For the first time ever, microplastics have been detected in human breast milk. Experts are now worried about the effect this would have on infants, as they are especially vulnerable to chemical contaminants.
According to the breast milk research published in the journal Polymers, these microplastics are composed of polyethylene, PVC, and polypropylene which are all found in packaging.
For the study, breast milk samples were taken from 34 healthy women, a week after they gave birth in Rome, Italy.
Microplastics were detected in 75% of these samples, The Guardian reports.
The samples were reportedly collected, stored, and analyzed without the use of plastics. The control samples too were processed to rule out contamination.
However, particles smaller than 2 microns could not be analyzed, though smaller plastic particles were expected to be there.
Also, though previous research has shown the toxic effects of microplastics in human cell lines, lab animals, and marine wildlife, the impact on living humans remains unknown.
According to the experts, plastics often contain harmful chemicals such as phthalates which have been found in breast milk before.
However, scientists point out that expectant mothers’ consumption of food and drink in plastic packaging and of seafood, as well as the use of personal hygiene products that contain plastic, has no correlation with the presence of microplastics.
They add that this points to the ubiquitous presence of microplastics in the environment and “makes human exposure inevitable”.
In 2020, microplastics were reportedly identified in human placentas by the Italian team.
“So, the proof of microplastics’ presence in breast milk increases our great concern for the extremely vulnerable population of infants,” said Dr Valentina Notarstefano, at the Università Politecnica delle Marche, in Ancona, Italy.
She adds, “It will be crucial to assess ways to reduce exposure to these contaminants during pregnancy and lactation.
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.”
Though specific microplastic risk factors were not identified in this small study, Dr Valentina is quoted as saying, “We would like to advise pregnant women to pay greater attention to avoiding food and drink packaged in plastic, cosmetics, and toothpaste containing microplastics, and clothes made of synthetic fabrics.”
The research has also discovered that infants who are bottle-fed are likely to be swallowing millions of microplastics a day as cow’s milk can contain microplastics.
In March, a team led by Prof Dick Vethaak, at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands found that microplastics were present in human blood.
Speaking about the latest findings, Prof Vethaak is reported to have said, “The new study provides preliminary evidence that microplastics are present in human breast milk [but] more studies with a higher number of samples, and preferably using other methods, are urgently needed to confirm it.”
Data is reportedly being collected for this.
The expert further adds, “We see only the tip of the iceberg with microplastics. Smaller nano-sized plastics are likely more prevalent and toxic. However, it is currently impossible to analyze nanoplastics in complex matrices, such as breastmilk.
“As yet, there is no knowledge about the possible impact of microplastics and related contaminants on the suckling infant. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more studies because early life stages, newborns, and young children seem more susceptible to chemical and particle exposure. This should be a health research priority,” he concludes.
