Do microplastics pass from mother to baby during pregnancy?

What's actually in it

Your body is exposed to a wide range of synthetic chemicals every day. These include PFAS (often called forever chemicals), PBDEs (flame retardants), and glyphosate-based herbicides. These substances are not just staying in your system. They are entering your bloodstream and, in many cases, reaching your baby.

While we are still learning about the movement of microplastics, we know that other common industrial chemicals are present in maternal serum during pregnancy. These chemicals are designed to be durable or to repel stains and water, but that same durability means they build up in your body and can pass through the placenta.

What the research says

Peer-reviewed research shows that your chemical exposure directly impacts your pregnancy and your child's long-term health. A 2026 study in Int J Hyg Environ Health found that PFAS concentrations in maternal serum are linked to changes in gestational weight gain. These chemicals are pervasive in modern life and are known to cross the placental barrier.

Other chemicals are linked to long-term developmental issues. A 2026 study in Int J Hyg Environ Health examined PBDEs in maternal serum and their connection to bone mineral density in children at 12 years of age. Furthermore, a 2026 study in Reprod Biomed Online highlights how prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals can alter reproductive hormones in adult males.

Even herbicides are a concern. A 2026 study in Environ Pollut demonstrated that exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides during pregnancy affects glucose levels in both the mother and the offspring. These findings prove that what you are exposed to during pregnancy does not stay with you alone.