Raman-guided exploration of placental microplastic exposure: Unraveling the polymeric tapestry and assessing developmental implications

Abstract

The prevalence of microplastics in human tissues and their potential reproductive toxicity have been increasingly documented, yet their appearance in the placenta and the impact of microplastic exposure on human fertility and pregnancy remains uncertain. Utilizing an inVia™ confocal Raman microspectroscopy by Renishaw equipped with a detection threshold as low as 0.25 µm, our study examined the microplastics in the placentas of 50 women post-delivery and investigated their correlations with gestational age, and neonatal length and weight. We found that 40 microplastic particles were identified across 31 of 50 placentas, averaging 2.35 ± 1.25 µm in size and ranging from 1.03 to 6.84 µm. Seven distinct polymer types were detected, with PTFE, PS, and ABS being the most prevalent. Notably, no significant difference across the normal, PTFE, and PS groups for all demographic variables examined was identified, nor as pathological alterations of placental tissues. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate the presence of seven microplastic polymers in human placentas, with PTFE, PS, and ABS being the most prevalent. However, maternal and neonatal parameters were not affected, and further studies are necessary to elucidate the effects of microplastics on developmental outcomes and fetal health.