Table 1.

(A–C): First phase screening for microplastic particles in (A) human placenta, (A) meconium, (B) maternal stool, and (C) contamination controls (0.05–0.5 mm). Negative controls include screening for MPs of sample preparation instruments and storage containers without the actual tissues (placenta, meconium, maternal stool). PE = polyethylene, PP = polypropylene, PVC = polyvinylchloride, PS = polystyrene, PET = polyethylene terephthalate, PA = polyamide, PU = polyurethane, PC = polycarbonate, PMMA = polymethylmethacrylate, POM = polyoxymethylene, EPDM = ethylene-propylene-diene rubber copolymer, NBR = acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber; * limit of quantification (LOQ) = 0.48.

(A)
ID	Sample	Description	Screening for MPs	Type
A	Placenta	sampled from the peripheral regions	positive	PE, PP
B	Placenta	sampled from central regions	positive	PE, PU
C	Placenta	negative control, sampled in lab	negative	-
D	Meconium	sampled on metal	positive	PE
E	Meconium	negative control, sampled in lab	positive	PP
G	Stool	negative control for stool post partum	positive	PE, PP, PS
(B)
ID	Sample	Description	Screening for MPs	No/10 g *
F	Stool	maternal stool post partum	PE	0.96
			PP	<0.48
			PVC	<0.48
			PS	0.48
			PET	<0.48
			PA	<0.48
			PU	<0.48
			PC	<0.48
			PMMA	<0.48
			POM	<0.48
(C)
ID	Sample	Description	Screening for MPs	No/10 g
1	surgical mask	surgical mask, white, Mölnycke Health Care AB, Göteborg, Sweden	fleece plastic around wire	PP PE
2	head cover	surgical head cover, green, FarStar medical GmbH, Barsbüttel, Germany	green material white material yarn	PP PET PET
3	drape	cesarean section drape with sponge, Medline International France, Chateaubriant, France	film sponge	PE copopolymere
4	pad	3-layer cesarean pad, Medline Industries Inc., Northfield, USA	fleece green foil white filling	PP PE cellulose
5	lab sponge green	abdominal swab, green, Allmed Medical Products Co., Zhijiang City, China	negative	cellulose
6	white swab	two-layer white paper swabs from surgical operation set, Allmed Medical Products Co., Zhijiang City, China	negative	cellulose
7	soaking drape	Two-layer additional side drapes, 3M Deutschland GmbH, Neuss, Germany	Film fleece	PE PP
8	packaging	packaging of cover sheet (3), Allmed Medical Products Co., Zhijiang City, China	rough side smooth side	cellulose polysiloxane
9	gauze ball	white surgical gauze ball, Nobamed Paul Danz AG, Wettler, Germany	negative	cellulose
10	packaging	packaging of cover sheet (9), Allmed Medical Products Co., Zhijiang City, China	film	PE
11	table protection	surgical table covering, blue, Medline International France, Chateaubriant, France	film	PE
12	sterile glove	sterile surgical glove, CardinalHealth, Waukegan, USA	rubber	EPDM
13	gown	dark blue operating gown, Medline International France, Chateaubriant, France	fleece	PP
14	scrubs	blue scrub, SITEX GmbH, Minden, Germany	solid fabric	PET
15	tubing	operating suction tubing, Pennine Healthcare, Derby, UK	pipe	PET
16	non-sterile glove	non-sterile lab glove, Medical Device Safety Service GmbH, Hannover, Germany	rubber	NBR