Polypropylene-based products are commonly used for food preparation and storage, but their capacity to release microplastics is poorly understood. We investigated the potential exposure of infants to microplastics from consuming formula prepared in polypropylene infant feeding bottles (PP-IFBs). Here, we show that PP-IFBs release microplastics with values as high as 16,200,000 particles/L. Scenario studies showed that PP-IFB sterilisation and exposure to high temperature water significantly increase microplastic release. A 21-day test of PP-IFBs showed periodic fluctuations in microplastic release. To estimate the potential global exposure to infants up to 12 months old, we surveyed 48 regions finding values ranging from 14,600 to 4,550,000 particles per capita per day, depending on the region. We demonstrate that infant exposure to microplastics is higher than previously recognized due to the prevalence of polypropylene-based products in formula preparation, highlighting an urgent need to assess whether MPs exposure at these levels pose a risk to infant health. A formula preparation scheme that reduces the exposure of infants to microplastics is suggested.

Direct alcohol fuel cells are highly promising as efficient power sources for various mobile and portable applications. However, for the further advancement of fuel cell technology it is necessary to develop new, cost-effective Pt-free electrocatalysts that could provide efficient alcohol oxidation and also resist cross-over poisoning. Here, we report new electrocatalytic materials for ethylene glycol oxidation, which are based on AuAg linear nanostructures. We demonstrate a low temperature tunable synthesis that enables the preparation of one dimensional (1D) AuAg nanostructures ranging from nanowires to a new nano-necklace-like structure. Using a two-step method, we showed that, by aging the initial reaction mixture at various temperatures, we produced ultrathin AuAg nanowires with a diameter of 9.2 ± 2 and 3.8 ± 1.6 nm, respectively. These nanowires exhibited a high catalytic performance for the electro-oxidation of ethylene glycol with remarkable poisoning resistance. These results highlight the benefit of 1D metal alloy-based nanocatalysts for fuel cell applications and are expected to make an important contribution to the further development of fuel cell technology.

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