The story of 'plastics' is not any different from other inventions considered to be 'breakthroughs' when brought to the public notice for the first time - fossil fuel, dynamite, mobile phones, and so on. They were created and marketed as a solution to a problem or an unmet need but soon, they took unforeseen, rather ugly, shapes and forms in an uncontrolled manner, giving rise to a bigger problem. Plastics were invented in response to a quest for a 'material that could be easily produced, molded into thousands of different shapes, and had the revolutionary property of not deforming after being heated'. The Industrial Revolution welcomed this material with open hands as it soon became the staple for many industries like consumer products, packaging, electronics, etc.
This generation intended to foster development through a revolution whose shadow, the generation of plastic waste and microplastics, became one of the greatest threats to the well-being of the future generation!
Why should you care?
Today, studies reveal that we could be ingesting a spoonful, about 5 grams, of plastic every week; the scientific community is still scratching the surface of understanding its impact on our bodies. Earlier, it was thought that at least the womb was safe, but microplastics (plastics of dimension smaller than 5mm) were discovered in the placenta and the meconium (the first poop of a baby) recently, thereby making it clear that even a fetus is not safe from microplastics! The primary sources are the water we drink and the air we breathe, but they are not all. Particularly, for young children who are in the stage of sensory exploration, the sources of exposure are much varied.
Our choices can either make the situation worse or better for them. In this article, we will not be discussing how to improve the condition of air and water because they are beyond the scope of a layman's discussion as scientists are still working on ascertaining the methods that could work. However, we can still do our bit in understanding how other sources are, and how our choices are leading to microplastics constantly making their way into our children's systems. Let's see!
#1 Baby Feeding Bottles
This should not come as a big surprise because of the ubiquitous usage of Polypropylene in infant feeding bottles. Studies have revealed alarming levels of MP release from PP bottles, particularly during sterilization and formula preparation processes. Sterilization is an unavoidable step if you are choosing bottle feeding. And the preparation of the formula milk also needs to be carried out at a high temperature.
In addition, irregularly shaped MPs released from baby bottles have been linked to heightened cytotoxicity, inducing oxidative stress and triggering an inflammatory response in intestinal cells. This response intensifies during bottle sterilization and heating, underlining the potential health risks associated with MP exposure from PP-based baby bottles. It should be noted that the opening and closing of baby bottles have been found to release significant amounts of MPs, with variations based on bottle material and brand. High-quality plastic and glass bottles were observed to release fewer MPs, suggesting they may pose fewer health risks to infants.
Despite efforts to eliminate Bisphenol A (BPA) by the controlling authorities, from baby bottle production, residual amounts can be found in some products labeled as BPA-free, even in developed regions like the EU. BPA, present in polycarbonate (PC) plastics, poses health risks that escalate with repeated use, cleaning, and sterilization.
# 2 Synthetic Clothing
There are two aspects to the threat posed by synthetic clothing - the immediate one, and the distant one.
We know that one of the ways children explore their physical environment is by putting things into their mouths. So, microfibers coming out of synthetic clothing make their way into our little ones' systems through their mouths. Another way is the skin. Studies have confirmed that absorption through the skin is a route for exposure to microplastics. But, a significant concern is related to the chemical additives used in synthetic clothing. One such study confirms that “Many of these additives, particularly in the flame retardant and plasticizer categories, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), have been found to cause adverse health effects including endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and cancer.”
The distant threat is the impact of choosing synthetic clothing, particularly for children who outgrow clothes way faster than adults. When polyester and nylon garments are washed, they release microfibers into the water, ultimately finding their way into rivers, oceans, and even drinking water sources. According to a study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, a single synthetic garment can shed thousands of microfibers in a single wash cycle.
As a race, we are at the juncture where we must evaluate how our choices are impacting the planet, the society, and the generations to come.
#3 Toys
Toys form an important part of a child's life. If you remember the nature of plastics-durable, moldable, and sturdy - it forms the perfect material for making toys and, that's why an astonishing 90% of the toys manufactured globally are made up of plastics. To give you some perspective, the toy industry uses 40 tons of plastics for every $1 million it makes in revenue. As per market forecast, the Toys & Games market worldwide is projected to generate a revenue of US$130bn in 2024. Do the math, recurring every year!
All these plastics sit in the ecosystem because hardly any of it is biodegradable. Should we not pause and think, what kind of world are we handing over to the next generations through our choices of raising them? If you do not want to broaden your view as much, just look into your home, and your child's toys - all of them go into your child's mouth more often than you think. All of them are directly increasing your child's microplastic ingestion.
#4 General Physical Environment
For children younger than seven years, the physical environment plays an incredibly important role in their development. A child in this age group is inclined to learn by exploration and experimentation; which means, there is a lot of touching and tasting involved! Bedsheets, clothes, toys, play mats, teethers, utensils, everything goes into their mouths. In fact, they consume about 15 times more microplastics than an adult, as concluded by a study conducted by researchers at New York University's School of Medicine. A great part of this comes from chewing on plastic items and inhaling the air indoors containing the microplastics shed from items made of synthetic material.
In addition to the home environment, artificial turf, and playground surfaces, often used in schools and public parks, may also contain hidden sources of microplastics.
We, at Saha, understand the need for a shift in our consumption pattern. A shift is a change. And, we are here to make that change happen, in a community, through our offerings of physical products and well-researched relevant educational material that would help all of us find that anchor for making the change. For instance, our toys are made of natural materials like wood, cotton, and silk, designed to preserve the purity of a child's pristine existence while stimulating her just enough to enjoy every moment with them. Similarly, our clothing line does not just exude earthy beauty; they are made out of 100% natural fibers and designed keeping the functionality of clothing in mind. Our products are not created out of our whims, fancies, and imaginations; they are conceptualized based on the directives of Waldorf and Montessori Education Systems. Join our community to know better and get exciting deals!
References:
- Napper, I. E., & Thompson, R. C. (2016). Release of synthetic microplastic plastic fibres from domestic washing machines: Effects of fabric type and washing conditions. Environmental Science & Technology, 50(23), 12512–12519.
- De Falco, F., Gentile, G., Avella, M., & Cocca, M. (2018). Detection of microplastics in soil after the application of sewage sludge. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 5(12), 724–728.
- Hartmann, N. B., Rist, S., Bodin, J., Jensen, L. H. S., Schmidt, S. N., & Mayer, P. (2017). Microplastics as vectors for environmental contaminants: Exploring sorption, desorption, and transfer to biota. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 13(3), 488–493.
- Hodson, M. E., Duffus-Hodson, C. A., Clark, A., Prendergast-Miller, M. T., Thorpe, K. L., & Snape, J. R. (2017). Plastic bag derived-microplastics as a vector for metal exposure in terrestrial invertebrates. Environmental Science & Technology, 51(8), 4714–4721.
- Wright, S. L., Thompson, R. C., & Galloway, T. S. (2013). The physical impacts of microplastics on marine organisms: A review. Environmental Pollution, 178, 483–492.
- Mišľanová, C., Valachovičová, M., & Slezáková, Z. (2024). An Overview of the Possible Exposure of Infants to Microplastics. Life, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/life14030371
- Amran, N. H., Zaid, S. S. M., Mokhtar, M. H., Manaf, L. A., & Othman, S. (2022, October 10). Exposure to microplastics during early developmental stage: Review of current evidence. MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/10/10/597
- MediLexicon International. (n.d.-b). Microplastics contain toxic chemicals that can be absorbed by the skin. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/toxic-microplastics-absorbed-by-the-skin#Chemicals-in-microplastics-penetrate-the-skin-barrier