From Placenta to Puberty: Micro plastics and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Across the Pediatric Life Course

Abstract

Plastic pollution is increasingly understood not only as an environmental problem but also as a potential developmental health threat. Children encounter plastic particles and plastic-associated endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) through food, drinking water, indoor and outdoor air, dust, consumer products, personal-care products and medical devices. Exposure may begin before conception and continue through pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and puberty. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on pediatric exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs), bisphenols, phthalates, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), brominated flame retardants and related compounds. Literature published mainly from 2015 to June 2026 was identified through PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and reports from the World Health Organization and United Nations agencies. Experimental research supports biologically plausible pathways involving oxidative stress, inflammation, altered intestinal permeability and microbiota, endocrine receptor activity, epigenetic change, mitochondrial dysfunction and placental effects. Human biomonitoring confirms fetal and childhood exposure, while epidemiological evidence more consistently links several plastic associated chemicals rather than plastic particles themselves with adverse birth outcomes, altered growth and puberty, neurodevelopmental effects, thyroid dysfunction, metabolic risk and reproductive outcomes. Direct causal evidence for MNP-related disease in children remains limited by inconsistent sampling, contamination, particle characterization and exposure assessment. Pediatricians should communicate risk without alarm, prioritize feasible exposure-reduction measures and advocate for safer products and environments. The most effective response must combine individual guidance with regulation, producer responsibility, improved waste systems, standardized biomonitoring and longitudinal birth-cohort research. Protecting children from plastic-related exposures is a life course and environmental justice priority.