![]() “But we know nanoparticles have greater toxicity than the microparticles of the same chemical, as smaller particles get deeper into the lungs.” ![]() Stapleton said the nanoparticles used in her research were a million times smaller than the microplastics found in human placentas, and therefore currently much more challenging to identify in human studies. We now know the particles are able to cross into the foetal compartment, but we don’t know if they’re lodged there or if the body just walls them off, so there’s no additional toxicity.” She said more research was needed: “This study answers some questions and opens up other questions. “Our working theory is that something in the maternal vasculature changes, so you get a reduction in blood flow, which in turn leads to a reduction in nutrient and oxygen delivery,” said Stapleton. The rats were exposed to the plastic nanoparticles on day 19 of gestation, two days ahead of the usual time for birth and when the foetus is gaining the most weight. Weight loss was also seen in other experiments using titanium dioxide particles. Twenty four hours after exposure, the weight of the foetuses was an average of 7% lower than in control animals, and placental weights were 8% lower. A separate experiment showed that the nanoparticles crossed the placenta about 90 minutes after the mothers were exposed. They were marked with a fluorescent chemical to enable them to be identified. The 20 nanometre beads used were made of polystyrene, which is one of the top five plastics found in the environment, said Stapleton. Stapleton said the number of particles used was estimated to be the equivalent of 60% of the number a human mother would be exposed to in a day, although Li’s opinion was that this estimate was too high. The rat study was published in the journal Particle and Fibre Toxicology and involved placing nanoparticles in the trachea of the animals. Shape matters, as it dictates how particles interact with their environment.” In October, Li, Boland and colleagues showed that babies fed formula milk in plastic bottles are swallowing millions of particles a day. The nanoparticles used are near spherical in shape, whereas real microplastics are irregular flake-like objects. Prof John Boland, also at TCD, said: “It is however important not to over-interpret these results. The particles were found almost everywhere in the foetus and can also pass through the blood-brain barrier – it is very shocking.” We found them in the foetal heart, brain, lungs, liver and kidney.”ĭunzhu Li, at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) in Ireland and not part of the study team, said: “This study is very important because it proves the potential to transfer in mammal pregnancy – maybe it is happening from the very beginning of human life as well. Without the shame and guilt, these small everyday changes add up to larger, long-term transformations.Prof Phoebe Stapleton, at Rutgers University, who led the rat research, said: “We found the plastic nanoparticles everywhere we looked – in the maternal tissues, in the placenta and in the foetal tissues. I started Tiny Planet to help people take tiny steps to reduce their carbon footprint by building habits that compound your climate impact over time. Either we are busy, overwhelmed, or just confused on what will actually make a difference. There are many of us who care about the planet, but may not be sure about what to do next. If I’m struggling with this, then other people must be too. For my family we had gone through many job changes, one move, and kids arriving on the scene.īut all of this led to a big A-HA moment. Our lives are in a constant flow of changes, big and small, all of which can disrupt planet-friendly lifestyles. How could this happen to such a “crunchy” eco-conscious person? Well, it’s actually very normal! Instead of reusable rags, we now used paper towels. I saw plastic ziplock bags, disposable diapers, and a multitude of cleaning products. My old wasteful habits had unknowingly crept back into my life. One day, I came home and saw my life through a new lens. However my career and values didn’t make me immune to a pollution-intensive lifestyle. I care deeply about climate change and aligning my life with those values. Hello, my name is Marta, Founder of Tiny Planet! In my career, I’ve worked on climate policy, environmental health education, carbon offset projects, and am now a climate startup founder. Marta Johnson, Founder and CEO of TinyPlanet.
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