Detection of various microplastics in placentas, meconium, infant feces, breastmilk and infant formula: a pilot prospective study
Liu S, Guo J, Liu X, Yang R, Wang H, Sun Y, Chen B, Dong R (2023). Science of the Total Environment.
What they found
Laser infrared imaging found 16 types of microplastics across placentas, meconium (a newborn's first stool), infant stool at 6 months, breast milk and formula; polyamide and polyurethane dominated and over 74% were 20–50 µm. Questionnaires pointed to water, scrubs/toothpaste, feeding bottles and plastic toys as possible sources.
- Sample
- 18 mother-infant pairs
- What it can't tell you
- Pilot of 18 pairs. Source links come from questionnaires, not measurement. Detection of particles in meconium suggests prenatal exposure but contamination during collection cannot be fully excluded.
- Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (per Europe PMC)
- Topics
- In the body, Baby and kids
- Checked against
- Abstract (Europe PMC, PMID 36108868)