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Related Concept Videos

Plasticizers01:31

Plasticizers

251
Water-reducers, or plasticizers, are chemical admixtures used in concrete to improve strength and workability. These additives reduce the water-cement ratio without compromising workability, lower the cement content while maintaining the same workability, or increase workability to assist concrete placement in inaccessible areas.
Plasticizers function by using surface-active agents to create repulsive electrostatic forces between cement particles. This dispersion enhances the concrete's...
251

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Sampling, Identification and Characterization of Microplastics Release from Polypropylene Baby Feeding Bottle during Daily Use
05:48

Sampling, Identification and Characterization of Microplastics Release from Polypropylene Baby Feeding Bottle during Daily Use

Published on: July 24, 2021

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Microplastics in take-out food containers.

Fangni Du1, Huiwen Cai1, Qun Zhang2

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.

Journal of Hazardous Materials
|June 12, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microplastics are present in all examined take-out containers, with polystyrene (PS) showing the highest levels. Hot water treatment did not affect microplastic release, indicating potential ingestion risks from daily food consumption.

Keywords:
Human healthHuman ingestionMicroplasticsTake-out container

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Materials Science
  • Food Safety

Background:

  • Microplastic contamination is a growing global concern, detected in diverse environmental matrices and food sources.
  • Research on microplastics in food packaging, particularly take-out containers, remains limited.
  • Take-out containers are ubiquitous, posing a potential pathway for human microplastic exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and abundance of microplastics in common take-out containers from China.
  • To identify the polymer types of microplastics found within these containers.
  • To assess the impact of hot water treatment on microplastic release and estimate potential human ingestion.

Main Methods:

  • Collection of take-out containers (polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate) from five Chinese cities.
  • Microplastic analysis using direct flushing and hot water immersion methods.
  • Identification of microplastic polymer types and comparison with container materials.

Main Results:

  • Microplastics were detected in all tested take-out containers, with abundances ranging from 3 to 29 items/container.
  • Polystyrene (PS) containers, especially those with rough surfaces, exhibited the highest microplastic concentrations.
  • Detected microplastics included polymers matching the containers (e.g., PP, PS) and other types (polyester, rayon, acrylic, nylon).
  • Hot water immersion did not significantly alter microplastic abundance in the containers.
  • Estimated weekly ingestion of microplastics from containers for frequent consumers (4-7 times/week) ranged from 12 to 203 pieces.

Conclusions:

  • Take-out containers are a significant source of microplastic contamination, originating from atmospheric fallout and container degradation.
  • Container surface characteristics, like roughness in PS, influence microplastic shedding.
  • Frequent consumption of take-out food presents a notable risk of microplastic ingestion through packaging.