Babies ingest at least 10 times more microplastics than adults, study finds

Infants have higher exposure to plastics from their food, toys, and environment, researchers say

Nineteen samples of faeces were examined for microplastics, including those of newborn babies (Getty/iStock)

Babies have almost 15 times the level of microplastics in their bodies than found in adults, a new study suggests.

Microplastics are less than 5mm in size and are often released into the environment and people’s homes from having broken off from a larger body of plastic objects or materials.

Researchers used mass spectrometry to measure the concentrations of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PC (polycarbonate) in faeces samples from six infants and 10 adults, as well as three samples of newborn babies’ first stools – in the study by the New York University School of Medicine.

In all samples, microplastic fibres were found. PC levels were about the same in adults and babies but the PET levels were about 14 times higher in babies.

Researchers believe that higher levels of PET in babies could be the result of babies’ exposure to products like dummies, and crawling on carpets that contain the chemicals.

Lead author Professor Kurunthachalam Kannan said that children’s products should be made from safe materials other than plastic to reduce children’s exposure to microplastics.

He also said: “Although average levels of faecal PC microplastics were similar between adults and infants, infant stool contained, on average, more than 10 times higher PET concentrations than that of adults.

“High concentrations of microplastics in the faeces of one-year-old infants can be attributed to extensive use of plastic products/articles such as baby feeding bottles, sippy cups, utensils such as spoons and bowls, plastic teethers, and toys, among others, during that growth stage.

“One-year-old infants are known to frequently mouth plastic products and clothing.

“In addition, studies have shown that infant formula prepared in bottles can release millions of microplastics and many processed baby foods are packaged in plastic containers that constitute another source of exposure in one-year-old infants.

“Furthermore, textiles are a source of PET MPs (microplastics). Infants often chew and suck cloths, and therefore, exposure of this age group to MPs present in textiles is a greater concern.

“Carpets made of PET and PP (polypropylene) can be another source of MP exposure, as infants crawl on the carpeted surfaces frequently.”

Prof Kannan said that more research needs to be carried out as the study – involving just 19 samples – was very small.

The research is published in the American Chemical Society’s journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters.