Plastic Baby Bottles Release Microplastics [Study Reveals]

plastic baby bottles microplastics researchers

By Fatima Virrey , Parent Herald Oct 20, 08:32 am

A recent study reveals that plastic baby bottles release microplastics.

A group of researchers from Trinity College Dublin conducted a study that revealed looked into microplastics released by plastic baby bottles.

Although the study suggests that more than 1.5 million particles of microplastics are possibly consumed by babies every day, researchers say that there is nothing to worry about as of now.

The recent study on microplastics

John Bolan is a professor of chemistry and materials science research at Trinity College Dublin. He is the person who authored the study that discovered that plastic baby bottles release microplastics.

Boland and his co-researchers saw that microplastics are released when the plastic baby bottles are subjected to high temperatures.

Boland said, "It's almost like a flaking of the surface of the actual plastic itself."

To be able to measure the microplastics released by the feeding bottles, the researchers tried to fill the bottles with water at room temperature, then shook the bottle. When they did this, hundreds of thousands of microplastics were found in the water.

However, when the temperature was increased, a million to 16 million particles per liter were released. There were even larger nanopastics found during the research that it has reached trillions and the researchers decided to stop counting.

In the study, the plastic baby bottles continued to release microplastics until the 21st day.

(Photo: Pexels)
Plastic Baby Bottles Release Microplastics [Study Reveals]

What are microplastics?

According to an article from NPR, microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic. Most of the time, these small fragments cannot be seen with the bare eyes. These particles are plastic degrades.

However, experts say that there is no need to worry as of now because there is no enough evidence that proves that microplastics consumption will have health risks in children and adults.

That is what has been reported as well by the World Health Organization last year, but the report also mentioned that more research is needed for firmer conclusions.

There is some research though that showed microplastics can cause inflammation in the guts of rodents.

What can parents do when preparing their baby's formula milk?

According to Boland, even though there are no conclusive reports about the risks of exposure to microplastics, parents may limit the exposure of their kids to such. That is by letting the plastic baby bottles to completely cool after sterilization in hot water.

(Photo: Pexels)
Plastic Baby Bottles Release Microplastics [Study Reveals]

Boland also reminds parents about using the microwave. He said that reheating milk, whether formula or breastmilk, should not be done. He added, "Pockets of really superheated water adjacent to the plastic, and that gives rise to copious quantities of microplastics."