Microplastic particles have been found in the human placenta for the first time, and (according to the researchers) is a matter of great concern. Although the health impact of microplastics in the body is to date unknown, scientists have said that these particles are capable of carrying chemicals that could lead to long-term effects or upset the fetus's developing immune system. What is even more concerning is that these particles were found in the placentas of four healthy women who had normal pregnancies and normal births, detected on both the fetal and maternal sides of the placenta and in the membrane within which the fetus develops. This means that the women involved in the study had 'cyborg babies'. Babies no longer composed only of human cells, but a mixture of biological and inorganic entities," said Antonio Ragusa, director of obstetrics and gynecology at the San Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli hospital in Rome, who led the study. The microplastics were primarily 10 microns in size (0.01mm), which means they are minute enough to be carried into the bloodstream. However, the scientists were unable to evaluate whether these particles entered the babies' bodies or not. Researchers say there is an urgent need to address the issue, particularly for infants, as people are already known to consume these tiny particles through food, water, or breathing them in.
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