Each Human Placenta Examined Contained Microplastics.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic found almost everywhere, even in human placentas. A new study looked at how common these microplastics are and what types are present. Researchers started by breaking down 62 placenta samples to find the microplastics. They used a machine called an ultracentrifuge to separate them out and then heated the plastic to identify what types were there.

The lead researcher, Dr. Matthew Campen, explained that they used a technique called pyrolysis to analyze the gases emitted from the heated plastic. They found microplastics in all 62 samples, with amounts ranging from 6.5 to 790 micrograms per gram of tissue. The most common type of plastic they found was polyethylene, which is used in things like plastic bags and bottles. They also found PVC, nylon, and polystyrene.

Even though the amounts of these plastics might seem small, we don’t fully understand their effects on health. Microplastics are very tiny, often too small to see, and they can possibly affect how our bodies work. Dr. Campen is worried that if the amount of microplastics keeps increasing, it could harm not only humans but also other animals on Earth.

Dr. Campen also pointed out that microplastics could build up quickly in placentas. Placentas are only around for about eight months during pregnancy, while other organs collect things over much longer times. The next steps for the researchers are to improve their methods for measuring microplastics in placentas. They hope this will help them understand more about how microplastics get into our bodies and what effects they might have.

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