The field of environmental health has increasingly focused on the pervasive issue of plastic pollution and its significant impacts on human health and the environment. The World Health Assembly in May 2023 highlighted the urgent need to address the health implications of chemicals, waste, and pollution, with plastic pollution being a critical concern. Plastics, laden with chemical additives and contaminants, pose serious threats to human health, including cancer, metabolic and endocrine disruptions, and adverse reproductive, developmental, and cognitive effects. These toxic substances persist in the environment, accumulating in organisms and entering human bodies through the food chain. The adverse effects are particularly severe in children, with increased risks of prematurity, stillbirth, birth defects, neurodevelopmental impairments, and childhood cancer. Despite the recognized harmful effects of plastics, research on the specific impact of maternal plastic exposure on offspring health remains limited. Pregnant women are exposed to significant amounts of plastic substances, such as Bisphenol A, which can disrupt the endocrine system during critical developmental stages. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this issue by increasing reliance on single-use plastics, particularly in healthcare settings. There is a pressing need to further investigate the causal relationships between plastic exposure and offspring health.
This research topic aims to identify and synthesize the latest research on the impact of maternal plastic exposure on offspring health. By doing so, it seeks to guide future health policies aimed at mitigating the harmful effects of plastic exposure and improving maternal and perinatal outcomes. The research will focus on identifying new plastic-related exposures for fetuses and neonates, elucidating the mechanisms through which maternal plastic exposure affects offspring health, and exploring promising interventional strategies to minimize prenatal and perinatal plastic exposure damage.
To gather further insights into the impact of perinatal environmental plastic exposure on offspring health, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- The impact of various types of plastic exposure during prenatal and neonatal periods on the health of fetuses and neonates.
- Emerging mechanisms that explain how maternal plastic exposure can affect the health of offspring.
- Promising interventions that may help mitigate the damage caused by prenatal/perinatal plastic exposure and improve the health of the offspring.
Keywords: perinatal exposure, DOHaD, plastic pollution, chemical additives, offspring health, quality of life, mental health and neurodevelopmental outcomes, maternal health
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
