Particles of air pollution first detected in the placenta of women

What effect does air pollution have on unborn babies??

Increasing pollution is having an increasing impact on people's health. Researchers have now demonstrated for the first time that the tiny carbon particles typically produced by the burning of fossil fuels are found in the placenta of women.

Scientists at Queen Mary's Blizard Institute have found in their recent research that pollution from the environment causes minute carbon particles to enter the placenta of pregnant women. The physicians published the results of their study at the International Congress of the European Respiratory Society.

It has long been known that air pollution represents a major health hazard. For the first time, particles of air pollution in the placenta of pregnant women have been detected. (Image: Ralf Geithe / fotolia.com)

How does the air pollution affect you??

Previous research had previously identified relationships between exposure of pregnant mothers to air pollution and premature births, low birth weight, infant mortality and childhood respiratory disease. The particles can be taken up by inhaling polluted air from women and then reach the placenta via the bloodstream, explain the experts.

Inhaled particles enter the blood from the lungs

"We've known for some time that air pollution affects the development of the fetus, and it can affect babies even after birth and throughout their lives," explains Dr. Miyashita of the Queen Mary's Blizard Institute in a press release. "We were interested in seeing if these effects could be due to contaminated particles moving from the mother's lungs to the placenta. So far, there was little evidence that inhaled particles from the lungs get into the blood, "says the researcher.

Five expectant mothers were closely examined

The researchers worked with five pregnant women in their investigation, all of whom lived in London and had a scheduled caesarean section at the Royal London Hospital. All of the women were non-smokers with an uncomplicated pregnancy and each gave birth to a healthy baby. The mothers gave all researchers permission to examine their placenta after birth.

What are macrophages?

The scientists were particularly interested in certain cells called placental macrophages. Macrophages exist in many different parts of the body. They are part of the body's immune system and act with harmful particles, such as bacteria and dirt particles. In the placenta they help to protect the fetus, explain the researchers.

3,500 placental macrophages were studied for the study

The team examined a total of 3,500 macrophages from the women's placenta and analyzed them under a high-performance microscope. They found 60 cells containing 72 small black areas, which the researchers suspected were carbon particles. They then examined the placental placental macrophages of two of the women using an electron microscope and found material that consisted of tiny carbon particles.

Pollutant particles have a direct influence on the fetus

"Our results provide the first evidence that inhaled pollutant particles can enter the circulation and then the placenta from the lungs," explains Dr. Liu from Queen Mary's Blizard Institute. "We do not know if the particles we found could also pass into the fetus, but our evidence suggests that this is actually possible," the expert adds. It is also known that the particles do not have to enter the body of the baby to have a negative effect. If they affect the placenta, it will already have a direct impact on the fetus, explains the doctor.

Stricter guidelines are needed

Stricter clean air guidelines are needed to reduce the impact of global health pollution on health because young adults are already suffering from health problems typical of air pollution. Liu and colleagues. (As)