Research reveals that plastic pollution, consisting of tiny particles smaller than sand, is widespread, affecting even newborn rodents, as observed in a study from Rutgers Health published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
Scientists have known for a while that micro- and nanoplastic particles (MNPs) make their way into our environment when consumer products degrade or oxidize. These minute plastic bits can easily enter the human body through breathing, skin absorption, and what we eat.
Furthermore, it’s well established that these pollutants can penetrate the placental barrier, impacting fetal tissues.
However, what has been uncertain is whether these plastic particles linger in tissues long after birth. Researchers from Rutgers Health discovered that they do so, at least in rats. Their findings could have significant implications for human health.
“Nobody wants plastic in their liver,” stated Phoebe A. Stapleton, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy and the senior author of the study. “Now that we know it’s present in organs, the next objective is to determine why and what it signifies.”
To investigate the persistence of micro- and nanoplastics in the tissues of newborns after maternal exposure, Stapleton and her team subjected six pregnant rats to aerosolized food-grade plastic powder for 10 days.
Stapleton explained that rodents make excellent subjects for this type of research because both humans and rodents share a hemochorial placenta, meaning that maternal and fetal blood do not mix during circulation.
Two weeks post-birth, they tested two newborn rats—a male and a female—for micro- and nanoplastic exposure. In both cases, they discovered the same plastic type that the mothers inhaled during pregnancy in the offspring’s lung, liver, kidney, heart, and brain tissues. In contrast, no plastic was detected in a control group.
Stapleton remarked that these findings provide further evidence of the potential dangers posed by micro- and nanoplastics present in our environment.
“These results raise concerns regarding the toxicological impacts linked to MNPs exposure, maternal-fetal health, and the systemic deposition of these particles,” the researchers noted.
Micro- and nanoplastics have become a common form of pollution, found in food, farmland, seawater, and even snow. They’ve been identified in the deepest parts of the oceans and the highest elevations on the planet.
These invisible pollutants pose potential risks to human health. An ever-growing amount of research indicates a strong link between micro- and nanoplastic particles and health issues such as cancer, inflammation, weakened immune responses, tissue degeneration, and cardiovascular diseases.
Stapleton expressed her hope that her findings might prompt policymakers to allocate more funding for related research.
“Without answers, we can’t implement policy changes,” she explained.
Ultimately, the presence of these materials in human tissues could lead to stricter regulations, according to Stapleton. While plastics have certainly enhanced consumer products, their long-term health effects remain largely unknown. As researchers continue to uncover this information, regulatory bodies will be better positioned to safeguard public health, she asserted.
“I don’t believe we’ll eliminate plastics completely,” she acknowledged. “They’re essential for modern life. However, I believe we may reach a stage where guidelines are established to identify which types are less harmful than others.”
This research was supported, in part, by funding from the Herbert W. Hoover Foundation.
