Microplastics, which are a type of plastic that has become ubiquitous in our daily lives, have been discovered to transfer from mothers to their unborn babies, according to a disturbing new study that specifically examines micro- and nano-plastics(MNPs).
The research, which was reported in the journal Nanomaterials, revealed that MNPs had entered the unborn child’s liver, kidneys, hearts, lungs, and brain within 24 hours of conception in addition to crossing the placental and intestinal barriers.
According to Philip Demokritou, the Henry Rutgers Chair and professor of nanoscience and environmental bioengineering at the Rutgers School of Public Health, “Much remains unknown, but this is obviously cause for alarm and follow-up study,” Earth.com reported.
The source reports that an ordinary person typically consumes and breathes in approximately 5 grams of MNPs per week, which is the same mass as a credit card.
Demokritou stated that “The use of plastics has exploded since the 1940s due to their low cost and versatile properties. From 9 billion metric tons produced over the last 60 years, 80% ended up in the environment, and only 10% was recycled”.
During the research, pregnant rats were administered labeled nanoscale plastics. The Researchers posited that the carboxylated red fluorescent 25 nm (PS25C) polystyrene spheres would be able to pass through the intestinal barrier of the mother rats, cross the placenta, and travel into the bloodstream and tissues of the developing fetuses.
On day 19 of their pregnancy, five rats were given fluids containing the 25 nm polystyrene balls for the experiment.There was a control group that was not fed the plastic. At the end of 24 hours, the rats were sacrificed and their tissues as well as that of their pups were analyzed.
Plastics made from petroleum are not biodegradable, however weathering and photooxidation can split them into little fragments. These tiny fragments, called micro-nano-plastics, are found in human lungs, placentas, and blood, raising human health concerns,” Demokritou explained.
The researcher added, “As public health researchers, we are trying to assess the health risks from such an emerging contaminant to inform policymakers and develop mitigation strategies”.
However, researchers acknowledged that only polystyrene MNPs of a particular size were used in the study, which excludes the range of environmental MNPs.
This study is the first to demonstrate that polymers of this size can cross the placental barrier and enter the tissues of the fetus.
Demokritou commented that “The goal is also to increase the reuse and recycling of plastics and even replace them with biodegradable, biopolymer-based plastics. This is part of our bigger societal goal towards sustainability”.