Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2026
Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis
Published on: December 16, 2016
Microplastics in canned, salt-dried, and instant sea cucumbers sold for human consumption
Mohamed Mohsen1, Chenggang Lin2, Mohnad Abdalla3
1CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Xiamen Key Laboratory for Feed Quality Testing and Safety Evaluation, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China; CAS Engineering Laboratory for Marine Ranching, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China; Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Qingdao 266071, China; The Innovation of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; Department of Fish Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo 11884, Egypt.
Abstract:
Determining the amount of microplastics (MPs) in food is key to clarifying their potential toxicity to humans. Here, we collected canned, instant, and salt-dried sea cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus, the most valued sea cucumbers, from Chinese markets to determine their content of MPs. Sea cucumbers contained MPs in the range of 0-4 MP individual-1, an average of 1.44 MP individual-1, and 0.081 MP g-1. Accordingly, consuming 3 g of sea cucumbers could result in an exposure risk of an average of 0.51 MPs, 0.135 MPs, and 0.078 MPs day-1 for canned, instant, and salt-dried sea cucumbers, respectively. MPs were in size range of 12-575 μm, and fibrous shape was dominant. Furthermore, among the five polymers identified, polypropylene showed the highest energy binding with two catalysts engaged in organic chemical oxidation. This study extends the knowledge regarding MPs occurrence in food and provides a theoretical basis for MPs toxicity in humans.
More Related Videos
05:31Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
Published on: July 28, 2018
08:11Ecotoxicological Effects of Microplastics on Bird Embryo Development by Hatching without Eggshell
Published on: August 14, 2021
