Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Associations of Plastic Bottle Exposure with Infant Fecal Microbiota, Short-Chain Fatty Acids, and Growth

Researchers investigated associations between plastic bottle use and infant gut health, examining whether exposure influences early fecal microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acid levels, and growth trajectories in infants.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of Microplastics in Human Breast Milk and Its Association with Changes in Human Milk Bacterial Microbiota

Researchers detected microplastics in nearly 39% of breast milk samples from 59 mothers, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common types found. The presence of microplastics was linked to changes in the bacterial makeup of breast milk, raising concerns about early-life microplastic exposure in infants during breastfeeding.

2024 Journal of Clinical Medicine 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to polyethylene microplastics alters immature gut microbiome in an infant in vitro gut model

Researchers used an artificial infant gut model to study how chronic exposure to polyethylene microplastics affects the developing intestinal microbiome. They found that microplastics shifted gut microbial composition, increasing the abundance of potentially harmful bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae while decreasing beneficial butyrate production. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion may disrupt the gut microbiome of infants, though no significant damage to the intestinal barrier was observed.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Polycarbonate Microplastics in Infant and Adult Feces

Researchers measured microplastic levels in the stool of infants and adults in New York and found that infants had significantly higher concentrations of PET microplastics, about ten times more than adults. The likely sources include plastic baby bottles, food packaging, and toys that infants frequently put in their mouths. This study provides some of the first direct evidence that babies are exposed to more microplastics than adults, raising questions about potential health effects during early development.

2021 Environmental Science & Technology Letters 436 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of various microplastics in placentas, meconium, infant feces, breastmilk and infant formula: A pilot prospective study

In a pilot study of 18 mother-infant pairs, researchers detected microplastics in placentas, meconium (first stool), infant feces, breast milk, and infant formula. The finding of microplastics in breast milk and formula means that infants are exposed to microplastics from their earliest feedings, both natural and artificial. This study reveals that microplastic exposure begins before birth and continues through infancy, a critical period of development.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 392 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure of Infants to Microplastics

This study examines the routes through which infants may be exposed to microplastics, including through infant formula and plastic feeding containers. Researchers note that infants are particularly vulnerable because their metabolic systems are still developing and less capable of processing foreign particles. The findings highlight the need for more research into the specific risks microplastic exposure poses to infant health.

2025 Chemické listy 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Exposure to Infants

This review summarizes current evidence on microplastic exposure in infants, covering detection in feces, breast milk, and infant formulas. The authors highlight that infants may face greater health risks from microplastic exposure than adults due to immature metabolic systems and higher sensitivity.

2024 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Ex Vivo Bisphenol A Exposure on Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis and Its Association with Childhood Obesity

This pilot study exposed gut bacteria from obese and normal-weight children to bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical commonly found in plastics, and found it disrupted the balance of intestinal microbes. Some of the bacterial changes caused by BPA exposure looked similar to patterns already seen in obese children, suggesting a possible link between plastic chemical exposure and childhood obesity through gut bacteria. Since BPA is a common additive in plastics that generate microplastics, this research highlights another pathway through which plastic pollution may affect children's health.

2025 Journal of Xenobiotics 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics-gut microbiota interactions in an in vitro model of the toddler colon

Researchers used an in vitro model of the toddler colon to investigate how microplastics interact with the gut microbiota in young children. The study examined changes in microbial community composition and metabolic activity following microplastic exposure, providing early evidence of potential disruption to the developing gut ecosystem.

2025 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Versus Microbiome: The Infantile Gut’s Battle for Health

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics disrupt the developing gut microbiome in infants, covering potential effects on microbial stabilization, antibiotic resistance gene transfer through biofilm formation, and implications for long-term metabolic and immune health.

2025 Journal of Neonatology
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics and disturbance of gut microbiota: a pilot study of preschool children in Xiamen, China

In a study of preschool children in Xiamen, China, researchers found microplastics in the stool of every child tested, with polycarbonate and PVC being the most common types. Children who frequently used plastic containers and ate takeout food had higher microplastic levels. The study also found that higher microplastic exposure was linked to changes in gut bacteria, including lower levels of beneficial microbes.

2023 EBioMedicine 77 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Microplastics Disrupt Vertical Transmission of the Breast Milk Microbiome, Impairing Early‐Life Gut Colonization and Immune Development in Offspring

Researchers exposed pregnant and lactating mice to polystyrene microplastics and found that maternal exposure disrupted the breast milk microbiome, reducing beneficial bacteria like Ligilactobacillus while increasing potentially harmful ones. Offspring from exposed mothers showed altered gut colonization, excessive weight gain, reduced immune markers, and compromised intestinal barrier integrity, suggesting microplastics may affect infant development through changes in breast milk composition.

2026 The FASEB Journal
Article Tier 2

Isolation and identification of microplastics in infant formulas – A potential health risk for children

Researchers tested 30 infant formula products and found microplastics in every single one, with polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET being the most common types. They estimated that formula-fed babies consume about 49 microplastic particles per day through their formula alone. This is concerning because infants are especially vulnerable to potential health effects from microplastics during critical stages of development.

2023 Food Chemistry 55 citations
Article Tier 2

The Overview of the Possible Exposure of Infants to Microplastics

This review examines the various ways infants can be exposed to microplastics, including through breast milk, formula, baby food, plastic bottles, and toys. Researchers note that infants may be especially vulnerable because their metabolic and immune systems are still developing, potentially making them less able to process or eliminate these particles. The study calls for more research into infant-specific exposure levels and health effects, as current data remains limited.

2024 Preprints.org 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Release of microplastics from breastmilk storage bags and assessment of intake by infants: A preliminary study

Researchers tested six commercially available breastmilk storage bags and found they released large numbers of microplastic and submicron particles during simulated normal use. The particles were identified as plastics using spectroscopy analysis, raising questions about infant exposure through stored breastmilk. The study suggests that single-use plastic baby food packaging may be an overlooked source of microplastic ingestion for infants.

2023 Environmental Pollution 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and child health: A scoping review of prenatal and early-life exposure routes and potential health risks

This scoping review examined how microplastics reach children through prenatal and early-life exposure routes, including placental transfer, breast milk, formula, and feeding bottles. The evidence indicates that microplastic exposure begins before birth and continues through infancy via multiple pathways, raising concerns about potential developmental health effects during these particularly vulnerable life stages.

2025 Toxicology Reports 1 citations
Article Tier 2

What Health Concerns Could Micro and Nanoplastics Pose for Infants? A Review

Microplastics and nanoplastics have been detected in human placentas, meconium, and infant faeces, meaning babies can be exposed before and immediately after birth. This review examines what these early-life exposures might mean for infant health and development, and discusses broader policy responses to reduce plastic overproduction as the most direct route to protecting future generations.

2023 Preprints.org 1 citations
Article Tier 2

An Overview of the Possible Exposure of Infants to Microplastics

This review summarizes the ways infants can be exposed to microplastics, including through the placenta before birth, breast milk, infant formula, plastic feeding bottles, and toys. Infants may face higher risks because their bodies are still developing and are less able to process and remove these particles. The authors call for more research and greater attention to reducing microplastic exposure in products designed for babies.

2024 Life 25 citations
Article Tier 2

The Association Between Microplastics and Microbiota in Placentas and Meconium: The First Evidence in Humans

Researchers analyzed placentas and meconium from 18 mother-infant pairs in Shanghai and found microplastics present in both, providing some of the first direct evidence of microplastic exposure during pregnancy and at birth. They also discovered correlations between microplastic presence and changes in microbial communities in these tissues. The study raises important questions about whether early-life microplastic exposure could influence infant health and development.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 176 citations
Article Tier 2

Polypropylene micro- and nanoplastics affect the digestion of cow's milk proteins in infant model of gastric digestion

Researchers found that polypropylene micro- and nanoplastics, commonly released from baby bottles during heating, interfere with the digestion of milk proteins in a simulated infant stomach model. The plastic particles bound to milk proteins and changed how they were broken down by digestive enzymes, with the effect being stronger in the infant model than in the adult model. This is concerning because incomplete protein digestion in infants could affect nutrient absorption during a critical period of growth and development.

2025 Environmental Pollution 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Human Milk, Microplastics and Children's Health: An Equation to Be Solved

This review examined microplastic contamination in human breast milk, summarizing evidence of widespread MP detection and discussing the potential health consequences for infants whose primary food source in the first two years of life may contain plastic particles.

2025 International Journal of Medical Science and Health Research
Article Tier 2

Marine Microplastics and Infant Health

This review examines the accumulation of marine microplastics and their potential implications for infant health, a uniquely vulnerable population. The authors discuss exposure pathways including breast milk and formula and highlight the need for targeted research on developmental health effects given the limited body of evidence in young children and infants.

2024 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics leaching from baby products

This thesis reviewed evidence that plastic baby products — including bottles and feeding equipment — shed microplastics that infants may ingest during feeding. The research draws attention to infant-specific exposure risks, given that babies may consume millions of microplastic particles through routine use of plastic feeding products.

2020
Article Tier 2

Hidden Threats in Infant Diets and Environment ‒ Risks of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Food

This review examines how infants aged 0-12 months are exposed to microplastics and nanoplastics through inhalation and ingestion, with plastic packaging and food preparation being major dietary sources. Researchers found that these particles can cross biological barriers, leading to systemic exposure that may affect infant development. The study calls for more comprehensive research to understand the long-term health implications of plastic particle contamination in infant diets.

2025 Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 1 citations