Microplastics in human placentas raise fetal, maternal health concerns

Doctors say the new findings of microplastics in placentas are concerning because they develop over only eight months.

We know that plastic is everywhere; it’s found in our everyday items, even making its way into our food and bodies.

Now, a group of scientists from the University of New Mexico has published a study stating they found microplastics in human placentas, raising concerns about the health of babies and pregnant people.

The study, published in the journal Toxicological Sciences, looked at 62 placenta samples and found microplastics with levels ranging from 6.5-790 micrograms per gram of tissue in every single one of them.

The researchers found that most of the plastic (54%) in placental tissue was made of polyethylene, the most widely used plastic in the world, used to make plastic bags, bottles, cosmetics, toys, and many other things. Polyvinyl chloride (known as PVC) and nylon each made up about 10%, while the rest was made of nine other types of plastics.

Although the amount of microplastics in the placenta is small, even in micrograms, which is a millionth of a gram, doctors worry about how these plastics can have a negative effect as we continue to consume them in the long run.