Researchers from the Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health (CII) at the Cyprus University of Technology, together with scientists from the University of Catania, have detected microplastics in urine samples from primary school children living in Cyprus.
The exploratory study, published in Particle and Fibre Toxicology, examined first-morning urine samples from 29 children. The findings provide preliminary evidence of microplastics in children’s urine but do not establish their health effects.
Microplastics detected in all samples
Researchers used scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDX) to identify particles smaller than 10 micrometres. They also used pyrolysis-GC/MS to determine the polymers present in the samples.
Microplastics smaller than 10 micrometres were detected in all 29 urine samples. Concentrations ranged from 393 to 8,050 particles per millilitre, with a median of 1,217 particles per millilitre.
The median particle diameter was 1.69 micrometres, with particles ranging from 0.88 to 3.44 micrometres based on the reported median measurements.
Polyethylene and polypropylene most common
The analysis identified polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) as the predominant polymers.
The researchers estimated a total polymer concentration of 46 micrograms per millilitre using pyrolysis-GC/MS. Polyethylene accounted for 22.89 micrograms per millilitre, while polypropylene accounted for 5.35 micrograms per millilitre.
Other polymers, including polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, PVC, PET and nylon, were below their respective analytical detection limits in the study.
Findings require further research
The researchers stressed that the findings should be interpreted cautiously because the study involved only 29 children and was exploratory in nature.
The children were part of the ORGANIKO LIFE+ study and were recruited from six primary schools in Limassol. The urine samples were originally collected in spring 2017, when the children had an average age of about 11 years.
The study found no statistically significant associations between microplastic concentrations and BMI-for-age categories or hand-to-mouth behaviour. The researchers also noted that the participants came from a single urban area, limiting the extent to which the findings can be generalised to children across Cyprus.
The findings provide evidence of internal exposure to microplastics in this group, but they cannot determine the sources of exposure or whether microplastics have health effects on children.
The researchers said larger studies, longitudinal sampling and harmonised methods are needed to establish whether the findings reflect broader population-level patterns and to investigate potential health implications.
Also read: Cabinet approves bill to introduce minimum age for social media use
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
