while the perils of plastic pollution in our oceans and landfills are well-known, obstetricians have recently discovered a startling new development—the first evidence of microplastics have been found in human placentas.

the destructive nature of microplastics is no longer confined to ecological consequences; it permeates human health too.

the effects of plastic consumption remain poorly understood, as research is still in its infancy. however, early literature suggests several reasons for concern.  

synthetic microfibers, such as those from clothing, make up 14% of all global plastic production, according to a global study conducted in 2020. these fibers are especially harmful given the ease at which they break into smaller pieces—fragments so small, that they can be inhaled. the study suggests that inhalation of microfibers can cause localized toxicity in the body—thereby inducing or enhancing an immune response. chronic exposure to these fibers are anticipated to have the worst effects, given that the accumulation of chemicals such as bpa in the body have been shown to depress the immune system, trigger cancerous growths, prompt neurotoxicity, and disrupt the microbiome in the gut.

another emerging area of research on microplastics concerns the gut microbiome. the gut microbiome refers to all the microorganisms that live in the gastrointestinal tract; it’s essential for the function of mammals.

preliminary findings show that when microplastics interact with gastrointestinal microorganisms, it can increase the phagocytic activity of immune cells, impacting metabolism, immune function, and behavior.

worse still, nano plastics, the smallest of plastic particles, are small enough to pass through intestinal barriers, just like placental barriers. last year a study on nano plastics demonstrated they can cross the blood-brain barrier, causing brain damage in fish. 

the uncontained spread of plastics in our environment leaves everyone vulnerable. microplastics are now entering the terrestrial food web at alarming rates. particles in soil can be ingested at multiple stages of the food chain. scientists recently observed nano plastic transfer from soil to chickens via earthworms, raising concerns for human consumption. 

the microscopic size of these pollutants allows them to travel enormous distances. in a single day, some particles can travel up to 95km (59 miles). plastic will soon be on every inch of our planet; in fact, some were just found on the glaciers of the tibetan plateau.

even in remote locations, levels of microplastics are plentiful. in the french pyrenees mountains, microplastic fragments, fibers, and films were found at relatively high levels, despite the area being sparsely populated, and far from any industrial, commercial, or large agricultural activities.

in confronting the pervasive and universal threat of microplastics, our collective responsibility becomes increasingly evident. plastic is no longer just a marine issue; it has become a global challenge.

as we navigate the delicate implications of curbing plastic production, the role of the private sector will be a pivotal force in shaping the collective response. the symbiotic relationship between plastic production and cheap fossil fuel feedstock demands international intervention and a recalibration of industrial practices. 

as individuals, we can wield collective power by pressuring our policymakers to enforce industry change. today, sadly, industry change is the most effective way forward. because it doesn’t matter how many times i remember my reusable bags if the producers aren’t incentivized to ditch the plastic wrap covering every item i buy. 

as new research continues to demonstrate the detriments of plastics, it is only a matter of time before the evidence overwhelms policymakers to take action. 

navigating the anthropocene epoch is no easy task. perhaps plastics in our placentas will be just enough to move the needle this time around.

—

cate twining-ward is a senior correspondent at planet forward, a grand-prize winner of storyfest 2020, and a student at the george washington university.

it’s a scene worthy of the modern reboot of “fantastic voyage.” a tiny rocket-shaped projectile breaches the border of a cell wall and begins to work, like an egg beater, to whip up the cell’s innards, or puncture its membranous wall with a battering-ram motion.

although a scene like this might take place in james cameron’s modern retake on the 1966 film classic (if it ever comes out), it’s something scientists at penn state university and weinberg medical physics in maryland have already witnessed.

in their work, which will appear in the journal angewandte chemie international edition, the researchers developed microscopic metallic motors known as nanomotors and then injected them into living human cells, marking what they say is the first time such an experiment had ever been done.

“our first-generation motors required toxic fuels and they would not move in biological fluid, so we couldn’t study them in human cells,” said researcher tom mallouk, evan pugh professor of materials chemistry and physics at penn state. “that limitation was a serious problem.”

the scientists overcame that problem when they discovered that the nanomotors could be powered by ultrasonic waves, which make them spin. because they didn’t need to use the toxic fuel anymore, the way was cleared for use in living cells.

the nanomotors measure 3,000 nanometers wide, which means about 33 of them could be stacked end-to-end along the width of a human hair. in addition to using sonic frequencies to spin them, the researchers employed magnetic fields to steer them around inside the cells. they also discovered that different motors could be controlled independently of the others, making them able to do very precise work.

“autonomous motion might help nanomotors selectively destroy the cells that engulf them,” mallouk said in a statement. “if you want these motors to seek out and destroy cancer cells, for example, it’s better to have them move independently. you don’t want a whole mass of them going in one direction.”

doing battle with cancerous cells is just one potential application of the research. according to mallouk, “nanomotors could perform intracellular surgery and deliver drugs non-invasively to living tissues.”

mallouk adds that a future goal in a “fantastic voyage”-like world would be to have the nanomotors link up in a network and create an environment “where nanomotors would cruise around inside the body, communicating with each other and performing various kinds of diagnoses and therapy.” he adds, “there are lots of applications for controlling particles on this small scale, and understanding how it works is what’s driving us.”

many alternative fuels that may help slow down global warming suffer from technical barriers. hydrogen and methane gas (also called ‘natural gas’) are both more environmentally friendly than gasoline, but contain very little energy per unit of volume. this video shows how self-assembled porous materials can lead to fuel tanks that are able to highly concentrate gaseous fuels and thus hold a lot of energy in a small space. cutting edge algorithms and materials are depicted, drawing from research and development in the previous two years at northwestern university in the snurr and hupp laboratories. commercialization of this technology is being carried out by a new startup company: numat technologies.