New research has shown that infants ingest at least 10 times more microplastics in their diet than adults. Scientists say babies are more likely to be exposed to plastic ingested from food, toys and the environment.
In infants, the level of microplastics in the body is almost 15 times higher than in adults, a new study has come to this conclusion. According to the Independent, microplastics are less than 5mm in size and often end up in the environment and people’s homes, breaking loose from larger plastic objects or materials.
The researchers used mass spectrometry to measure the concentrations of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PC (polycarbonate) in fecal samples from six infants and 10 adults, as well as three stool samples from newborns, in a study by the New York University School of Medicine.
Microplastic fibers were found in all samples. Polycarbonate levels were about the same in adults and infants, but PET levels were about 14 times higher in infants.
The researchers speculate that babies’ higher levels of PET may be the result of exposure to foods such as pacifiers and crawling on carpets that contain chemicals.
The study’s lead author, Professor Kuruntachalam Kannan, insists that baby products should be made from safe materials other than plastic to reduce children’s exposure to microplastics.
He also said: “Although the average levels of microplastic polycarbonate in feces were the same between adults and infants, children’s stools contained, on average, more than 10 times higher PET concentrations than adults. The high concentration of microplastics in the feces of one year old infants may be associated with the widespread use of plastic products / objects at this stage of growth, such as baby feeding bottles, drinkers, utensils such as spoons and bowls, plastic teethers and toys. It is known that one year old babies often ingest plastic products and clothing. In addition, research has shown that bottled infant formula can release millions of microplastics, and many processed baby products are packaged in plastic containers, which represent another source of exposure for 1 year olds. ”
“In addition,” the researcher says, “textiles are the source of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics. Babies often chew and suck on rags, and therefore exposure to microplastics in textiles in this age group is of greater concern. Polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene carpets can be another source of microplastic exposure, as babies often crawl on carpets. ”
Prof Kannan said more research is needed because the study, with only 19 samples, was very small. The research article was published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters of the American Chemical Society.
In August 2020, the media reported that for the first time particles of microplastics and nanoplastics were found in human organs by American scientists. The researchers found tiny plastic particles in the samples they examined of the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys. This creepy find is associated with the fact that microplastic pollution has affected the entire planet. Microplastic particles can contain toxic chemicals and harmful microbes. Microplastics and nanoplastics (these particles are less than 0.001 mm in diameter) are formed mainly as a result of abrasion of large pieces of plastic that are thrown into the environment. Research in wildlife and laboratory animals has linked exposure to tiny plastic particles to infertility, inflammation, and cancer.
The scientists obtained organ samples from a tissue bank created to study neurodegenerative diseases. Tissue bank donors have provided information about their lifestyle, diet, and activities, so this may provide clues to help future work identify the main ways in which microplastics will affect people.
The researchers’ analytical method allowed them to identify dozens of types of plastic, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) used in plastic bottles and polyethylene used in plastic bags. The researchers also found the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in all 47 human organ samples.
“We don’t want to be alarmists at all, but we are concerned that these non-biodegradable materials, present everywhere, can penetrate human tissues and accumulate there, and we do not know the possible health consequences,” said Varun Kelkar, who participated in the study last year, from Arizona State University (USA). “Once we have a better understanding of what is in tissues, we can conduct epidemiological studies to assess human health indicators. This way we can begin to understand the potential health risks, if any. ”
Previous studies have shown that humans absorb and breathe in at least 50,000 microplastics particles per year.
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