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Ambient black carbon particles reach the fetal side of human placenta

Author

Listed:
  • Hannelore Bové

    (Hasselt University
    Hasselt University
    KU Leuven)

  • Eva Bongaerts

    (Hasselt University)

  • Eli Slenders

    (Hasselt University)

  • Esmée M. Bijnens

    (Hasselt University)

  • Nelly D. Saenen

    (Hasselt University)

  • Wilfried Gyselaers

    (East-Limburg Hospital)

  • Peter Van Eyken

    (East-Limburg Hospital)

  • Michelle Plusquin

    (Hasselt University)

  • Maarten B. J. Roeffaers

    (KU Leuven)

  • Marcel Ameloot

    (Hasselt University)

  • Tim S. Nawrot

    (Hasselt University
    KU Leuven)

Abstract

Particle transfer across the placenta has been suggested but to date, no direct evidence in real-life, human context exists. Here we report the presence of black carbon (BC) particles as part of combustion-derived particulate matter in human placentae using white-light generation under femtosecond pulsed illumination. BC is identified in all screened placentae, with an average (SD) particle count of 0.95 × 104 (0.66 × 104) and 2.09 × 104 (0.9 × 104) particles per mm3 for low and high exposed mothers, respectively. Furthermore, the placental BC load is positively associated with mothers’ residential BC exposure during pregnancy (0.63–2.42 µg per m3). Our finding that BC particles accumulate on the fetal side of the placenta suggests that ambient particulates could be transported towards the fetus and represents a potential mechanism explaining the detrimental health effects of pollution from early life onwards.

Suggested Citation

  • Hannelore Bové & Eva Bongaerts & Eli Slenders & Esmée M. Bijnens & Nelly D. Saenen & Wilfried Gyselaers & Peter Van Eyken & Michelle Plusquin & Maarten B. J. Roeffaers & Marcel Ameloot & Tim S. Nawrot, 2019. "Ambient black carbon particles reach the fetal side of human placenta," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-11654-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11654-3
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    Cited by:

    1. He-Ming Dong & Qian Du & Dun Li & Zhao-Yang Cui & Jian-Min Gao & Shao-Hua Wu, 2019. "Impacts of Organic Structures and Inherent Minerals of Coal on Soot Formation during Pyrolysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Fukushima, Nanna, 2021. "The UK Clean Air Act, Black Smoke, and Infant Mortality," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 587, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    3. Jonathan Colmer & John Voorheis, 2020. "The Grandkids Aren't Alright: The Intergenerational Effects of Prenatal Pollution Exposure," Working Papers 20-36, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    4. Alessandro Palma & Inna Petrunyk & Daniela Vuri, 2022. "Prenatal air pollution exposure and neonatal health," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(5), pages 729-759, May.
    5. Huang, Jialin & Xing, Jianwei & Yongchen Zou, Eric, 2023. "(Re)scheduling pollution exposure: The case of surgery schedules," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    6. Li, Xing & Hu, Zhigao & Cao, Jianhua & Xu, Xing, 2022. "The impact of environmental accountability on air pollution: A public attention perspective," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    7. Árpád Stump & Bálint Herczeg & Ágnes Szabó-Morvai, 2023. "The Effect of Air Pollution on Fertility Outcomes in Europe," CERS-IE WORKING PAPERS 2310, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.

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