Understanding Micro- and Nanoplastics and Their Role in Human Pregnancy Health

Keywords: plastics, environment, pregnancy, fetal growth, placenta

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are tiny plastic particles that result from the breakdown of larger plastic products, such as packaging, clothing fibers, or synthetic materials. Microplastics are generally smaller than 5 millimeters (smaller than a sesame seed), while nanoplastics are so small they can only be seen under a microscope. These particles have become widespread in our environment—they are found anywhere from the air we breathe, to the food and water we consume, and many of the products we use in our daily lives. 

Everyday items like single-use plastic bottles, food containers, and packaging are major sources of micro- and nanoplastics, both in their production, and after they enter the environment. Other sources include fishing gear, synthetic textiles, […]

Relationship between the consumption of ultra-processed food during pregnancy and the baby’s brain?

Studies with mice have shown that a high intake of certain components present in ultra-processed foods and drinks —such as trans fats, salt and some additives— can influence brain development during pregnancy. In addition, some scientific evidence suggests that the mother’s food decisions during gestation may offer the fetus an initial exposure to the culinary tastes of the family.

This suggests that ultra-processed products, due to their high palatability and nutritional composition, could act as a relevant stimulus for the developing brain of the fetus. But what is the association between prenatal consumption of ultra-processed foods and drinks and brain development?

To answer this question, the nutrition research group of the BiSC project has analyzed the consumption of ultra-processed foods by mothers during the second trimester of pregnancy. The results show that high consumption is associated with differential development of […]

Shifting to the world of precision medicine. What is a Polygenic Risk Score and why is it important?

In recent years, we have been hearing more and more about genetics and precision medicine. Not long ago, it seemed like a dream that one could simply take a test and learn about their predispositions to illnesses. But this is becoming a reality thanks to tests that combine socio-demographic factors (ex. age) and clinical data (ex. weight) with polygenic risk scores (PRS) — a value used to estimate a person’s genetic predisposition to certain traits or conditions.

Unlike single-gene disorders, which are relatively rare and caused by mutations in a few genes—most common health problems, such as asthma, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or pregnancy complications, are influenced by many genetic variants, each contributing a small effect. A PRS works by combining these small effects together, sometimes thousands (or even millions) of genetic markers, […]

Everyday Exposures: Understanding Non-Persistent Chemicals and Their Impact on Health

Non-persistent chemicals are a group of chemical exposures that metabolize quickly and therefore, are not stored long-term in the body. Non-persistent chemical groups include substances like phenols, phthalates, parabens, or organophosphates. These chemicals are commonly found in things like personal care products, food packaging, cleaning agents, pesticides, or fertilizers. In fact, you can probably look around your house and find many examples of these chemicals, including ‘BPA’ (bisphenol A) in canned food linings or reusable plastic containers, ‘parfum’ in scented candles or air fresheners, methylparaben in lotions or shampoos, ‘DEP’ (diethyl phthalate) in plastic shower curtains or nail polish, and chlorpyrifos on non-organic fruits or vegetables like salad greens or apples from pesticide residues. 

These chemicals are widely used because they are cost-effective, convenient, and enhance product performance. For example, phthalates make plastics flexible, parabens act as preservatives […]

PFAS and indicators of aging and cellular stress: a new study for public health

At the beginning of April, a new Erasmus student from Italy, Dr. Elisea Tomaino, joined our team to develop their TFM. A new study has therefore been initiated within the BiSC project, under the supervision of Professor Martine Vrijheid, Dr Bethany Knox and Professor of Hygiene and Epidemiology Antonella Paola Agodi and her University research group of Catania, where the student comes from.

The aim we propose is to investigate the existence of an association between the exposure of pregnant women to per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) and the length of telomeres (TL) and the number of copies of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA-CN) of placental cells.

On the one hand, PFASs are a group of man-made chemical compounds that are used in a variety of industrial and consumer products for their ability to repel water, oil, heat and stains. These […]

Do you know how our hearts work?

The structure of our heart can be compared to two “one-bedroom apartments” side by side, with four one-way “doors” connecting two “courtyards”: the pulmonary circulation and the systemic circulation. Blood from the body first enters the right atrium, moves through a “door”—the tricuspid valve—into the right ventricle, and then, propelled by the heart’s strong contractions, passes through the pulmonary valve into a small “garden”—the lungs. Here, the blood releases carbon dioxide and other metabolic wastes, absorbs oxygen, and becomes bright red. This oxygen-rich blood then flows into the left atrium, passes through the mitral valve into the left ventricle, and is finally pumped out through the aortic valve to nourish the entire body.

The period from the second to the eighth week of gestation is crucial for embryonic cardiac development, transforming from a simple heart tube into a complex structure similar to an adult heart. […]