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Halfar J, Čabanová K, Vávra K, Delongová P, Motyka O, Špaček R, Kukutschová J, Šimetka O, Heviánková S. Microplastics and additives in patients with preterm birth: The first evidence of their presence in both human amniotic fluid and placenta. Chemosphere 2023; 343:140301. [PMID: 37769922 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Considering the well documented, almost ubiquitous nature of microplastics in different environments, the exposure of pregnant women to microplastics may pose risks to the unborn children. The study focused on investigating the presence of microplastics in amniotic fluid and placenta, and brings the first evidence of the simultaneous presence of microplastics and additives in both human amniotic fluid and placentas. In total, 20 samples of amniotic fluid and placenta from 10 patients were analyzed for the presence of microplastics and plastic additives by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy - attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) after alkaline digestion with KOH. In 9 out of 10 patients, microplastics or additives were found in amniotic fluid, placenta, or both. Specifically, 44 particles of microplastics and polymer additives were identified in all samples. Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE) and Calcium zinc PVC Stabilizer with particle sizes between 10 and 50 μm prevailed. Although all women involved in this study, who provided placenta and amniotic fluid samples, experienced physiological, singleton pregnancies complicated with preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM), it is too early to draw any conclusions and more research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Halfar
- Faculty of Mining and Geology, VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, 17. Listopadu 2172/15, Ostrava, Poruba, 708 33, Czech Republic.
| | - Kristina Čabanová
- Faculty of Mining and Geology, VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, 17. Listopadu 2172/15, Ostrava, Poruba, 708 33, Czech Republic; Centre for Advanced Innovation Technologies, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, 17. Listopadu 2172/15, Ostrava, Poruba, 708 00, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Vávra
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Ostrava, 17. Listopadu 1790/5, 70852, Ostrava, Poruba, Czech Republic; Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Syllabova 19, 703 00, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Patricie Delongová
- Institute of Pathology and Molecular Genetics, University Hospital of Ostrava, 17. Listopadu 1790/5, 70852, Ostrava, Poruba, Czech Republic; Institute of Molecular and Clinical Pathology and Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Syllabova 19, 703 00, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Oldřich Motyka
- Faculty of Mining and Geology, VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, 17. Listopadu 2172/15, Ostrava, Poruba, 708 33, Czech Republic; Nanotechnology Centre, CEET, VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, 17. Listopadu 2172/15, Ostrava, Poruba, 708 00, Czech Republic
| | - Richard Špaček
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Ostrava, 17. Listopadu 1790/5, 70852, Ostrava, Poruba, Czech Republic; Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Syllabova 19, 703 00, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Kukutschová
- Centre for Advanced Innovation Technologies, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, 17. Listopadu 2172/15, Ostrava, Poruba, 708 00, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Šimetka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Ostrava, 17. Listopadu 1790/5, 70852, Ostrava, Poruba, Czech Republic; Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Syllabova 19, 703 00, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Silvie Heviánková
- Faculty of Mining and Geology, VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, 17. Listopadu 2172/15, Ostrava, Poruba, 708 33, Czech Republic
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