Do children eat more microplastics from seafood than adults?

What's actually in it

Fish, shrimp, and other shellfish pick up tiny plastic particles from ocean pollution. These microplastics are smaller than 5 millimeters and come from broken-down packaging, synthetic clothing fibers, and industrial waste. You can't see most of them, and cooking doesn't remove them.

The plastics carry chemicals like phthalates, bisphenols, and heavy metals on their surface. Those chemicals can leach out once the seafood is eaten.

What the research says

A 2026 study in J Food Sci looked at microplastic intake from seafood across different age groups in Central Java, Indonesia. Researchers measured plastic particle counts in commonly eaten fish and shellfish, then calculated how much each age group actually swallows.

Adults ate more seafood so their total microplastic intake was higher. But children, especially those under 5 years old, had a much higher dose relative to their body weight. A toddler weighing 15 kg gets a bigger hit per pound than a 70 kg adult eating the same serving.

The study also found that certain shellfish, like mussels and shrimp, carried more microplastics than fin fish. Kids who regularly eat these types of seafood face the highest relative exposure.

This doesn't mean you should stop feeding your child fish. Seafood has important nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and protein. But choosing fin fish over shellfish and buying from cleaner water sources can help lower the plastic load on small bodies.