Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) awarded the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center a Project Grant of $167,928 under the Environmental Health program (CFDA 93.113) on April 1, 2026, with a completion date of March 31, 2031. This research project investigates lipoprotein-mediated uptake and transport of nanoplastics across the placental barrier. The study addresses a significant knowledge gap regarding how micro and nanoplastics translocate into placental tissue and the role that chylomicrons—lipoprotein particles—play in facilitating this process. The research will utilize quantitative methods to examine the interactions between microplastics, placental function, and fetal development, building upon preliminary findings that full-term human placentas contain approximately 130 micrograms per gram of total plastics, primarily composed of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and nylon.

The project's primary deliverable is scientific research that will advance understanding of how chylomicron-mediated microplastic uptake compromises placental barrier function and accumulates microplastics within placental tissue. This research is designed to guide mitigation strategies for microplastic contamination and inform approaches to protect maternal and fetal health. The findings will contribute to the NIEHS mission of researching how environmental exposures affect biological systems across the lifespan and translating that knowledge into disease reduction and health promotion strategies, with particular relevance to vulnerable prenatal populations.