Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40736112›Full record

Observational studyAnais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias2025

First evidence of microplastic accumulation in placentas and umbilical cords from pregnancies in Brazil.

Camila Wanderley L Oliveira, Lais F A M Oliveira, Jacob Garcia, Rodrigo B Weingrill, Johann Urschitz, Samuel T Souza, Eduardo Jorge S Fonseca, Stephanie Ospina-Prieto, Alexandre U Borbely

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Camila Wanderley L OliveiraFederal University of Alagoas, Cell Biology Laboratory, Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Campus A.C. Simões. Av. Lourival Melo Mota, 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9223-7344
Lais F A M OliveiraFederal University of Alagoas, Group of Optics and Nanoscopy, Physics Institute, Campus A.C. Simões. Av. Lourival Melo Mota, 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4915-1750
Jacob GarciaUniversity of Hawai'i at Manoa, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, 1319 Punahou Street, 96826 Honolulu, HI, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8563-0970
Rodrigo B WeingrillUniversity of Hawai'i at Manoa, Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, 651 Ilalo Street, BSB 110A, 96813 Honolulu, HI, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3699-4388
Johann UrschitzUniversity of Hawai'i at Manoa, Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, 651 Ilalo Street, BSB 110A, 96813 Honolulu, HI, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8894-5716
Samuel T SouzaFederal University of Alagoas, Group of Optics and Nanoscopy, Physics Institute, Campus A.C. Simões. Av. Lourival Melo Mota, 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0151-118X
Eduardo Jorge S FonsecaFederal University of Alagoas, Group of Optics and Nanoscopy, Physics Institute, Campus A.C. Simões. Av. Lourival Melo Mota, 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5975-2467
Stephanie Ospina-PrietoFederal University of Alagoas, Cell Biology Laboratory, Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Campus A.C. Simões. Av. Lourival Melo Mota, 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1744-6354
Alexandre U BorbelyFederal University of Alagoas, Cell Biology Laboratory, Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Campus A.C. Simões. Av. Lourival Melo Mota, 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6737-0901

Funding

Translational Pilot Project ProgramP30GM131944 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA · PI WARD, WILLIAM S · 2019 to 2023
$5.9M
NIGMS NIH HHS P30 GM131944
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) production and degradation are becoming a global concern. They accumulate across diverse environments, animals, and human tissues, closely linking to emerging environmental health impacts. In the Brazilian population, no evidence yet of accumulation in pregnant women's placenta or umbilical cord. In this pilot cross-sectional, observational study, we analyzed the presence, size, and composition of MPs isolated from placentas (n=10) and umbilical cords (n=10) from Maceio pregnant women. Under a plastic-controlled protocol, samples were digested with 10% KOH solution, glass-filtered, and retained particles were then analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. A total of 229 MPs were identified across all samples, including 110 in placental tissues and 119 in umbilical cord tissues. The predominant polymers were polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA), polyurethane (PU), and polypropylene (PP). Our results demonstrated for the first time the accumulation of MPs in the placentas and umbilical cords of Brazilian pregnant women. This accumulation suggests that pregnant women in Maceio, Brazil, are likely experiencing microplastic (MP) exposure similar to global trends, emphasizing the importance of studying the mechanisms that facilitate the transport of MPs and related chemicals across the placental barrier.

Indexed as

MicroplasticsPlacentaUmbilical CordAdultBrazilCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansPilot ProjectsPregnancySpectrum Analysis, RamanYoung AdultMicroplastics

Identifiers

PMID40736112
PMCPMC12469211

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.