Grant: Project Grant

Plastic pollution is a growing concern for our health, with tiny particles called microplastics being found everywhere, even in the human placenta. This raises big questions about how they might affect pregnancy and the health of babies. This research project aims to find out if exposure to microplastics during pregnancy can harm the placenta and affect the health of both mothers and babies. In the first part of the study, placentas will be collected from > 400 pregnant people to see if there's a link between microplastic levels in the placenta and problems like high blood pressure during pregnancy or babies being born too small. Next, placenta cells will be grown in the lab, to test how microplastics might affect the health and function of these cells directly. We will specifically look at whether microplastics affect cell growth, movement, and hormone production. Finally, pregnant mice exposed to microplastics will be studied, to see if it affects their blood pressure, the size of their babies, and the health of their organs. This study will not only look at whether microplastics can build up in the placenta and whether this has a negative effect on the mother and baby, but also how the microplastics might be causing the damage to the placenta in the first place. Understanding how microplastics impact pregnancy is crucial for keeping both mothers and babies healthy. This research will help us figure out ways to protect pregnant people and their babies from the harmful effects of plastic pollution.