Indonesian Activists Protest Microplastics Found In Baby Hearts

SURABAYA, INDONESIA - JULY 16: Indonesian activists hold a theatrical protest, featuring a large sculpture depicting the baby and human body filled with plastic waste on July 16, 2025 in Surabaya, Indonesia. Activists from Ecological Observation and Wetland Conservation (ECOTON) in Indonesia reported in July 2025 that microplastics were detected in human blood, urine, and amniotic fluid. Between September and November 2024, the group tested 83 baby care products and found that 58% contained microbeads—small plastic particles that can enter the body through the skin. Studies have shown that microplastics may contribute to systemic inflammation, disrupt blood clotting, cause arrhythmias, trigger heart cell death (apoptosis), promote tissue fibrosis, and increase the risk of heart failure and stroke. Babies are especially vulnerable, potentially ingesting up to 660,000 microplastic particles per year through feeding with plastic bottles. (Footage by Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images)