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Updated: Jul 31, 2025
Sampling, Identification and Characterization of Microplastics Release from Polypropylene Baby Feeding Bottle during Daily Use
Published on: July 24, 2021
Microplastic release from the degradation of polypropylene feeding bottles during infant formula preparation
Dunzhu Li1,2, Yunhong Shi2, Luming Yang1,2
1AMBER Research Centre and Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Insights
Infant feeding bottles made from polypropylene (PP) release millions of microplastics into formula. Sterilization and hot water significantly increase this release, posing a potential health risk to infants.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Polypropylene (PP) products are widely used for food preparation and storage.
- The release of microplastics from PP products, especially during infant feeding, is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate microplastic release from PP infant feeding bottles (IFBs).
- To assess infant exposure to microplastics from formula prepared in PP IFBs.
- To evaluate factors influencing microplastic release and estimate global infant exposure.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of microplastic release from PP IFBs under various conditions (sterilization, high-temperature water).
- 21-day testing of PP IFBs to observe release patterns.
- Global survey across 48 regions to estimate infant exposure levels.
Main Results:
- PP IFBs can release extremely high concentrations of microplastics, up to 16,200,000 particles per litre.
- Sterilization and high-temperature water significantly elevate microplastic release.
- Estimated daily infant exposure varies widely by region, ranging from 14,600 to 4,550,000 particles per capita.
Conclusions:
- Infant exposure to microplastics from PP IFBs is substantial and higher than previously recognized.
- The prevalence of PP products in infant formula preparation contributes to significant microplastic exposure.
- There is an urgent need to evaluate the health risks associated with these microplastic exposure levels in infants.
Abstract:
Polypropylene-based products are commonly used for food preparation and storage, but their capacity to release microplastics is poorly understood. We investigated the potential exposure of infants to microplastics from consuming formula prepared in polypropylene (PP) infant feeding bottles (IFBs). Here, we show that PP IFBs release microplastics with values as high as 16,200,000 particles per litre. Scenario studies showed that PP IFB sterilization and exposure to high-temperature water significantly increase microplastic release. A 21-d test of PP IFBs showed periodic fluctuations in microplastic release. To estimate the potential global exposure to infants up to 12 months old, we surveyed 48 regions, finding values ranging from 14,600-4,550,000 particles per capita per day, depending on the region. We demonstrate that infant exposure to microplastics is higher than was previously recognized due to the prevalence of PP-based products used in formula preparation and highlight an urgent need to assess whether exposure to microplastics at these levels poses a risk to infant health.
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