Occurrence of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Polycarbonate Microplastics in Infant and Adult Feces

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00559
• Publication Date: 2021-09-22T12:00:22Z
• Authors: Junjie Zhang; Lei Wang; Leonardo Trasande; Kurunthachalam Ka...
• Keywords: 0211 other engineering and technologies; 02 engineering and technology

Although human exposure to microplastics (MPs) and the health effects thereof are a global concern, little is known about magnitude of exposure. In this study, we quantitatively determined concentrations polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polycarbonate (PC) MPs in three meconium six infant 10 adult feces samples collected from New York State. PET PC were found some (at concentration ranges below limit quantification [<LOQ] 12,000 <LOQ–110 ng/g dry weight, respectively) all stool specimens (PET: 5700–82,000 ng/g, median, 36,000 ng/g; PC: 49–2100 78 ng/g). They also most or but at an order lower than infants for (<LOQ–16,000 2600 The estimated mean daily exposures diet 83,000 860 ng/kg body weight per day, respectively, which significantly higher those adults 5800 ng/kg-bw/day; 200 ng/kg-bw/d). Our study suggests that exposed levels adults.