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Microplastic ingestion from atmospheric deposition during dining/drinking activities.
Mingzhu Fang1, Zhonglu Liao1, Xiaoliang Ji1
1Key Laboratory of Watershed Sciences and Health of Zhejiang Province, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|March 17, 2022
Summary
Microplastic ingestion via atmospheric deposition during dining is a significant human exposure route. Simple measures like covering food can greatly reduce this dietary microplastic intake.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Food Safety
Background:
- Microplastic health risks are a growing concern, yet human exposure pathways remain unclear.
- Inhalation was previously considered the primary route for atmospheric microplastic exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate microplastic ingestion through atmospheric deposition during dining.
- To quantify microplastic exposure via diet in indoor and outdoor settings.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of atmospheric-deposited microplastics in dining venues.
- Estimation of annual microplastic ingestion based on typical dining scenarios.
Main Results:
- Atmospheric microplastic deposition reached up to 10^5 items/m^2/day.
- Annual ingestion ranged from 1.9x10^5 to 1.3x10^6 microplastics.
- Dietary ingestion via deposition is comparable to inhalation but far exceeds direct food ingestion.
Conclusions:
- Atmospheric microplastic deposition during dining is a major exposure pathway.
- Indoor dining poses higher exposure risks than outdoor settings.
- Mitigation strategies like covering dishware can reduce dietary microplastic exposure.
