Lesson plan; Microplastics found in every human placenta tested in study

Scientists express concern over health impacts, with another study finding particles in arteries.

Subject: Environmental Science

Learning Objectives:

• Students will define and classify microplastics.
• Students will explain how microplastics enter the environment and the human body.
• Students will analyze the potential health impacts of microplastics on human health, including developing fetuses.
• Students will propose solutions to reduce microplastic pollution

Materials

• Article on microplastics in human placentas from The Guardian
• Video on microplastics in the ocean from National Geographic. See below
• Microplastics Worksheet on microplastics in human placentas

Procedure:

• Introduction:
  • Ask students to brainstorm “What are some everyday items made of plastic?” List their responses on the board. Ask follow-up questions like, “Where does all this plastic go after we use it?” and “What happens to plastic that doesn’t get recycled?”
  • Video Clip: Show a short video clip (under 5 minutes) showcasing the issue of microplastics in the ocean.
  • Explain that microplastics can enter the human body through food, water, and air, and that they have been found in various human tissues, such as blood, breast milk, and placentas.

• Main Activity :
  1. Group Activity: Divide students into small groups. Assign each group sections of the article or specific guiding questions related to the article (e.g., sources of microplastics, potential health impacts, research limitations).
  2. Group Discussion and Summarization: Have each group discuss their assigned section or answer their questions based on the article. Encourage students to take notes and identify key points. Each group then presents their findings to the class, highlighting the main points and answering questions from their peers.
  3. Worksheet Activity: (Microplastics Worksheet) Distribute the adapted worksheet that includes various activities related to microplastics, such as:
     • Matching sources of microplastics with their potential pathways to the human body.
     • Analyzing data tables or graphs showing microplastic concentrations in different environments or human tissues.
     • Creating a short infographic summarizing the key points about microplastics in human placentas.

• Conclusion :

  1. Reflection and Discussion: Ask students to reflect on what they learned and how they feel about the issue of microplastic pollution. Discuss the potential consequences of microplastics on human health and the environment.
  2. Solution-Oriented Activity: Divide students into pairs or small groups and ask them to brainstorm and propose solutions or individual actions they can take to reduce microplastic pollution (e.g., reduce single-use plastics, support companies with sustainable practices, raise awareness among others). Encourage students to share their ideas and discuss the feasibility and potential impact of their proposed solutions.
  3. Wrap-up: Briefly summarize the key takeaways from the lesson. Thank students for their participation and encourage them to continue learning about microplastics and share their knowledge with others.

Additional sources

1. TechTimes highlighted that the study examined 62 placenta samples and found microplastics at concentrations ranging from 6.5 to 685 micrograms per gram of tissue. These microscopic particles, primarily made of polyethylene, are the most commonly produced plastic worldwide².
2. HealthNews emphasized that during the analysis, researchers found microplastics in every placenta they tested, with concentrations ranging from 6.5 to 790 micrograms per gram of tissue. The most prevalent microplastic detected was polyethylene, the type of plastic used for bags and water bottles³.

Microplastics Worksheet

Name: _______________________ Date: _______________________

Instructions: Answer the following questions and complete the activities based on the information you learned about microplastics.

Activity 1: Matching Pathways (10 points)

Match the sources of microplastics in the left column with their potential pathways to the human body in the right column. Write the corresponding letter next to each source.

The table below shows the average concentration of microplastics found in different environmental samples. Analyze the data and answer the following questions.

• Which environment has the highest concentration of microplastics?
• Based on the data, what can you infer about the potential sources of microplastics found in fish tissue?
• Briefly explain why the concentration of microplastics might be different in bottled water compared to tap water.

Activity 3: Infographic Creation (20 points)

Create a short infographic summarizing the key points about microplastics found in human placentas based on the information from the article and the class discussion. Your infographic should be visually appealing and include:

• A title related to microplastics in placentas
• Key facts about the presence of microplastics in placentas (e.g., size, types)
• Potential implications of microplastics on human health (focusing on developing fetuses, if applicable)
• (Optional) Include an image or illustration related to the topic