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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastics and child health: A scoping review of prenatal and early-life exposure routes and potential health risks
ClearAn 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.
Health Implications of Microplastic Exposure in Pregnancy and Early Childhood: A Systematic Review
This systematic review summarizes existing research on how microplastic exposure during pregnancy and early childhood may affect health. The evidence shows that microplastics can reach the placenta and may cause oxidative stress and inflammation, raising concerns about potential effects on fetal development and infant health during these vulnerable life stages.
Microplastic and human health with focus on pediatric well-being: a comprehensive review and call for future studies
This review focuses on how microplastics affect children specifically, from infancy through adolescence, finding that infant formula, plastic toys, food packaging, and contaminated water and air are all significant exposure sources. The particles can cause cell damage and have been linked to potential health risks including cancer, highlighting that children may be especially vulnerable because of their developing bodies and higher relative exposure.
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.
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.
Beyond the cradle – Amidst microplastics and the ongoing peril during pregnancy and neonatal stages: A holistic review
This review compiles research on how microplastics affect pregnancy and newborns, noting that these particles have been found in the placenta, amniotic fluid, meconium, and breast milk. Microplastic exposure during pregnancy has been linked to complications including preeclampsia, preterm birth, and stillbirth, though more research is needed to confirm direct causation. After birth, infants continue to be exposed through feeding bottles, formula, and breast milk, making early life a period of particularly high concern.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Microplastics in the Perinatal Period: Emerging Evidence on Maternal Exposure, Placental Transfer, and Fetal Health Outcomes
This review summarizes emerging evidence that microplastics can cross the placenta and reach developing babies, having been detected in maternal blood, placental tissue, amniotic fluid, cord blood, and breast milk. The tiny plastic particles may damage the placenta, disrupt hormones, alter immune responses, and potentially affect fetal growth and brain development. While more research is needed, the findings raise serious concerns about microplastic exposure during pregnancy and its implications for infant health.
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.
Current knowledge on the effects of environmental contaminants in early life nutrition
This review examines how environmental contaminants, including microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, can enter infant diets through breast milk, formula, and early solid foods. Researchers found that these pollutants transfer into breast milk through passive diffusion and can also leach from bottles, packaging, and food contact materials. The study emphasizes the need for better monitoring and regulation to protect infants during this critical developmental window.
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.
Time to Safeguard the Future Generations from the Omnipresent Microplastics
This review highlighted that children face disproportionate microplastic exposure through breast milk, infant formula, crawling on contaminated floors, and mouthing plastic toys, and that their developing organ systems may be more vulnerable to microplastic-induced toxicity than adults, calling for child-specific exposure assessments and protective standards.
Impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on early-life health: a roadmap towards risk assessment
Researchers proposed a detailed risk assessment roadmap specifically for how micro- and nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy and early childhood could harm fetal and infant development, noting that these tiny particles have already been detected in human placentas. The framework identifies critical gaps in dosing data, detection methods, and placental transfer research needed before reliable safety conclusions can be drawn.
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.
Microplastics exposure during perinatal period: Impacts on neonatal immune and metabolic programming - a scoping review
This scoping review synthesizes research on microplastic exposure during the perinatal period and its potential impacts on neonatal immune and metabolic development. Researchers evaluated mechanisms of immune and metabolic disruption, size- and dose-dependent effects, and the exposure pathways that may influence newborn health outcomes. The study highlights that the developing fetus and newborn may be particularly vulnerable to micro- and nanoplastic exposure.
Impact of prenatal micro/nanoplastics exposure on intrauterine development and growth: a systematic review
This systematic review examines how exposure to micro- and nanoplastics during pregnancy may affect fetal development and growth. The research gathered evidence showing that tiny plastic particles can reach the placenta and potentially disrupt normal intrauterine development. While more research is needed, these findings raise important questions about protecting pregnant women from microplastic exposure through food, water, and air.
The Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Health and Reproductive Outcomes
This scoping review compiled existing literature on micro- and nanoplastic exposure in relation to women's health and reproductive outcomes. The study identified inverse associations between microplastic exposure and adverse neonatal outcomes such as low birth weight, and highlighted physiological routes of absorption and vulnerable organs, while noting significant gaps in current knowledge that need to be addressed.
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.
Micro problems with macro consequences: accumulation of persistent organic pollutants and microplastics in human breast milk and in human milk substitutes
This review examines the presence of persistent organic pollutants and microplastics in both human breast milk and infant formula, raising questions about early-life exposure. Researchers found that these contaminants can transfer to infants during the critical first 1,000 days of development, a period important for long-term health. The study highlights significant gaps in our understanding of how combined exposure to microplastics and organic pollutants during infancy may affect health outcomes.
Plastic Pollution and Child Health: A Narrative Review of Micro- and Nanoplastics, Additives, and Developmental Risks
This narrative review examines the health risks that micro- and nanoplastics and plastic additives pose specifically to children, who are considered the most vulnerable population due to their developing bodies and higher exposure rates relative to body weight. Researchers found that exposure begins in the womb, with plastic particles detected in placental tissue, amniotic fluid, and cord blood. Evidence suggests potential adverse effects on children's development, including altered puberty, respiratory conditions, neurodevelopmental impacts, and metabolic disorders, though the authors note that more research is needed.
Micro- and Nanoplastics and Fetal Health: Challenges in Assessment and Evidence from Epidemiological Studies
This review examines the emerging evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can reach the developing fetus during pregnancy, with animal studies showing potential effects on neurological development and placental blood flow. The study also highlights major challenges in accurately detecting and measuring these tiny particles in biological tissues from mothers and babies. The authors call for standardized methods and more human studies to better understand the risks of prenatal microplastic exposure.