Microplastics, tiny fragments of plastic less than 5mm in size, are a hidden form of pollution known to be contaminating waterways and the world’s oceans – and now, scientists say, the human digestive system.

And according to a new pilot study, infants’ stools contain up to 10 times higher concentrations of a microplastic called polyethylene terephthalate (PET) than adults.

Both adult and infant samples contained roughly the same average level of polycarbonate (PC) microplastics, according to the research published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters journal of the American Chemical Society.

The new study, by authors who received both US and Chinese government funding, warns that while “human exposure to microplastics and the health effects thereof are a global concern, little is known about the magnitude of exposure”.

“Infants could be exposed to higher levels of microplastics through their extensive use of products such as bottles, teethers and toys,” according to the researchers, but they say “larger studies are needed to corroborate these findings”.

A report from Canadian researchers previously found that humans could be consuming between 39,000 and 52,000 microplastic particles a year.

It follows claims from one researcher that phthalate pollution is causing babies to be born with small penises.

Lithuanian defence ministry urges people to ‘throw away’ Chinese phones after discovering censorship tools

COVID-19: Llama antibodies have ‘significant potential’ as coronavirus treatment with new research hailed

Amazon is lobbying the US government to legalise cannabis

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for urgent research on the risks of microplastic to human health after confirming that tiny fragments are found in drinking water.

In its first assessment of plastic pollution, the WHO concluded that there was evidence from 50 studies that microscopic particles are found in water and could be absorbed by the human body.

The WHO reported that particles too small to be seen with the naked eye are likely to be absorbed by the human body, but “firm conclusions” on the risk “cannot yet be determined”.

Related posts:

Mice (and even people) really could have the ability to become toxic, snake venom scientists say Deliveroo shares flop on stock market debut Facebook to let users turn off algorithm powering News Feed Climate change has impacted agricultural productivity growth by 21% since 1960s Wine that spent more than year in space orbiting Earth could fetch $1m Baby becomes first NHS patient to receive world’s most expensive drug Solar-powered aircraft could spend six months in the air at a time Virgin Galactic postpones test flight due to safety concerns NASA launches first probe to head to asteroid ‘swarm’, exploring origins of solar system T cell discovery may lead to vaccine that targets all coronaviruses and variants, study finds Norfolk County Council to sue Apple in class action over ‘misleading’ iPhone prediction Sony launches ‘Cheerios-shaped’ headphones