Can micro- and nanoplastics transfer from a mother's body to her unborn baby?

What's actually in it

Pregnant women accumulate microplastics and nanoplastics from food packaging, drinking water, air, and personal care products. These particles circulate in the bloodstream and reach the placenta, the organ that connects mother and baby. The placenta is designed to filter out harmful substances, but plastic particles are small enough to slip through.

Nanoplastics, the smallest particles at less than 1 micrometer, are the most concerning because they can cross biological barriers that stop larger particles.

What the research says

A 2026 study in J Hazard Mater used fluorescently labeled plastic particles in a rat model to visualize the transfer of micro- and nanoplastics from mother to fetus. The imaging showed particles crossing the placental barrier and accumulating in fetal tissues including the liver, lungs, and brain.

Nanoplastics crossed more easily than larger microplastics. Once in the fetus, they concentrated in organs with high blood flow. The fetal brain showed accumulation, raising concerns about neurodevelopmental effects during the most sensitive period of brain formation.

The study provided the first clear visual evidence of maternal-to-fetal plastic transfer. Reducing plastic food and water contact during pregnancy lowers the number of particles circulating in your blood and available to cross to your baby.