Scientists found microplastics in human breast milk for the first time

• Image Credit: Google

• Oct 11, 2022 | Dhupali Das

Microplastics are, as their name suggests, are tiny plastic particles that are smaller than the typical pearl used in...

Digital Desk: For the first time, microplastics have been found in breast milk, raising concerns about potential health risks for infants. 

Microplastics are, as their name suggests, are tiny plastic particles that are smaller than the typical pearl used in jewellery and have a diameter of fewer than five millimeters (0.2 inches).

They contaminate ecosystems by infiltrating them through a range of sources, including cosmetics, apparel, food packaging, and industrial operations.

Despite being identified in 2004, microplastics have spread throughout the world, including deep oceans, Arctic snow and Antarctic ice, seafood, table salt, and drinking water. It may take decades or more for these small bits to completely degrade.

However, the scientists were shocked when they found these tiny particles in breast milk.

The Guardian reports that microplastics were discovered in the breast milk samples collected from 34 healthy moms in Rome, Italy, one week after their babies were born. The scientists detected microplastics in 75 percent of them.

The study, which was published in the Polymers journal, discovered microplastics composed of polyethene, PVC, and polypropylene.

Plastics contain dangerous substances, including phthalates, which have previously been found in breast milk.

In their study, the researchers recorded the mothers’ consumption of food and drink in plastic packaging and of seafood, as well as the use of plastic-containing personal hygiene products. But they did not find any link with the presence of microplastics.

This shows that the existence of microplastics in the environment makes human exposure inevitable, the researchers said.

"So, the proof of microplastics’ presence in breast milk increases our great concern for the extremely vulnerable population of infants," Dr Valentina Notarstefano, from Università Politecnica delle Marche, in Ancona, Italy, said.

"It will be crucial to assess ways to reduce exposure to these contaminants during pregnancy and lactation," she said.

"But it must be stressed that the advantages of breastfeeding are much greater than the disadvantages caused by the presence of polluting microplastics. Studies like ours must not reduce breastfeeding of children, but instead, raise public awareness to pressure politicians to promote laws that reduce pollution, Dr Valentina added.