(ANSA) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 22 - Microplastics, ie plastic fragments smaller than 5 millimeters in size, have been found in the feces of newborns, for some types in even greater quantities than is found in adults. This is indicated by the pilot study published in the journal ACS 'EnvironmentalScience & Technology Letters and conducted by Kurunthachalam Kannandella New York University School of Medicine. It remains to be seen how these microplastics can harm the health of children.
The experts examined the feces of small children, also the first feces (meconium) of the newborn and then of adult individuals for microplastics of PET (the material used for bottles) and polycarbonate (widely used in optics, construction, electronics).
It emerged that these microplastics are also present in the stool samples of children, even with regard to PET at concentrations on average 10 times higher than those of adults.
It remains to extend this study to a larger sample of individuals and understand what the possible adverse effects on health are, the authors conclude.
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