Detection of Microplastic in Human Placenta and Meconium in a Clinical Setting

Abstract

Environmental pollution with microplastics (MPs) is a major and worldwide concern. Involuntary exposure to MPs by ingestion or inhalation is unavoidable. The effects on human health are still under debate, while in animals, cellular MP translocation and subsequent deleterious effects were shown. First reports indicate a potential intrauterine exposure with MPs, yet readouts are prone to contamination. Method: To establish a thorough protocol for the detection of MPs in human placenta and fetal meconium in a real-life clinical setting, a pilot study was set up to screen for MPs > 50 µm in placental tissue and meconium sampled during two cesarean sections for breech deliveries. After chemical digestion of non-plastic material, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy was used to analyze the presence of 10 common types of microplastic in placenta and stool samples. Results: Human placenta and meconium samples were screened positive for polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyurethane, of which only the latter one was also detected as airborne fallout in the operating room—thus representing potential contamination. Conclusion: We found MPs > 50 µm in placenta and meconium acquired from cesarean delivery. Critical evaluation of potential contamination sources is pivotal and may guide future clinical studies to improve the correct detection of MPs in organ tissue. Studies investigating nano-sized plastics in human tissue are warranted.

Microplastic Contamination in Human Stools, Foods, and Drinking Water Associated with Indonesian Coastal Population

“…It is also found in co-lectomy samples [32], saliva, the surface of skins, and head hair [33]. Recently, microplastics were also detected in human placenta [34,35] and lung tissue [36], providing evidence for microplastic penetration and incorporation in the human tissue.…”

A Children’s Health Perspective on Nano- and Microplastics

“…However, the route of NMP transfer into the body, into the bloodstream, and then into the placenta is unknown. Braun et al (2021) detected microplastics >50 lm in the placenta and meconium after cesarean, while emphasizing the need for researchers to carefully evaluate the potential for contamination of samples from air fallout. Research suggests that the degree of particle transfer across the placenta changes across the trimesters with increasing gestational age (Vähäkangas and Myllynen 2009).…”

“…Recently, microplastics were discovered in human placenta (Ragusa et al 2021), meconium, and infant stool (Zhang et al 2021;Schwabl et al 2019;Braun et al 2021). Yet the impacts of exposure to plastic particles during early windows of vulnerability are almost entirely unknown.…”

Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, UV radiation, and interactions with climate change: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2021

“…In the first study, 12 polypropylene (PP) particles, 5–10 µm in size, were found in four placentae from vaginal deliveries [ 161 ]. In the second, larger microparticles > 50 µm of three plastics, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) were found in human placenta and meconium from caesarean delivery [ 162 ]. The location of microplastics on the foetal side of the placenta suggests that the placental barrier had been compromised by microplastics, even though transfer to the foetus has not been demonstrated.…”