In the study, which took place in Rome, Italy, breast milk samples were taken from 34 healthy mothers one week after they had given birth. Microplastics were found in 75 percent of the samples. – It is sad to hear that new research shows that there are microplastics in breast milk. It just shows that we are faced with a problem over which we have no control – and which must be taken seriously. That’s what new mum Guri Heli (32) in Trondheim says. – Frightening The Guardian writes that the researchers are concerned about the potential health effects as infants are particularly exposed to pollution. Previous research has demonstrated the toxic effects of microplastics, but the impact on humans is still unknown. At the same time, the researchers point out that plastic often contains harmful chemicals – such as phthalates, which have been found in breast milk in the past. Guri Heli in Trondheim hopes the study will be taken seriously. Photo: Private The 32-year-old in Trondheim hopes someone will take action. She is currently busy fully breastfeeding Samuel in four weeks. – I hope that this will be taken seriously. It is frightening to know that you can feed your child with plastic, so it is great that they are researching it, she says to news. Increases concern In the study, the researchers recorded the mothers’ consumption of food and drink in plastic packaging and of seafood, as well as the use of plastic-containing hygiene products. But they found no connection with the occurrence of microplastics. The Italian team also identified microplastics in placentas in 2020. – So the evidence of microplastics’ presence in breast milk increases our great concern for the extremely vulnerable population of infants, says Dr Valentina Notarstefano at the Università Politecnica delle Marche in Italy according to The Guardian. – It will be crucial to consider ways to reduce exposure to these pollutants during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The researchers point out that the advantages of breastfeeding are much greater than the disadvantages of the presence of polluting microplastics. Therefore, they do not want the study to reduce breastfeeding for children. Instead, they hope for increased public awareness to pressure politicians to promote laws that reduce pollution. They substantiate this with the fact that other research has shown that bottle-fed babies probably swallow millions of microplastics every day, and that cow’s milk can also contain microplastics. The entire study is published here. Not surprisingly, Kam Sripada is a neuroscientist at NTNU and manager at the Norwegian Center for Digital Life. She has encouraged researchers to focus on exposure to microplastics in children, pregnant and lactating women. She is therefore happy to hear about the study from Italy. – It is good to see that the researchers are actually focusing on the groups that are particularly vulnerable to environmental toxins – including microplastics, she says to news. Sripada does not think the findings are surprising. Among other things, she points out that microplastics have been detected in human blood in a study from the Netherlands earlier this year. – And we know that it is found in all types of food that come into contact with plastic through processing or packaging. And especially in children, the body’s defense mechanisms are not sensitive enough to eliminate the intake of environmental toxins such as microplastics and the chemicals they carry with them. – Should people be worried? – I think people should be concerned about the environmental toxins we have around us in Norway today, she says, and points out that this is not just about microplastics. – People should be aware that we are exposed to particles and chemicals that have never been sufficiently tested for health effects. This is especially true for children and infants. Kam Sripada is a neuroscientist at NTNU. She is not surprised by the study’s findings. Photo: NTNU Interesting and frightening What Sripada finds particularly interesting is that the study shows no connection between microplastics found in breast milk and food intake and contact with hygiene products. – This indicates that we are exposed to microplastics everywhere. But we are still unsure which form of exposure contributes the most. But it is also frightening that they found no connection, she believes. – This means that there may be a limit to how much we ourselves can do to reduce our contact with microplastics and plastics. It is the authorities and industry that bear the responsibility for us getting less plastic in our everyday lives. And that the chemicals used in our products only contain substances that have been proven not to be harmful to health. The neurologist points out that children cannot choose for themselves what they ingest from microplastics. – They are in a special phase where the brain and other organs are formed quickly. So it is important to think about the child who has no alternative to being able to choose something that does not have microplastics. It can have health consequences later in life. She, too, adds that there is no reason to switch to other foods for infants, even though the breast milk may be contaminated. Must be a wake-up call For Ingrid Liland, deputy leader of the Green Party, it is outrageous to hear that breast milk has plastic in it. – The first life of a baby is the most vulnerable, and breast milk is for many the only and most important nourishment the babies get, she writes to news. Deputy head of MDG, Ingrid Liland, is upset by the news about microplastics in women’s breast milk. Photo: Nicklas Knudsen / Nicklas Knudsen At the same time, she is not surprised by the findings either. She believes the news must be a wake-up call to put in place regulation of products used in the kitchen and food for children. – Plastic pollution from micro- and nanoplastics is increasing worldwide. We know that this eventually ends up in plants, animals and humans. This is a health problem, and here the Minister of Health must be on the field and take precautions. The biggest source of microplastics in Norway is car tires and textiles. Ingvild Kjerkol must ensure that the government combats the plastic problem nationally and internationally.
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Demands that the government steps in after microplastics are found in women’s breast milk – news Trøndelag
