We want a strong treaty to protect human health by reducing plastic production

Saving Babies from the Threat of Microplastic Toxins we Need to Stop Consume Plastik

Nina : We want a strong treaty to protect human health and the environment by reducing plastic production, eliminating threats from toxic chemicals throughout the plastic life cycle

“The Mother's Womb Has Been Contaminated With Microplastics, Now The Safest Place For Humans Has Been Contaminated. Where else is a safe place for humans?”Aeshnina Said.

 At the INC 5 Moment in Busan, Aeshnina Azzahara Aqilani, Captain River Warrior Indonesia brought 12 baby replicas placed in jars. This art installation will be exhibited at the Indonesian Zerowaste Alliance Exhibition stand Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) 2, Hall 321 – 322 , November 25 to December 1, 2024. This baby jar replica depicts the condition of babies who have been contaminated with microplastics, there is no longer a safe place for babies

Recent research has found the presence of microplastics in the bodies of babies, from the placenta to breast milk. The microplastics found in humans come from the consumption of food and beverages packaged in single-use plastic, air contaminated with microplastics, and skin contact with personal care products containing microplastics (microbeads). This situation is deeply concerning, as the 16,000 types of chemicals in plastics, including toxic substances like Bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, PCBs, and PBDEs, have been proven to negatively impact human health. Exposure to these chemicals during pregnancy and early life can interfere with growth, neural development, and the reproductive system.

Microplastics can be absorbed through the digestive tract via paracellular absorption and phagocytosis, entering the bloodstream. Subsequently, microplastic particles smaller than 20 micrometers are distributed to secondary organs, such as muscles, liver, kidneys, heart, brain, breast milk, and even the placenta of the fetus.

Microplastics that reach the placenta can potentially enter the amniotic fluid and be absorbed by the fetus.

 Surprising Findings of Microplastics in Babies

1.Placenta— A study by Braun et al. (2021) identified various types of microplastics in the placentas of pregnant women, including PP (33%), PVC (26.67%), PET (16.67%), and HDPE (10%). Further research showed that microplastic exposure in the placenta increased over the past 15 years, from 60% in 2006 to 100% in 2021 (Weingrill et al., 2023). This is alarming, as the placenta plays a crucial role in connecting the mother and fetus. Microplastic exposure could disrupt hormone balance and threaten fetal organ development[1].

2. Amniotic Fluid — Amniotic fluid, which protects the fetus during pregnancy, also contains microplastics. Halfar et al. (2023) found that 72.72% of microplastics in the amniotic fluid were PET, with potential biological impacts such as preterm birth and stunted fetal growth.[2]

3. Meconium (First Stool of the Baby) — Microplastics detected in meconium, including other types (82.8%), PET (4.17%), and PVC (2.2%) (Li et al., 2023), suggest exposure during fetal development. This exposure likely comes from the transfer of microplastics from the mother to the fetus via the placenta. Since meconium starts to form at around 16 weeks of pregnancy, the presence of microplastics in meconium indicates exposure during fetal development.[3]

4. Infant Feces — In a study by Li et al. (2023), infant feces contained 76.32% of "other" types of microplastics and 7.86% PET. The presence of microplastics in infant feces is linked to environmental exposure after birth, such as through breast milk, formula milk, plastic feeding bottles, or plastic toys. This study found that babies who frequently used plastic bottles and sucked on plastic toys had higher microplastic levels in their feces.[4]

5. Breast Milk — A study by Ragusa et al. (2022) reported microplastic contamination in breast milk, including PET (37.50%) and PP (16.67%). The chemicals in microplastics can enter breast milk, carrying risks of endocrine disruption, which could impact the baby's neurocognitive development. Lipophilic microplastics can bind to fat components in breast milk, increasing the risk of accumulation in the baby's body. This means that microplastics may not only be present as free particles in breast milk but also embedded in fat components, which are then consumed by the baby.[5]

 Health Risks Posed to Babies and Children

Microplastics have the ability to absorb and bind harmful pollutants from their surroundings. The microplastics and the chemicals they contain are bioaccumulative and persistent, meaning they accumulate in the tissues of organisms over their lifetime because the body cannot fully eliminate them. Additionally, they have biomagnification potential, meaning microplastics and their chemicals move from one organism to another in the food chain, leading to higher concentrations in top predators, including humans. Exposure to microplastics and their thousands of chemical compounds presents serious risks to developing babies. These include inflammation, immune system disruption, and interference with brain and nerve development. Microplastics may also increase the risk of infections and affect long-term health.This research calls for urgent attention and decisive action to limit the use of single-use plastics and improve the safety standards for plastic packaging materials used daily. A concerted effort from the government, industry, and society at large is crucial to protect babies and future generations from this growing threat.

 "We want a strong treaty to protect human health and the environment by reducing plastic production, eliminating threats from toxic chemicals throughout the plastic life cycle and Control releases and emissions of toxic plastic Chemicals," said Nina

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[1] Braun, T., Ehrlich, L., Henrich, W., Koeppel, S., Lomako, I., Schwabl, P., & Liebmann, B. (2021). Detection of microplastic in human placenta and meconium in a clinical setting. Pharmaceutics, 13(7), 921.

[2] Halfar, J., Čabanová, K., Vávra, K., Delongová, P., Motyka, O., Špaček, R., ... & Heviánková, S. (2023). Microplastics and additives in patients with preterm birth: The first evidence of their presence in both human amniotic fluid and placenta. Chemosphere, 343, 140301.

[3] Liu, S., Guo, J., Liu, X., Yang, R., Wang, H., Sun, Y., ... & Dong, R. (2023). Detection of various microplastics in placentas, meconium, infant feces, breastmilk and infant formula: A pilot prospective study. Science of The Total Environment, 854, 158699.

[4] Liu, S., Guo, J., Liu, X., Yang, R., Wang, H., Sun, Y., ... & Dong, R. (2023). Detection of various microplastics in placentas, meconium, infant feces, breastmilk and infant formula: A pilot prospective study. Science of The Total Environment, 854, 158699.

[5] Ragusa, A., Svelato, A., Santacroce, C., et al. (2021). Plasticenta: First evidence of microplastics in human placenta. Environment International, 146, 106274. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106274.