Deeply in Plasticenta: Presence of Microplastics in the Intracellular Compartment of Human Placentas

Antonio Ragusa, Maria Matta, Loredana Cristiano (), Roberto Matassa, Ezio Battaglione, Alessandro Svelato, Caterina De Luca, Sara D’Avino, Alessandra Gulotta, Mauro Ciro Antonio Rongioletti, Piera Catalano, Criselda Santacroce, Valentina Notarstefano, Oliana Carnevali, Elisabetta Giorgini, Enrico Vizza, Giuseppe Familiari and Stefania Annarita Nottola
Additional contact information
Antonio Ragusa: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università Campus Bio Medico di Roma, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
Maria Matta: Department of Clinico-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Pavia, Via Alessandro Brambilla, 74, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Loredana Cristiano: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, Loc. Coppito, 67010 Coppito, Italy
Roberto Matassa: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University, Via A. Borelli, 50, 00161 Rome, Italy
Ezio Battaglione: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University, Via A. Borelli, 50, 00161 Rome, Italy
Alessandro Svelato: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of “San Giovanni Calibita” Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Isola Tiberina of Rome, Via di Ponte Quattro Capi, 39, 00186 Rome, Italy
Caterina De Luca: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of “San Giovanni Calibita” Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Isola Tiberina of Rome, Via di Ponte Quattro Capi, 39, 00186 Rome, Italy
Sara D’Avino: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of “San Giovanni Calibita” Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Isola Tiberina of Rome, Via di Ponte Quattro Capi, 39, 00186 Rome, Italy
Alessandra Gulotta: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of “San Giovanni Calibita” Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Isola Tiberina of Rome, Via di Ponte Quattro Capi, 39, 00186 Rome, Italy
Mauro Ciro Antonio Rongioletti: Department of Pathological Anatomy of “San Giovanni Calibita” Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Isola Tiberina of Rome, Via di Ponte Quattro Capi, 39, 00186 Rome, Italy
Piera Catalano: Department of Pathological Anatomy of “San Giovanni Calibita” Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Isola Tiberina of Rome, Via di Ponte Quattro Capi, 39, 00186 Rome, Italy
Criselda Santacroce: Department of Pathological Anatomy of “San Giovanni Calibita” Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Isola Tiberina of Rome, Via di Ponte Quattro Capi, 39, 00186 Rome, Italy
Valentina Notarstefano: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Polo Montedago Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Oliana Carnevali: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Polo Montedago Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Elisabetta Giorgini: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Polo Montedago Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Enrico Vizza: Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical Oncology, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
Giuseppe Familiari: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University, Via A. Borelli, 50, 00161 Rome, Italy
Stefania Annarita Nottola: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University, Via A. Borelli, 50, 00161 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-22

Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) are defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm. They have been found almost everywhere they have been searched for and recent discoveries have also demonstrated their presence in human placenta, blood, meconium, and breastmilk, but their location and toxicity to humans have not been reported to date. The aim of this study was twofold: 1. To locate MPs within the intra/extracellular compartment in human placenta. 2. To understand whether their presence and location are associated with possible structural changes of cell organelles. Using variable pressure scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, MPs have been localized in ten human placentas. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time the presence and localization in the cellular compartment of fragments compatible with MPs in the human placenta and we hypothesized a possible correlation between their presence and important ultrastructural alterations of some intracytoplasmic organelles (mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum). These alterations have never been reported in normal healthy term pregnancies until today. They could be the result of a prolonged attempt to remove and destroy the plastic particles inside the placental tissue. The presence of virtually indestructible particles in term human placenta could contribute to the activation of pathological traits, such as oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation, characteristic of metabolic disorders underlying obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome and partially accounting for the recent epidemic of non-communicable diseases.

Keywords: microplastics; human placenta; electron microscopy; cell organelles (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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