Abstract：
Microplastics (MPs) pollution is a growing global concern due to its potential threat to human health, particularly concerning fetal health. Nevertheless, few studies have examined the sources of fetal MPs exposure and its impact on fetal development. In this study, MPs levels in maternal amniotic fluid (AF) and their associations with measures of fetal growth were investigated. Specifically, 40 human AF samples were collected to determine the presence and characteristics of MPs using laser direct infrared (LD-IR) spectroscopy. MPs were found in 32 out of 40 AF samples, with an average abundance of 2.01 ± 4.19 particles/g. Polyethylene (PE, 38.80 %) and chlorinated polyethylene (CPE, 26.98 %) were the most prevalent polymers. The majority of MPs (87.56 %) were 20-100 μm in size, and fragments (71.23 %) evidently prevailed in morphology. Additionally, a questionnaire was designed to explore the associations between MPs levels in the AF and maternal dietary habits, aiming at unveiling the potential sources of MPs in AF. The MPs levels in the AF were positively associated with the frequency of seafood consumption (r = 0.781, P < 0.001) and bottled water intake (r = 0.386, P = 0.014). Moreover, the associations between MPs levels in maternal AF and measures of fetal growth were evaluated. The abundance of total MPs in maternal AF were significantly negatively associated with gestational age (β = -0.44, 95 % CI, -0.83, -0.05). This study confirms the presence of MPs in human AF and provides compelling evidence linking them to gestational age, while highlighting the potential risks associated with dietary habits. These findings underscore the need for further investigation into the mechanisms of MPs transmission from mother to fetus and the potential health implications during fetal development, offering valuable insights for future policies aimed at safeguarding maternal and fetal health.
摘要：
微塑料（MPs）污染因其对人类健康的潜在威胁而日益受到全球关注。特别是关于胎儿健康。然而，很少有研究检查胎儿MPs暴露的来源及其对胎儿发育的影响。在这项研究中,研究了孕妇羊水（AF）中的MPs水平及其与胎儿生长指标的关系。具体来说,收集40个人AF样品以使用激光直接红外(LD-IR)光谱法确定MP的存在和特征。在40个AF样本中的32个中发现了MP，平均丰度为2.01±4.19颗粒/g。聚乙烯(PE,38.80%)和氯化聚乙烯(CPE，26.98％）是最普遍的聚合物。大多数MPs(87.56%)的大小为20-100μm，碎片(71.23%)在形态上明显占优势。此外,设计了一份调查问卷，以探讨AF中的MP水平与产妇饮食习惯之间的关联。旨在揭示AF议员的潜在来源。房颤患者的MPs水平与海鲜消费频率（r=0.781，P<0.001）和瓶装水摄入量（r=0.386，P=0.014）呈正相关。此外，评估了孕妇AF中MPs水平与胎儿生长指标之间的相关性.孕妇AF中总MPs的丰度与孕龄呈显著负相关(β=-0.44,95%CI,-0.83,-0.05)。这项研究证实了人类房颤中存在MPs，并提供了令人信服的证据将其与胎龄联系起来。同时强调与饮食习惯相关的潜在风险。这些发现强调需要进一步研究从母亲到胎儿的MPs传播机制以及胎儿发育过程中潜在的健康影响。为未来旨在保护孕产妇和胎儿健康的政策提供有价值的见解。
