Can microplastics in the placenta affect your baby's birth size?

What's actually in it

Microplastics from food containers, water bottles, and household dust cross from a mother's blood into the placenta. Researchers have found these particles embedded in placental tissue, where they can interfere with how the placenta delivers nutrients and oxygen to the baby.

The placenta grows new blood vessels throughout pregnancy to keep up with the baby's increasing needs. Microplastic particles can disrupt this process.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Ecotoxicol Environ Saf examined placentas after delivery and counted the microplastic particles inside them. They then compared the contamination levels to the babies' birth measurements.

Placentas with higher microplastic counts were associated with babies who had lower birth weight, shorter birth length, and smaller head circumference. The more particles, the smaller the baby tended to be.

The particles found were mostly polyethylene and polypropylene, the same plastics used in food packaging and water bottles. They ranged in size from barely visible to microscopic.

These findings suggest that reducing plastic exposure during pregnancy could help babies reach their full growth potential. Glass and stainless steel containers for food and water are simple swaps that lower your microplastic intake.