Project partners reunite in Prague for third in-person meeting; work packages share updates on research progress and current challenges; celebrate milestones in passing the project’s half-way mark; outline research efforts for coming year
Author archives: Justin Boucher
Studies review human exposures and effects of micro- and nanoplastics
Three studies investigate micro- and nanoplastics – source, organ deposition, and reproductive effects; detect up to 240,000 plastic particles/L in bottled water with 90% being nanoplastics; find microplastics in human lung, intestine, and kidney tissues; polyethylene particles found to affect placental function in mice
Review summarizes current picture of ‘human-centric’ micro- and nanoplastics research
Scientists review and briefly summarize available scientific literature on each step of microplastic exposure from source to effect in humans; includes sections on sources of microplastics, exposure routes, levels, deposition in the body, and confirmed health effects; highlight current shortcomings
AURORA study reviews available human placenta models
Scientists analyze available models that can be used to understand the transport and toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics in the placenta during fetal development; identify key knowledge gaps and recommend approaches for adapting methods; emphasize need to expand testing to longer-term exposures and additional polymer types
AURORA scientists review techniques to study nanoplastics
Published review assesses analytical challenges posed by detecting and characterizing nanoplastics (NPs); small size and chemical similarity to sample matrices being studied renders existing methods very challenging; authors recommend future studies should use both particle imaging and correlative or direct chemical characterization
Study examines uptake, transport, and toxicity of MNPs in placenta cells
Scientists examine toxicokinetics and toxicity of pristine and weather micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) particles using in vitro cell model of human cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts using nondifferentiated and differentiated BeWo b30 choriocarcinoma cells; find all particles up to 10 μm taken up by cells, pristine particles more chemically complex
AURORA insights – A research exchange in New York
AURORA researcher Laura Zoutendijk from Utrecht University writes about her recent time spent working with fellow AURORA project partners at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City
Scientific studies evaluate microplastic effects on human cells
Rapid review assesses microplastics impacts on human cells and reports thresholds of effects lower than previously predicted; scientific study finds polystyrene (PS) microplastics to have nephrotoxic potential; reproduction and fertility study with mice reports PS microplastics to affect females more than males
Horizon magazine introduces the CUSP Cluster
European Commission’s research and innovation magazine features the CUSP Cluster and its five member projects; discusses the current lack of information on micro- and nanoplastics and health; introduces how CUSP projects are working together to generate data, inform policymaking
Microplastics induce reproductive toxicity in pregnant mice
Research study finds polystyrene microplastics exposure of pregnant mice leads to fetal losses by immune disturbance; book chapter estimates human chemical exposure via seafood contaminated with microplastics
