Ambient black carbon particles reach the fetal side of human placenta

Hannelore Bové, Eva Bongaerts, Eli Slenders, Esmée M. Bijnens, Nelly D. Saenen, Wilfried Gyselaers, Peter Van Eyken, Michelle Plusquin, Maarten B. J. Roeffaers, Marcel Ameloot and Tim S. Nawrot ()
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Hannelore Bové: Hasselt University
Eva Bongaerts: Hasselt University
Eli Slenders: Hasselt University
Esmée M. Bijnens: Hasselt University
Nelly D. Saenen: Hasselt University
Wilfried Gyselaers: East-Limburg Hospital
Peter Van Eyken: East-Limburg Hospital
Michelle Plusquin: Hasselt University
Maarten B. J. Roeffaers: KU Leuven
Marcel Ameloot: Hasselt University
Tim S. Nawrot: Hasselt University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Particle transfer across the placenta has been suggested but to date, no direct evidence in real-life, human context exists. Here we report the presence of black carbon (BC) particles as part of combustion-derived particulate matter in human placentae using white-light generation under femtosecond pulsed illumination. BC is identified in all screened placentae, with an average (SD) particle count of 0.95 × 104 (0.66 × 104) and 2.09 × 104 (0.9 × 104) particles per mm3 for low and high exposed mothers, respectively. Furthermore, the placental BC load is positively associated with mothers’ residential BC exposure during pregnancy (0.63–2.42 µg per m3). Our finding that BC particles accumulate on the fetal side of the placenta suggests that ambient particulates could be transported towards the fetus and represents a potential mechanism explaining the detrimental health effects of pollution from early life onwards.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11654-3

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