Kazi Albab Hussain (left) is seen with his child as he extracts a water-filled plastic container from a microwave. Together with his team at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Hussain discovered that heating such containers could release billions of tiny nanoscale particles and millions of larger microscale particles. Photo by Craig Chandler, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Up to 75% of cultured kidney cells die upon exposure to particles released from microwaved baby food containers.
The most convenient method of warming food and beverages also seems to be the fastest way to consume an enormous amount of tiny plastic particles, according to recent research from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
The team’s experiments revealed that microwaving readily available plastic baby food containers from U.S. supermarkets can result in the release of an astounding amount of plastic particles. In some cases, over 2 billion nanoplastics and 4 million microplastics were found per square centimeter of the container.
Impact on Health
Though the exact health consequences of consuming micro- and nanoplastics remain unclear, the Nebraska researchers discovered that 75% of cultured embryonic kidney cells perished after two days of exposure to these particles. A 2022 report by the World Health Organization suggested reducing exposure to such particles.
Kazi Albab Hussain, the study’s primary author and a doctoral candidate in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, underscored the importance of understanding the quantity of micro- and nanoplastics we consume. He compared it to our awareness of caloric and nutrient content in our food and stressed the significance of understanding potential risks from ingesting plastic particles, which can be highly toxic depending on the exposure levels.
Research Background and Experimentation
The research began in 2021 when Hussain became a father. While previous studies had explored plastic particles’ release from baby bottles, the team noticed a research gap concerning plastic containers and pouches that many parents, including Hussain, frequently purchase.
Hussain and his team conducted tests using two baby food containers made from polypropylene and a reusable pouch made from polyethylene, plastics approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In one experiment, they filled these containers with deionized water or 3% acetic acid, meant to replicate dairy products and relatively acidic food items, and microwaved them for three minutes. They then assessed the fluids for evidence of micro- and nanoplastics.
Results and Implications
The quantity of particles released during microwaving depended on various factors, including the type of container and its contents. Using a model considering particle release, body weight, and average ingestion of different food and drink, the researchers estimated that infants drinking microwaved water and toddlers eating microwaved dairy products are likely consuming the highest relative concentrations of plastics. Experiments mimicking the refrigeration and room-temperature storage of food and drink over six months also indicated potential for micro- and nanoplastic release.
Hussain expressed his struggles in completely avoiding plastic use for his baby but emphasized the importance of making informed choices to minimize exposure to micro- and nanoplastics.
Further Research
The team, including Svetlana Romanova from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, exposed cultured embryonic kidney cells to the actual plastic particles released from the containers. After two days, only 23% of cells survived when exposed to the highest concentrations — a significantly higher death rate than previous studies on micro- and nanoplastic toxicity. The team hypothesized that kidney cells might be more vulnerable to these particles than other cell types.
Future Directions
While many questions remain about the actual risks of consuming micro- and nanoplastics, Hussain believes it’s crucial to find alternatives if they indeed pose a health threat and considering plastics are still widely used for baby food storage.
“We must identify polymers that release fewer particles,” Hussain stated. “Perhaps, we will eventually have plastics that don’t release any micro- or nanoplastics or only negligible amounts. I am hopeful we’ll see products labeled as ‘microplastics-free’ or ‘nanoplastics-free.'”
The study was published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
The study, titled “Assessing the Release of Microplastics and Nanoplastics from Plastic Containers and Reusable Food Pouches: Implications for Human Health,” was co-authored by Kazi Albab Hussain, Svetlana Romanova, Ilhami Okur, Dong Zhang, Jesse Kuebler, Xi Huang, Bing Wang, Lucia Fernandez-Ballester, Yongfeng Lu, Mathias Schubert and Yusong Li, and published on June 21, 2023, in Environmental Science & Technology.
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01942
The study was carried out with support from the National Science Foundation and the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, and included researchers Yusong Li, Mathias Schubert, Yongfeng Lu, Lucía Fernández-Ballester, Bing Wang, Xi Huang, Jesse Kuebler, Dong Zhang, and Ilhami Okur from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, alongside Hussain and Romanova.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Nanoplastics in baby food containers
What is the main concern of the study conducted by Kazi Albab Hussain and his team at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln?
The study revealed that microwaving baby food containers can result in the release of billions of tiny nanoscale particles and millions of larger microscale particles of plastic, which may pose health risks.
What did the experiments show about microwaving baby food containers?
The experiments showed that microwaving readily available plastic baby food containers could release an astounding amount of plastic particles. In some cases, over 2 billion nanoplastics and 4 million microplastics were found per square centimeter of the container.
What are the potential health implications of consuming micro- and nanoplastics?
While the exact health consequences remain unclear, the researchers found that 75% of cultured embryonic kidney cells died after two days of exposure to these particles. This indicates that the toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics is highly dependent on the level of exposure.
What did the researchers suggest for minimizing the risk?
Hussain, the primary author, stressed the importance of making informed choices to minimize exposure to micro- and nanoplastics. He also emphasized the need for identifying polymers that release fewer particles and the potential development of plastics that do not release any micro- or nanoplastics.
Where were the study’s findings published?
The study’s findings were published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
More about Nanoplastics in baby food containers
- Environmental Science & Technology Journal
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln
- World Health Organization (WHO) Report on Microplastics
- National Science Foundation
- Buffett Early Childhood Institute
5 comments
Not again! Now what? Every day, some new danger pops up for our kids 🙁
omg, this is truly horrifying! How are we supposed to trust these companies when they endanger our babies like this!
Ive been saying this for years, we need to get rid of all plastic, not just for the environment but for our health too.
we really need to take these studies seriously… our health and our children’s health is at stake!
i microwave baby food all the time…didn’t know about this nanoplastic stuff. Scary, need to read up on this.