Carbon nanoparticles in PM2.5 can lead to miscarriage: study

A research team at Lanzhou University has found that carbon nanoparticles can pass through the placental barrier, causing damage to an unborn baby and leading to miscarriage, according to China Science Daily.

The research result has been published in Scientific Reports.

Dr Qi Wei, main author of the report, said tests on pregnant laboratory rats have proved that carbon nanoparticles can cross the placental barrier and invade the fetus' body, causing estradiol secretion to increase, and hormone secretion and blood vessels to decrease, which will delay the fetus' development, and lead to stillbirth and miscarriage.

Professor Wu Wangsuo, corresponding author of the report, said research results have proved that carbon nanoparticles cause damage to the fetus.

The research has directly verified that particulate pollutants, PM2.5 included, can cause harm to pregnant people, Wu said, and warned those exposed to severe particle contamination.

The paper also suggested treatments for pregnancy-related disease caused by pollutants, Wu added.