Microplastics & Nanoplastics and Human Health
What are microplastics and nanoplastics?
Plastics are an essential part of modern life, used in toys, food packaging, construction materials and much more. Microplastics (diameter < 5 mm) and nanoplastics (diameter < 1 um) are most often generated by degradation of larger plastics and fibers. They have been found throughout the world in oceans and on land.
How are humans exposed to microplastics and nanoplastics?
Humans are primarily exposed to micro-/nanoplastics (MNPs) by inhalation of dust, ingestion of food contaminated by dust fall, and through drinking water.
Why are we concerned about the health impacts of micro-/nanoplastics?
Microplastics have been found in human lungs [1], blood [2,3], testis [4], placenta [5-9], breastmilk [7,10] and fetal meconium [11,12]. The potential impact of microplastics on human health remains unknown.
01
Micro-/nanoplastics in maternal blood and placental tissue
We are currently recruiting pregnant people to be part of a study of MNPs and the impact on pregnancy and fetal development. We will use a novel analytical technique to determine levels of MNPs in their environment, in their blood and in their placenta. Contact us if you are interested in being a part of this study or if you want to learn more!
02
Parents Opinions
From a survey of 300 parents in Canada, we found the majority of participants knew that MNPs have a negative impact on the environment but were not familiar that they have been found in human tissue. One of the goals of our group is to improve public knowledge about the potential human health impacts associated with MNPs.
03
Results from animal work
Using a mouse model of pregnancy, we have discovered that MNP exposure impacts:
- fetal growth
- placental function
- placental metabolism
- fetal brain metabolism
- postnatal brain structure
Aghaei et al. Environmental Science and Technology Letters (2022)
Aghaei et al. Metabolomics (2023)
Mercer et al. Metabolomics (2023)
Dibbon et al. Biology of Reproduction (2024)
Hanrahan et al. Scientific Reports (2024)
Harvey et al. Environmental Science: Advances (2023)
[1] Pauly et al. Inhaled cellulosic and plastic fibers found in human lung tissue. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (1998) 7:319.
[2] Leslie et al. Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood. Environment International (2022) 163:107199.
[3] Brits et al. Quantification of micro and nanoplastics in human blood by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Microplastics and Nanoplastics (2024) 4:1.
[4] Hu et al. Microplastic presence in dog and human testis and its potential association with sperm count and weights of testis and epididymis. Toxicological Sciences (2024) 200:235.
[5] Ragusa et al. Plasticenta: First evidence of microplastics in human placenta. Environment International (2021) 146:106274.
[6] Amereh et al. Placental plastics in young women from general population correlate with reduced foetal growth in IUGR pregnancies. Environmental Pollution (2022) 314:120174.
[7] Liu et al. Detection of various microplastics in placentas, meconium, infant feces, breastmilk and infant formula: A pilot prospective study. Science of the Total Environment (2023) 854:158699.
[8] Zhu et al. Identification of microplastics in human placenta using laser direct infrared spectroscopy. Science of the Total Environment (2023) 856:159060.
[9] Weingrill et al. Tempral trends in microplastic accumulation in placentas from pregnancies in Hawai'i. Environment International (2023) 180:108220.
[10] Ragusa et al. Raman microspectroscopy detection and characterisation of microplastics in human breastmilk. Polymers (2022) 14:2700.
[11] Braun et al. Detection of microplastic in human placenta and meconium. Pharmaceutics (2021) 13:921.
[12] Liu et al. The association between microplastics and microbiota in placentas and meconium: the first evidence in humans. Environmental Science & Technology (2023) 57:17774.