Investigating how microplastics affect pregnant individuals
Official title: Characterizing human exposure to microplastics during pregnancy
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-10785804 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tiny plastic particles, called microplastics, might affect pregnant people and their babies by checking for these particles in placental tissue and figuring out where they might come from.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $429,504 |
| NIH project number | 1R21ES035921-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10785804 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant individuals who are willing to participate in the collection of placental tissue samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those who have not recently given birth may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to understand the exposure of pregnant individuals to microplastics, which are tiny plastic particles that can enter the human body through air, food, and products. By analyzing placental tissue from pregnant people, the study will measure and characterize the presence of microplastics and explore potential sources of exposure, including lifestyle factors and contamination in delivery rooms. The research employs advanced methods previously used for environmental samples to assess human health implications. This work is crucial for evaluating how microplastics may impact maternal and child health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and management of microplastic exposure during pregnancy, potentially improving health outcomes for mothers and their children.
How similar studies have gone: While the investigation of microplastics in environmental samples is established, this specific approach to studying human exposure during pregnancy is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cowell, Whitney — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Cowell, Whitney
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.