Morpheus

From Science Friday

Do microplastics in the body affect pregnancy?

Published
August 21, 2026
Length
12:34

Audio is streamed from the publisher.

Show notes

Microplastics have been documented throughout the human body, including the reproductive system. But the field of microplastics research is very new, and it’s not yet clear if, or how, these tiny particles affect our health. Producer Kathleen Davis has been reporting on the handful of scientists trying to uncover what microplastics mean for pregnancy and fetal development. She joins Host Flora Lichtman to debrief what she’s learned. [https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/microplastics-affect-pregnancy-fetal-development/?utm\_source=wnyc&utm\_medium=podcast&utm\_campaign=scifri"]( Read the full story here. _This story was produced with the assistance of the Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS) Health Journalism Fellowship, supported by The Commonwealth Fund._ Guests: Kathleen Davis is an audio producer for Science Friday based in New York. Dr. Phoebe Stapleton is a toxicologist and microplastics researcher at Rutgers University in New Jersey. _Transcript will be available after the show airs on_ [https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/microplastics-affect-pregnancy-fetal-development/?utm\_source=wnyc&utm\_medium=podcast&utm\_campaign=scifri"]( _sciencefriday.com._ [https://pod.link/73329284"]( _Subscribe to this podcast._ _Follow our show on_ [https://www.instagram.com/scifri/"]( _Instagram_ _,_ [https://www.tiktok.com/@scifri"]( _TikTok_ _,_ [https://www.facebook.com/scifri"]( _Facebook_ _, and_ [https://bsky.app/profile/scifri.bsky.social"]( _Bluesky_ _@scifri and_ [https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm\_source=wnyc&utm\_medium=podcast&utm\_campaign=scifri"]( _sign up for our newsletters_ _. Got a science question that’s keeping you up at night? Call us:_ [_877-472-4374_](tel:+18774724374) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See [pcm.adswizz.com]( https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.