Microplastic Particles Detected in Fetal Cord Blood, Placenta, and Meconium: A Pilot Study of Nine Mother–Infant Pairs in South China
Minting Zhu,
Xiaotian Li,
Wei Lin,
Dan Zeng,
Pan Yang,
Weigui Ni,
Zhijian Chen,
Bingyi Lin,
Lijuan Lai,
Zhongai Ouyang,
Jingjie Fan
Affiliations
Minting Zhu
School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, No. 1023-1063, Shatai South Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou 510515, China
Xiaotian Li
Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 2004 Hongli Road, Futian District, Shenzhen 518028, China
Wei Lin
Department of Healthcare, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 3012 Fuqiang Road, Futian District, Shenzhen 518028, China
Dan Zeng
Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen 518048, China
Pan Yang
School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
Weigui Ni
Department of Preventive Healthcare, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 2004 Hongli Road, Futian District, Shenzhen 518028, China
Zhijian Chen
Department of Preventive Healthcare, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 2004 Hongli Road, Futian District, Shenzhen 518028, China
Bingyi Lin
Department of Preventive Healthcare, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 2004 Hongli Road, Futian District, Shenzhen 518028, China
Lijuan Lai
Department of Preventive Healthcare, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 2004 Hongli Road, Futian District, Shenzhen 518028, China
Zhongai Ouyang
School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, No. 1023-1063, Shatai South Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou 510515, China
Jingjie Fan
School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, No. 1023-1063, Shatai South Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou 510515, China
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging environmental pollutants. Pregnancy and infancy are sensitive windows for environmental exposure. However, few studies have investigated the presence of MPs in mother–infant pairs, or the exposure source. In this study, nine mother–infant pairs were recruited, and samples of placenta, cord blood, and meconium were collected. Information about the living environment and dietary habits were collected to determine the source of exposure during pregnancy. Micro-Raman spectroscopy was applied to identify MPs. In total, 9, 4, and 14 types of MPs were identified in the placenta, cord blood, and meconium samples, with particle counts of 34, 14, and 80, respectively. More than 80.47% of MPs detected in samples had a size of 100–400 μm. The abundance of MPs exhibited the order of meconium > placenta > cord blood (Hc = 14.959, p p = 0.048). Our study presents evidence of MPs transfer via the placenta–cord blood–meconium pathway. We also found that the habit of drinking tea among pregnant women might be related to the abundance of MPs in meconium.
