In Semarang, young children and toddlers absorb more microplastics per kilogram of body weight than adults because they are smaller and eat more contaminated shellfish like crabs and shrimp, leading...
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
Kids eat the same dirty crabs and shrimp as adults, but because they’re much smaller, each bite gives them more plastic particles for every pound of their body. This means their bodies get a stronger dose relative to their size, even if they eat less overall.
Most probable mechanism
Kids eat the same contaminated shellfish as adults, but because they weigh less, each bite of crab or shrimp delivers more plastic particles for every pound of their body. This means their bodies get a stronger dose of microplastics relative to their size, even if they eat less overall.
Consumption of microplastic-contaminated shellfish introduces particulate matter into the gastrointestinal tract.
Microplastic particles are absorbed or retained in the digestive system at a rate proportional to the quantity ingested.
Due to lower total body mass, the same quantity of ingested microplastics results in a higher concentration per kilogram of body weight.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Community contributions welcome
Assessing Age‐Specific Variability in Microplastic Intake Through Seafood Consumption: A Case Study in Central Java, Indonesia
Contradicting (0)
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