Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Plastic waste in oceans and landfills breaks down into tiny particles called microplastics and nanoplastics, which can enter animals' bodies and disrupt hormones important for growth and reproduction. Most studies focus on adult males, leaving gaps in understanding how early-life exposure affects females or developing offspring. Our research explores how exposure to nanoplastics during pregnancy influences maternal behaviour and pup development in mice. Pregnant mice were given either normal water or water containing a low dose of polystyrene nanoplastics from early pregnancy to 10 days after birth. We then observed maternal care behaviors like nursing and grooming, along with pup growth and sex ratios. Early findings show that pups born to exposed mothers weigh less than controls, suggesting that nanoplastic exposure may alter maternal care and, in turn, offspring development.