The matter summed up: Microplastics were found in all 62 placentas that were tested in a new study. The researchers found most of the plastic type polyethylene, which is used to make, among other things, beer bags, tubes or bottles. Hanne Charlotte Schjelderup of the Midwives’ Association believes that the findings should be taken seriously and that there is cause for concern. The researchers behind the study say it shows that microplastics can affect all mammals, and that it is not good. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – There is clearly cause for concern, says Hanne Charlotte Schjelderup, who is head of the Midwives’ Association. She is familiar with several studies that show that it is microplastics that find their way into our bodies. Researchers have previously found that there are microplastics both in our blood and in breast milk. Now it turns out that the microplastics also find their way to the placentas. In a new research project, it turns out that there was microplastic in all 62 placentas that were tested, writes The Guardian. Microplastics were found in all 62 placentas. Photo: Colourbox.com From bags and bottles The researchers behind the study examined 62 placentas. They found most of the plastic type polyethylene, which is also called polyethylene. It is used to make containers, tubes or bottles, among other things. – If we see an effect on placentas, all mammalian life on this planet could be affected. It is not good, says chief researcher and professor Matthew Campen at the University of New Mexico, US, to the media house. Microplastics have previously been found in placentas, in 2020 for the first time, but then only in a study of 4 women. These are some of the findings in the study, published in the scientific journal Enviroment International: Behind polyethylene, the researchers found most of the plastic types PVC and nylon. The microplastics were mostly 0.01 millimeters in size, which also means that they are small enough to be carried around in the bloodstream. But is microplastic in the body something we just have to reckon with today, or is there actually cause for concern? Microplastics in unlikely places There is still little knowledge about how microplastics actually affect our health. Previous research shows, among other things, that microplastics can damage the cells in our body. For example, the cells may die, or the plastic may cause an allergic reaction. The researchers behind the placenta study tell The Guardian that increasing concentrations of microplastics in the body can be the cause of so-called inflammatory bowel diseases, bowel cancer and poorer sperm quality. Hanne Charlotte Schjelderup of the Midwives’ Association therefore believes that we should take the findings seriously. – Both politicians, businesses, you, me and everyone in the population must do what we can to reduce plastic that goes astray. Photo: private She explains that the microplastics are so small that they actually find their way to the most unlikely places. – In recent years, we have seen several studies that find microplastics in various parts of the human body, both in our lungs, our blood, placenta and breast milk. It also means that if, for example, you breastfeed your child, even a newborn can ingest microplastics through breast milk. But that is not a reason to stop breastfeeding, she underlines. – It is important that we breastfeed despite the fact that we have challenges with microplastics, because we get so many other good nutrients in breast milk, so it shouldn’t be something mothers worry about, says Schjelderup. Photo: The Midwives’ Association In Norway, more than 19,000 tonnes of microplastics are released from land-based sources each year, according to an analysis commissioned by the Norwegian Environment Agency in 2020. – But we as a society must take some measures in terms of how much plastic we use both to wrap up things and so on, she adds. Uncertain about the risk It has not yet been mapped how big a risk the consumption of non-degradable microplastics is for us humans. But according to Schjelderup, we know that long-term and high levels of exposure to microplastics can lead to lung disease, cancer and death. – There is reason enough for concern, so it is quite clear that we must be aware of this. She believes that as many people as possible must therefore switch to environmentally friendly products when we buy things. – Then we can do something about this challenge.
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– Clearly cause for concern – news Nordland
