Detection of Microplastic in Human Placenta and Meconium in a Clinical Setting
Environmental pollution with microplastics (MPs) is a major and worldwide concern. Involuntary exposure to MPs by ingestion or inhalation is unavoidable. The effects on human health are still under debate, while in animals, cellular MP translocation and subsequent deleterious effects were shown. Fir...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Pharmaceutics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/7/921 |
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| author | Thorsten Braun Loreen Ehrlich Wolfgang Henrich Sebastian Koeppel Ievgeniia Lomako Philipp Schwabl Bettina Liebmann |
| author_facet | Thorsten Braun Loreen Ehrlich Wolfgang Henrich Sebastian Koeppel Ievgeniia Lomako Philipp Schwabl Bettina Liebmann |
| author_sort | Thorsten Braun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Environmental pollution with microplastics (MPs) is a major and worldwide concern. Involuntary exposure to MPs by ingestion or inhalation is unavoidable. The effects on human health are still under debate, while in animals, cellular MP translocation and subsequent deleterious effects were shown. First reports indicate a potential intrauterine exposure with MPs, yet readouts are prone to contamination. Method: To establish a thorough protocol for the detection of MPs in human placenta and fetal meconium in a real-life clinical setting, a pilot study was set up to screen for MPs > 50 µm in placental tissue and meconium sampled during two cesarean sections for breech deliveries. After chemical digestion of non-plastic material, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy was used to analyze the presence of 10 common types of microplastic in placenta and stool samples. Results: Human placenta and meconium samples were screened positive for polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyurethane, of which only the latter one was also detected as airborne fallout in the operating room—thus representing potential contamination. Conclusion: We found MPs > 50 µm in placenta and meconium acquired from cesarean delivery. Critical evaluation of potential contamination sources is pivotal and may guide future clinical studies to improve the correct detection of MPs in organ tissue. Studies investigating nano-sized plastics in human tissue are warranted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:11:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-800f17af0de3454f900e3a268626b5d6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4923 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:11:46Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceutics |
| spelling | doaj.art-800f17af0de3454f900e3a268626b5d62023-11-22T01:07:25ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232021-06-0113792110.3390/pharmaceutics13070921Detection of Microplastic in Human Placenta and Meconium in a Clinical SettingThorsten Braun0Loreen Ehrlich1Wolfgang Henrich2Sebastian Koeppel3Ievgeniia Lomako4Philipp Schwabl5Bettina Liebmann6Clinic of Obstetrics, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität und Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburgerplatz 1, 13507 Berlin, GermanyDivision of Experimental Obstetrics, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität und Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburgerplatz 1, 13507 Berlin, GermanyClinic of Obstetrics, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität und Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburgerplatz 1, 13507 Berlin, GermanyEnvironment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), 1090 Vienna, AustriaEnvironment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), 1090 Vienna, AustriaDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, AustriaEnvironment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt GmbH), 1090 Vienna, AustriaEnvironmental pollution with microplastics (MPs) is a major and worldwide concern. Involuntary exposure to MPs by ingestion or inhalation is unavoidable. The effects on human health are still under debate, while in animals, cellular MP translocation and subsequent deleterious effects were shown. First reports indicate a potential intrauterine exposure with MPs, yet readouts are prone to contamination. Method: To establish a thorough protocol for the detection of MPs in human placenta and fetal meconium in a real-life clinical setting, a pilot study was set up to screen for MPs > 50 µm in placental tissue and meconium sampled during two cesarean sections for breech deliveries. After chemical digestion of non-plastic material, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy was used to analyze the presence of 10 common types of microplastic in placenta and stool samples. Results: Human placenta and meconium samples were screened positive for polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyurethane, of which only the latter one was also detected as airborne fallout in the operating room—thus representing potential contamination. Conclusion: We found MPs > 50 µm in placenta and meconium acquired from cesarean delivery. Critical evaluation of potential contamination sources is pivotal and may guide future clinical studies to improve the correct detection of MPs in organ tissue. Studies investigating nano-sized plastics in human tissue are warranted.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/7/921microplasticsplacentafetuspregnancypolystyrene |
| spellingShingle | Thorsten Braun Loreen Ehrlich Wolfgang Henrich Sebastian Koeppel Ievgeniia Lomako Philipp Schwabl Bettina Liebmann Detection of Microplastic in Human Placenta and Meconium in a Clinical Setting Pharmaceutics microplastics placenta fetus pregnancy polystyrene |
| title | Detection of Microplastic in Human Placenta and Meconium in a Clinical Setting |
| title_full | Detection of Microplastic in Human Placenta and Meconium in a Clinical Setting |
| title_fullStr | Detection of Microplastic in Human Placenta and Meconium in a Clinical Setting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detection of Microplastic in Human Placenta and Meconium in a Clinical Setting |
| title_short | Detection of Microplastic in Human Placenta and Meconium in a Clinical Setting |
| title_sort | detection of microplastic in human placenta and meconium in a clinical setting |
| topic | microplastics placenta fetus pregnancy polystyrene |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/7/921 |
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