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Nanopolystyrene Translocation and Fetal Deposition After Acute Lung Exposure During Late-Stage Pregnancy
Phoebe A Stapleton
Rutgers University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3049-4868
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at Particle and Fibre Toxicology.
Background: Plastic is everywhere. It is used in food packaging, storage containers, electronics, furniture, clothing, and common single-use disposable items. Microplastic and nanoplastic particulates are formed from bulk fragmentation and disintegration of plastic pollution. Plastic particulates have recently been detected in indoor air and remote atmospheric fallout. Due to their small size, microplastic and nanoplastic particulate in the atmosphere can be inhaled and may pose a risk for human health, specifically in susceptible populations. When inhaled, nanosized particles have been shown to translocate across pulmonary cell barriers to secondary organs, including the placenta. However, the potential for maternal-to-fetal translocation of nanosized-plastic particles and the impact of nanoplastic deposition and accumulation on fetal health remain unknown. In this study we investigated whether nanopolystyrene particles can cross the placental barrier and deposit in fetal tissues after maternal pulmonary exposure.
Results: Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to 20 nm rhodamine-labeled nanopolystyrene beads (2.64 x 1014 particles) via intratracheal instillation on gestational day (GD) 19. Twenty-four hours later on GD 20, maternal and fetal tissues were evaluated using fluorescent optical imaging. Fetal tissues were fixed for particle visualization with hyperspectral microscopy. Using isolated placental perfusion, a known concentration of nanopolystyrene was injected into the uterine artery. Maternal and fetal effluents were collected for 180 minutes and assessed for polystyrene particle concentration. Twenty-four hours after maternal exposure, fetal and placental weights were significantly lower (7% and 8%, respectively) compared with controls. Nanopolystyrene particles were detected in the maternal lung, heart, and spleen. Polystyrene nanoparticles were also observed in the placenta, fetal liver, lungs, heart, kidney, and brain suggesting maternal lung-to-fetal tissue nanoparticle translocation in late stage pregnancy.
Conclusion: These studies confirm that maternal pulmonary exposure to nanopolystyrene results in the translocation of plastic particles to placental and fetal tissues and renders the fetoplacental unit vulnerable to adverse effects. These data are vital to the understanding of plastic particulate toxicology and the developmental origins of health and disease.
Keywords
nanoplastics, translocation, pregnancy, maternal, fetal, polystyrene, perfusion
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On 14 Oct, 2020
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Reviewer #2 agreed
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Received 25 Sep, 2020
Reviewers invited
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Reviewer #1 agreed
On 23 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 17 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 16 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 16 Sep, 2020
Version 1
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No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 11 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 08 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 08 Aug, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 08 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 23 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 20 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 08 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 07 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 03 Jul, 2020
First submitted
On 02 Jul, 2020
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On 02 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
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This preprint is under consideration at Particle and Fibre Toxicology. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research
Nanopolystyrene Translocation and Fetal Deposition After Acute Lung Exposure During Late-Stage Pregnancy
Phoebe A Stapleton
Rutgers University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3049-4868
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Published
On 24 Oct, 2020
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 14 Oct, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 14 Oct, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 13 Oct, 2020
Editor invited
On 13 Oct, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor Revision
On 07 Oct, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 06 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 28 Sep, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 25 Sep, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 23 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 23 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 17 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 16 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 16 Sep, 2020
Version 1
Posted 06 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 11 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 08 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 08 Aug, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 08 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 23 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 20 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 08 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 07 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 03 Jul, 2020
First submitted
On 02 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 02 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 02 Jul, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Toxicology
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at Particle and Fibre Toxicology.
Background: Plastic is everywhere. It is used in food packaging, storage containers, electronics, furniture, clothing, and common single-use disposable items. Microplastic and nanoplastic particulates are formed from bulk fragmentation and disintegration of plastic pollution. Plastic particulates have recently been detected in indoor air and remote atmospheric fallout. Due to their small size, microplastic and nanoplastic particulate in the atmosphere can be inhaled and may pose a risk for human health, specifically in susceptible populations. When inhaled, nanosized particles have been shown to translocate across pulmonary cell barriers to secondary organs, including the placenta. However, the potential for maternal-to-fetal translocation of nanosized-plastic particles and the impact of nanoplastic deposition and accumulation on fetal health remain unknown. In this study we investigated whether nanopolystyrene particles can cross the placental barrier and deposit in fetal tissues after maternal pulmonary exposure.
Results: Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to 20 nm rhodamine-labeled nanopolystyrene beads (2.64 x 1014 particles) via intratracheal instillation on gestational day (GD) 19. Twenty-four hours later on GD 20, maternal and fetal tissues were evaluated using fluorescent optical imaging. Fetal tissues were fixed for particle visualization with hyperspectral microscopy. Using isolated placental perfusion, a known concentration of nanopolystyrene was injected into the uterine artery. Maternal and fetal effluents were collected for 180 minutes and assessed for polystyrene particle concentration. Twenty-four hours after maternal exposure, fetal and placental weights were significantly lower (7% and 8%, respectively) compared with controls. Nanopolystyrene particles were detected in the maternal lung, heart, and spleen. Polystyrene nanoparticles were also observed in the placenta, fetal liver, lungs, heart, kidney, and brain suggesting maternal lung-to-fetal tissue nanoparticle translocation in late stage pregnancy.
Conclusion: These studies confirm that maternal pulmonary exposure to nanopolystyrene results in the translocation of plastic particles to placental and fetal tissues and renders the fetoplacental unit vulnerable to adverse effects. These data are vital to the understanding of plastic particulate toxicology and the developmental origins of health and disease.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4