens using pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry
Researchers analyzed 62 human placenta samples and found microplastics in every single one, with concentrations ranging from 6.5 to 685 micrograms per gram of tissue. Polyethylene, the most common plastic in everyday products, made up 54% of the plastics found. This widespread presence of microplastics in placentas raises concerns about fetal exposure during pregnancy and potential effects on development.
Adverse effects of a realistic concentration of human exposure to microplastics on markers of placental barrier permeability in pregnant rats
Researchers exposed pregnant rats to polystyrene microplastics at concentrations realistic for human exposure and examined effects on the placenta. They found that the microplastics accumulated in placental tissue, caused oxidative stress, triggered cell death, and reduced the expression of proteins that maintain the placental barrier. The study provides the first evidence that realistic levels of microplastic exposure can compromise the protective barrier between mother and developing offspring.
Polystyrene microplastics induce biochemical and metabolism changes in human placental explants
Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene microplastics on human placental cells, finding that exposure altered biochemical pathways and metabolic activity. The results suggest that microplastics reaching the placenta can disrupt cellular functions important for fetal development.
First evidence of microplastic accumulation in placentas and umbilical cords from pregnancies in Brazil
In the first study of its kind in Brazil, researchers analyzed placentas and umbilical cords from ten pregnancies in Maceio and found microplastics in every sample. A total of 229 microplastic particles were identified, with polyethylene and polyamide being the most common types. The findings suggest that Brazilian pregnant women experience microplastic exposure consistent with global trends, emphasizing the need to understand how these particles cross the placental barrier.
Polystyrene microplastics induce biochemical and metabolism changes in human placental explants
This study examined how polystyrene microplastics affect biochemical pathways and metabolism in human placental cells, with microplastics having been detected in human placental tissue. Polystyrene microplastics induced metabolic and biochemical changes in placental cells, raising concern for placental function and fetal health during pregnancy.
Quantitative human biomonitoring of micro- and nanoplastics: Exposure profiles, mechanistic insights, and health implications
Researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of 70 studies that measured micro- and nanoplastics in human body samples collected between 2019 and 2025. They found plastic particles present across multiple organ systems and body fluids, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene being the most commonly detected types. While evidence indicates potential associations with oxidative stress and inflammation, the study notes that differences in measurement methods across labs make it difficult to directly compare results, and no causal health relationships have been firmly established yet.
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.