The scale of micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) pollution is becoming increasingly clear yet little is known about how this pollution impacts health. We are developing an actionable European roadmap for early-life health risk assessment of MNPs.
South Korean study assesses link between microplastics in blood and plastic container use as well as blood coagulation disruptions; finds mostly polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene microplastics in blood; links higher microplastic levels to use of plastic containers, impaired blood clotting and increased inflammation, suggesting potential cardiovascular risks
Scientists detect microplastics in maternal blood, fetal appendages, and umbilical vein blood; find no association between particle levels measured in different tissues; polystyrene microplastics induce time-dependent cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and metabolic alterations in placental explants; reviews discuss microplastic association with different diseases
Study analyzes children’s plastic toys from the EU market for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs); find 11 out of 84 toys have elevated bromine content; finds PBDEs in all 11 samples, many of which exceed regulatory limits
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under AURORA grant agreement No 964827.