New Research Finds Microplastics In Placentas Of Unborn Babies
The latest addition to this gang of bad news is that microplastics particles were found in the placentas from four healthy who experienced normal pregnancies and births.
2020 is the year of bad news and there's nothing that can change that. As we head towards the finale of this horrific year, terrible discoveries are just flooding our already distressed lives like nobody's business.
The latest addition to this gang of bad news is that microplastics particles were found in the placentas from four healthy women who experienced normal pregnancies and births.
This has caused great concern as the particles have been found in the placentas of unborn babies for the first time. They were detected on both the foetal and maternal sides of the placenta and in the membrane within which the foetus develops.
YouTube
The possibility of the total number of microplastics is much higher as only four percent of each placenta sample was analysed.
The particles analysed were plastics that had traces of pigment and were dyed blue, red, orange or pink. They may have come from packaging, paints or cosmetics and personal care products.
The research which came across this finding is called 'Plasticenta' and the first evidence of microplastics in human placenta was published in the journal Environment International.
Also read: Bottle-Fed Babies Swallow Millions Of Microplastics In A Day, Reveals Study
Eco-Business
The researchers claimed that, 'Due to the crucial role of placenta in supporting the foetus¡¯s development and in acting as an interface with the external environment, the presence of potentially harmful plastic particles is a matter of great concern. Further studies need to be performed to assess if the presence of microplastics may trigger immune responses or may lead to the release of toxic contaminants, resulting in harm.'
They also stated that, 'Microparticles may alter several cellular regulating pathways in placenta, such as immunity mechanisms during pregnancy, growth-factor signalling during and after implantation, functions of atypical chemokine receptors governing maternal-foetal communication, signalling between the embryo and the uterus, and trafficking of uterine dendritic cells, natural killer cells, T cells and macrophages during normal pregnancy. All these effects may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes including preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction.'
Archyde
Further studies need to be done in order to find out if the presence of microplastics in human placenta may disrupt immune responses or cause toxic contamination which will result in harming the pregnancy.
¡°It is like having a cyborg baby: no longer composed only of human cells, but a mixture of biological and inorganic entities,¡± said Antonio Ragusa, director of obstetrics and gynaecology at the San Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli hospital in Rome, and lead author of the study, reports The Guardian.
Plastic is not biodegradable and only breaks down into smaller pieces. It eventually ends up everywhere including the food chain.
