Microplastics found in schoolchildren’s urine in Cyprus for the first time — STUDY

Microplastics have been detected in children’s urine in Cyprus for the first time: particles were found in all 29 samples examined by scientists. The study was conducted by the Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health at the Cyprus University of Technology (CII, Tepak) and the University of Catania in Italy, and the results were published in the scientific journal Particle and Fibre Toxicology.

First-morning urine samples were collected from schoolchildren in Limassol with an average age of 11. Particles smaller than 10 μm were found in every sample. Their concentration ranged from 393 to 8,050 particles per millilitre, with a median of 1,217 particles/ml and a median particle diameter of 1.69 μm.

Among the polymers, polyethylene predominated at 22.89 μg/ml, followed by polypropylene at 5.35 μg/ml. The total estimated polymer concentration was approximately 46 μg/ml. Polystyrene, PVC, PET and nylon were below the detection limit.

The researchers found no association between microplastic levels and body mass index or the children’s habit of putting their hands in their mouths. Differences between individual children were noticeable, but the authors caution against drawing conclusions from them.

“The results should be interpreted with caution,” the authors stress: the sample was small and limited to a single city, so the study is considered exploratory. Larger studies with repeated measurements and standardised methods are needed to understand the population-level picture and the possible health consequences.

Microplastics have previously been found in human blood, placental tissue and breast milk. For Cyprus, this is the first measurement of its kind in children.