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American scientists found 14 times more microplastics in the feces of babies than adults
What’s going on
- A group of American scientists from the New York University School of Medicine studied stool samples from infants and adults and found that children under the age of one year have a microplastic content in the body 14 times higher. The results of the study were published in the scientific journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
- The researchers tested the concentrations of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate (PC) in the stools of six infants (stool samples were taken from used diapers) and ten adults living in New York City. In addition, as part of the study, they also examined three samples of meconium, the first feces of newborns.
- According to the materials studied, microplastics were present in all samples of children’s stools – the average concentration of PET was 36 thousand ng/g, PC – 78 ng/g. The daily exposure to PET and PC particles ingested by infants was 860 ng/kg body weight.
- As for adults, the average concentration of PET in feces was 13,8 times lower than in infants – 2,6 thousand ng / g, and the estimated average daily exposure to microplastic particles was 200 ng / kg of body weight.
- It is noted that PET and PC were found even in some meconium samples, but at a low concentration of 110 ng/g.
- Scientists suggest that microplastics are more likely to enter the body of babies through plastic bottles, as well as special floor coverings that form tiny particles that children breathe.
What does it mean
Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm. Recently, it has been found in various places, from the body of animals to soft drinks. In this regard, the world scientific community is trying to find out the possible consequences of this phenomenon.
According to a recent study by Swiss scientists, various types of plastic contain more than 10 chemicals, 2,4 of which pose a potential hazard to the human body. However, experts note that due to the lack of information, it is difficult to give a full assessment of health risks and adopt appropriate legislative regulation.
As for babies, they are currently receiving an increased concentration of microplastics – according to experts, the process of heating and shaking the liquid in plastic bottles releases millions of microplastic particles that enter the body of newborns.
“Unfortunately, in today’s realities of life, babies are exposed to many different things, and we do not know what consequences this may lead to in their later life,” co-author Kuruntachalam Kannam comments on the results of the study.