Study Links Microplastics to Infant Brain Development with New Funding

October 5, 2026 - 02:48

A new research effort will examine how microplastics may affect brain development in infants, supported by a $3.3 million grant. The work focuses on measuring exposure during pregnancy and tracking developmental outcomes in the first year of life.

Researchers will measure exposure through maternal blood. They will also examine fetal brain development through ultrasound and collect cord blood and placenta samples. These samples will help determine the presence and concentration of microplastics that may pass from mother to child during pregnancy.

After birth, infants will be assessed at 2, 6 and 12 months for neurological function, motor development, language skills and cognition. The study aims to identify whether higher levels of microplastic exposure are associated with differences in these developmental milestones.

Microplastics, tiny plastic particles less than five millimeters in size, have been found in water, food and air. Growing evidence suggests they can enter the human body, but their effects on early brain development remain largely unknown. This project seeks to fill that gap by following families over time and collecting detailed health data.

The findings could inform public health guidance for pregnant women and shape future regulations on plastic pollution. Researchers say the study is among the first to connect prenatal microplastic exposure with infant neurological outcomes in a structured, longitudinal way.