Microplastics Found in Human Placentas
In yet another study of possible health effects of microplastics, a team led by Dr. Matthew Campen, Regents’ Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy, found microplastics in 67 human placentas studied. The most prominent polymer was polyethylene, found in plastic bags and bottles. The study was reported widely in The Guardian, the February 17, 2024 issue of Toxicological Sciences (Oxford University) and .SciTechDaily. Professor Campen stated: “If we are seeing effects on placentas, then all mammalian life on this planet could be impacted. That’s not good.” He said the growing concentration of microplastics in human tissue could explain puzzling increases in some health problems, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colon cancer in people under 50 and declining sperm counts. A 2021 study found people with IBD had 50% more microplastics in their feces than those without IBD. |