In a recent study, researchers discovered microplastics present in every human placenta examined, raising concerns about potential health implications for developing fetuses.
The analysis, encompassing 62 placental tissue samples, identified polyethylene as the most prevalent plastic type, commonly used in the production of plastic bags and bottles.
Additionally, a separate investigation found microplastics in all 17 human arteries studied, prompting suggestions that these particles could contribute to arterial blockages.
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Microplastics Detected in Human Blood and Breast Milk
Recent findings have revealed the presence of microplastics in human blood and breast milk, indicating widespread contamination within individuals.
Although the health implications remain uncertain, laboratory studies have demonstrated that microplastics can cause damage to human cells.
These particles have the potential to become lodged in tissue, leading to inflammation similar to that caused by air pollution particles, or the chemicals present in plastics could inflict harm.
The extensive dumping of plastic waste into the environment has resulted in the pervasive pollution of the planet with microplastics, extending from the highest peaks of Mount Everest to the deepest ocean depths.
Individuals are known to ingest these minuscule particles through food and water consumption as well as inhalation, with microplastics even being detected in the feces of both babies and adults.
Professor Matthew Campen, who led the research at the University of New Mexico, United States noted that the increasing concentration of microplastics in human tissue could potentially explain the puzzling rise in certain health issues, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colon cancer in individuals under 50, and declining sperm counts.
Chemical Separation of Microplastics
The analysis of microplastics involved the utilization of chemicals and a centrifuge to isolate them from the tissue, followed by heating and examination of the distinctive chemical signature of each plastic.
This methodology was also employed by researchers at the Capital Medical University in Beijing, China, to identify microplastics in human artery samples.
The initial detection of microplastics in placentas occurred in 2020, based on samples obtained from four healthy women who underwent normal pregnancies and deliveries in Italy.
The researchers emphasized that microplastics carry substances which, functioning as endocrine disruptors, could potentially induce long-term effects on human health.