Posted ByTechViewResearchers identified microplastics in human breast milk, which is quite alarming. Since breastfeeding is by far the healthiest method for feeding a newborn, experts have expressed concern for the infant’s health because they are particularly susceptible to chemical pollutants.
Microplastics made of polythene, PVC, and polypropylene was discovered, according to research published in the journal Polymers.
A group of Italian scientists cautioned that microplastics had been discovered in human breast milk for the first time, raising concerns about the potential health effects on infants.
A week after giving birth in Italy, 34 healthy moms supplied milk samples, and researchers found minute plastic particles in three-quarters of them, according to The Guardian. The research team concluded that further study was urgently required because newborns continue to be particularly susceptible to chemical pollutants. However, they also emphasized that nursing has many more benefits than the negative effects brought on by microplastic pollution.
Microplastics are pieces of plastic that are less than 5 mm in length and can be of any sort. Microplastics have been found to be hazardous to human cell lines, lab animals, and marine life, but the consequences on actual people are still unknown. Scientists have now emphasized the risks caused by microplastics in their most recent study.
The mother’s consumption of seafood, food and beverages in plastic wrapping, as well as her usage of personal hygiene products containing plastic, were all noted by the researchers in their study. However, they did not discover a connection between the two factors. They concluded that this shows that since microplastics are so prevalent in the environment, human exposure is unavoidable.
Accordingly, the discovery of microplastics in breast milk raises our already high concern for the particularly susceptible infant population, according to Dr. Valentina Notarstefano of the Italian University of Applied Sciences of the Marche. She added it will be essential to consider how to lower exposure to these toxins during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
However, it is important to note that the benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh the negative effects brought on by the presence of contaminating microplastics. According to Ms. Notarstefano, research like ours shouldn’t discourage mothers from breastfeeding their children but should instead increase public awareness and put pressure on lawmakers to support policies that lessen pollution.
Microplastics made of polythene, PVC, and polypropylene were discovered, according to research published in the journal Polymers. According to 2020 reports the Italian team discovered microplastic in the human placentas.
The Guardian reports that additional recent studies found that cow’s milk can include tiny plastic fragments and that bottle-fed infants are likely to consume millions of microplastics every day.
Because of this, Ms. Notarstefano said, we would want to advise pregnant women to pay extra attention to avoid food and drink packaged in plastic, cosmetics and toothpastes containing microplastics, and clothing made of synthetic fibers.
The study also demonstrates that cow’s milk can include microplastics and that bottle-fed babies are likely to consume millions of microplastics every day.