Análise temporal do bioacúmulo de microplásticos em placentas humanas

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) originate from commercial products or from the degradation of larger plastic items, as well as being released from textiles. Recent studies have shown that these particles accumulate in human tissues, including the placenta, raising concerns about possible adverse effects on gestational health. Despite this, there are still no standardized environmental monitoring systems to track the bioaccumulation of MPs, highlighting the urgent need for action in this regard. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify and characterize MPs in human placentas from patients from Hawaii, USA, spanning three different decades. To achieve this, 30 placentas were collected from the years 2006, 2013, and 2021 (10/year), and subjected to enzymatic digestion, filtration, and chemical and topographic characterization using Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Thus, investigating the temporal impacts of plastic pollution in Hawaii revealed a notable gradual increase in the accumulation of MPs in discarded placentas over the past 15 years. Furthermore, significant changes in the size and chemical composition of the polymers present were evident. Therefore, these findings offer the scientific community a valuable perspective on the vulnerability and sensitivity of Pacific Islanders to plastic pollution, highlighting how discarded human tissue can be employed as an innovative system to monitor environmental plastic pollution.