Microplastic particles inhaled by pregnant rats can accumulate in the tissues of their offspring, revealing a potential pathway for generational plastic contamination.
Airborne microplastic particles may be doing more than just floating in the air—they could be making their way into future generations. A recent study found that micro- and nanoplastic particles can accumulate in the tissues of offspring after mothers inhale them during pregnancy.
Researchers assigned pregnant rats to one of two groups. They exposed one group to airborne polyamide-12 micro- and nanoplastics for about four hours on ten days during pregnancy—roughly equivalent to 120 minutes per day during a human pregnancy—while the other group received no exposure and served as a control group. Polyamide-12 is used in clothing, other textiles, kitchen items, carpets, and automotive products. After the pups were born, the researchers collected tissue samples from the two-week-old pups' lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, and brain to see if the particles persisted.
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They found that the micro- and nanoplastic particles were present in the tissues of all the pups whose mothers had inhaled them but found no particles in the control group. These findings confirm that the particles can migrate from the respiratory system, pass through the placenta, and remain in the tissues of the young even after birth.
These findings suggest that exposure to micro- and nanoplastics during pregnancy can promote their accumulation in offspring, raising concerns about their long-term effects on health. Microplastic particles are smaller than 5 millimeters, while nanoplastics are even tinier—less than 1 micrometer in size. These particles often form when larger plastic items break down due to physical wear, heat, or exposure to sunlight. Micro- and nanoplastic particles are ubiquitous environmental pollutants found in air, water, soil, and food. Learn more about microplastics in our overview article.