Microplastic Exposure in Neonates Receiving Parenteral Nutrition: A Prospective Cohort Study in the NICU
概览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 发起方
- Huiyi Li
- 入组人数
- 12
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Particle number of neonatal blood sample
概览
简要总结
The purpose of this study is to explore a potential exposure risk in the neonatal intensive care unit, namely, the iatrogenic microplastic exposure that critically ill newborns may face when receiving life-saving parenteral nutrition (intravenous nutrition delivered through a plastic infusion system). Therefore, the investigators designed a prospective study. By comparing three groups of newborns-those requiring long-term intravenous nutrition, short-term intravenous nutrition, and no intravenous nutrition-and collecting blood samples with strictly contamination-proof non-plastic instruments, the investigators used high-precision Raman spectroscopy for detection. For the first time, they attempted to systematically and quantitatively analyze the microplastic load in neonatal blood and its relationship with the duration of intravenous nutrition. The aim of this study is to provide novel scientific evidence for evaluating microplastic exposure in the neonatal medical environment, with the ultimate goal of establishing a basis for developing safer clinical practices and medical material standards in the future, thereby better protecting the long-term health of vulnerable newborns.
详细描述
BACKGROUND: As a new environmental pollutant, microplastics has been found in many tissues of human body. Newborns, especially those who need intensive care and parenteral nutrition, may face a unique and persistent risk of microplastics exposure through plastic medical equipment, but their internal load is not clear.
Objective
The purpose of this study is to systematically evaluate the microplastics exposure of newborns in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during hospitalization through a prospective observation cohort, focusing on the potential relationship between the duration of parenteral nutrition and microplastics load.
Methods: Twelve newborns were recruited in 2025, and were divided into long-term exposure group, short-term exposure group and unexposed control group according to the support time of parenteral nutrition. In this study, blood samples of newborns were collected under strict pollution control, and microplastics in the samples was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Non Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Screening
- 盲法
- Single (Participant)
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 1 Hour 至 2 Months（Child）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •Newborns hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit of Guangdong Second People's Hospital in
- •The gestational age of birth is ≥ 28 weeks.
- •Intravenous nutrition time is 1-56 days.
- •The mother has no serious basic diseases (such as heart disease, chronic kidney disease, mental illness, hypertension, diabetes, etc.).
排除标准
- •There are serious congenital malformations or chromosomal abnormalities. Combined with other serious diseases that may affect the metabolism or distribution of microplastics (such as congenital metabolic abnormality, liver or renal insufficiency).
- •Parents or legal guardians withdraw informed consent.
- •Death or automatic discharge within 72 hours after birth.
研究组 & 干预措施
Long-term exposure group
Premature infants requiring continuous parenteral nutrition support for over 14 days due to severe feeding difficulties, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), short bowel syndrome, or other serious intestinal diseases
干预措施: No Intervention: Observational Cohort (Behavioral)
Short-term exposure group
Premature infants receiving parenteral nutrition support for 3-7 days due to early adaptation issues (e.g., respiratory distress, temporary feeding intolerance) and having successfully transitioned to total parenteral nutrition for at least 48 hours prior to blood sample collection. This group represents common short-term iatrogenic exposure in NICU settings.
干预措施: No Intervention: Observational Cohort (Behavioral)
Control group
The study included healthy full-term newborns born at 37 weeks or later gestational age. These infants received neither intravenous nutritional support nor planned fluid therapy, serving as baseline microplastic levels in the absence of iatrogenic exposure.
结局指标
主要结局
Particle number of neonatal blood sample
时间窗: parenteral nutrition support for over 14 days，parenteral nutrition support for 3-7 days，The first day after birth
The number of microplastics granules in newborn blood was detected.
次要结局
- Education(Day 1)
- Occupation(Day 1)
- Annual income per capita (CNY)(Day 1)
- Parity(Day 1)
- Mode of conception(Day 1)
- Birth outcome(Day 1)
- Sex of newborns(Day 1)
- Mode of delivery(Day 1)
- Newborn weight (kg)(Day 1)
- Length of intravenous nutrition(Day 1)
研究者
Huiyi Li
Deputy director of the nurse, the Second People's Hospital of Guangdong Province
Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital