This illustration shows the research into the breakdown and pollution of baby bottle nipples. Credit: UMass.
Scientists from the University of Massachusetts and the University of Massachusetts Amherst have found that steam disinfection of baby bottle nipples exposes babies and the environment to small particles.
The health and environmental risks of these fine particles are unknown, but they are a growing global concern. This is the first time that a new source of microplastic has been identified.
"Babies are the most sensitive group for any contaminants, not only microplastics," says Baoshan Xing, professor of environmental and soil chemistry and director of the UMass Amherst Stockbridge School of Agriculture and co-corresponding author of the research. The bigger the particles, the bigger the effect.
Environmental scientists in the School of the Environment at the Nanjing University collaborated with lead author Yu Su and co-corresponding author Rong Ji.
"Silicone rubber was thought to be a stable material, but we noticed that it was aging after repeated moist heat disinfections," Su says. Microplastics are a major source of aging and decomposing plastic. Silicone rubber can be decomposing by moist heating to microplastics.
The research by Xing and her colleagues in China showed that the pollution of oceans, surface waters and lands from the use of plastic is passed on to plants.
Traditional techniques can't detect particles smaller than 20 micrometers, which is half the size of a human hair. The rubber nipples were examined using optical photothermal IR microspectroscopy, a new and emerging technique that is able to analyze a material's composition.
The microspectroscope showed that there were many small oil-film-shaped micro- and nanoplastics in the wash waters of the steam-disinfecting rubber nipples. The technique showed steam etching on and chemical modification of the nipple surface.
The research paper states that a baby could ingest over one million micro-sized plastic particles by the age of one year.
They are looking into the release of particles into the air when heated to 100 degrees C.
"We've found a new source of microplastics to the environment." Some plastic goes into the sewer systems. They get into the water. They have a long life in the environment because they don't break down.
The behaviors of these Silicon rubber-derived micro- and nanoplastics in the environment are unclear. Further research is needed to understand their risks to humans and the environment.
Yu Su and her team studied the release of micro-plastics from baby teats as a result of steam disinfection. The DOI is 10.1038/s41565-021-00998-x.
Nature Nanotechnology journal has information.
The environment and babies are exposed to micro- and nanoplastic particles from the steam disinfection of baby bottle nipples.
The document is copyrighted. Any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research cannot be reproduced without written permission. The content is not intended to be used for anything other than information purposes.
