Ostrava team demonstrates presence of microplastics in amniotic fluid and placenta

A team of researchers and doctors from Ostrava have demonstrated the presence of microplastics in human amniotic fluid and the placenta, apparently for the first time ever, the Czech News Agency reports. They plan to continue their research and evaluate whether and how microplastics can harm human fetuses or complicate pregnancy. Experimental studies on mice have already shown that the presence of microplastics led to placenta malfunction, smaller babies and premature births, so the team plans to study whether the same results can be found in humans.

The research samples were taken from women whose pregnancies were complicated by premature amniotic fluid drainage. In nine out of ten women, the presence of microplastics in the amniotic fluid or placenta was confirmed.