A Children’s Health Perspective on Nano- and Microplastics
| Type | Article | ||||||||||||||||
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| Date | 2022-01 | ||||||||||||||||
| Language | English | ||||||||||||||||
| Author(s) | Sripada Kam 1, 2, Wierzbicka Aneta3, 4, Abass Khaled5, 6, Grimalt Joan O.7, Erbe Andreas8, Röllin Halina B.9, 10, Weihe Pál11, Díaz Gabriela Jiménez12, Singh Randolph13, Visnes Torkild14, Rautio Arja15, Odland Jon Øyvind9, 12, 16, Wagner Martin17 |
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| Affiliation(s) | 1 : Centre for Digital Life Norway, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway 2 : Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN), NTNU, Trondheim, Norway 3 : Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden 4 : Centre for Healthy Indoor Environments, Lund University, Lund, Sweden 5 : Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland 6 : Department of Pesticides, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt 7 : Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain 8 : Department of Materials Science and Engineering, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway 9 : School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa 10 : Environment and Health Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, South Africa 11 : Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Faroese Hospital System, Faroe Islands 12 : Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway 13 : Laboratoire Biogéochimie des Contaminants Organiques, Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer, Nantes, France 14 : Department of Biotechnology and Nanomedicine, SINTEF Industry, Trondheim, Norway 15 : Arctic Health, Thule Institute, University of Oulu and University of the Arctic, Oulu, Finland 16 : Department of General Hygiene, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia 17 : Department of Biology, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway |
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| Source | Environmental Health Perspectives (0091-6765) (Environmental Health Perspectives), 2022-01 , Vol. 130 , N. 1 , P. 015001-1 - 015001-15 | ||||||||||||||||
| DOI | 10.1289/EHP9086 | ||||||||||||||||
| WOS© Times Cited | 29 | ||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Background: Pregnancy, infancy, and childhood are sensitive windows for environmental exposures. Yet the health effects of exposure to nano- and microplastics (NMPs) remain largely uninvestigated or unknown. Although plastic chemicals are a well-established research topic, the impacts of plastic particles are unexplored, especially with regard to early life exposures. Objectives: This commentary aims to summarize the knowns and unknowns around child- and pregnancy-relevant exposures to NMPs via inhalation, placental transfer, ingestion and breastmilk, and dermal absorption. Methods: A comprehensive literature search to map the state of the science on NMPs found 37 primary research articles on the health relevance of NMPs during early life and revealed major knowledge gaps in the field. We discuss opportunities and challenges for quantifying child-specific exposures (e.g., NMPs in breastmilk or infant formula) and health effects, in light of global inequalities in baby bottle use, consumption of packaged foods, air pollution, hazardous plastic disposal, and regulatory safeguards. We also summarize research needs for linking child health and NMP exposures and address the unknowns in the context of public health action. Discussion: Few studies have addressed child-specific sources of exposure, and exposure estimates currently rely on generic assumptions rather than empirical measurements. Furthermore, toxicological research on NMPs has not specifically focused on child health, yet children’s immature defense mechanisms make them particularly vulnerable. Apart from few studies investigating the placental transfer of NMPs, the physicochemical properties (e.g., polymer, size, shape, charge) driving the absorption, biodistribution, and elimination in early life have yet to be benchmarked. Accordingly, the evidence base regarding the potential health impacts of NMPs in early life remains sparse. Based on the evidence to date, we provide recommendations to fill research gaps, stimulate policymakers and industry to address the safety of NMPs, and point to opportunities for families to reduce early life exposures to plastic. |
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