Researchers have looked at the stools of babies and found ten times more microplastics than in adults. The results of this study, which is concerned about the endocrine system of babies, have been published in the journal ACS Publications, Environmental, Science and Technology Letters.
The problem with microplastics is that they aren’t just present in what babies (and other mammals) bodies reject, namely stool. They also manage to enter organs during digestion, via a mechanism called intestinal translocation. Their presence interferes with the functioning of the hormonal system. We call them endocrine disruptors.
Micro plastics are everywhere around babies
Scientists at the American Chelical Society studied the stools of three infants, six one-year-old babies, and 10 adults. They were interested in two types of endocrine disruptors: PET, or polyethylene terephthalate and polycarbonate. They carried out readings at the level of the stools and were able to observe strong deviations. In adults, PET averaged 5800, polycarbonate 200. In the young children studied, PET rose to 83,000 and polycarbonate to 860.
The study specifies, however, that newborns have less concentration of these disruptors, but still have some in their organism… They would therefore be born with microplastics, transmitted by the organism of the parent. However, in babies (but not only), there are multiple sources of exposure: diapers, bottle, pacifier, etc.They are also found more extensively in plastic bags, various packaging. They are normally mentioned.
If this study is a first observation, it requires going further to understand their effect on the development and health of babies. We already know that these substances have effects on children who have precocious puberty, for example. The results of this study at least encourage reducing children’s exposure to toys and other plastic dishes containing these two types of endocrine disruptors.
Source: Occurrence of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Polycarbonate Microplastics in Infant and Adult Feces, September 22, 2021.
Environmental Science and Technology letters
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