Exposure to microplastics from food: Comparative analysis of food types and quantification techniques

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Food Science
• Toxicology

Background:

• Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental pollutants with documented presence in food.
• Comprehensive data on MP abundance, polymeric identity, and size distribution in the human diet remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and analyze existing data on microplastic concentrations in various food categories.
• To estimate daily microplastic intake from food and identify major contributing food groups.
• To assess the influence of analytical methods and polymeric composition on reported MP data.

Main Methods:

• Compiled and analyzed data on number-based and mass-based MP concentrations from 193 and 12 scientific papers, respectively.
• Categorized MP data across 13 food and drink types, including meat, grains, produce, seafood, and water.
• Evaluated the distribution of MP polymeric identities (e.g., PE, PET, PP) and discussed the impact of analytical techniques.

Main Results:

• Research focus on seafood is disproportionate to dietary habits, potentially due to filter feeders.
• Fruits, vegetables, and grains are identified as significant contributors to estimated daily microplastic intake.
• Estimated total daily MP intake varies widely, with a median of 721 #MPs/kg of body weight/day. Polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polypropylene (PP) are the most common polymers found.

Conclusions:

• Current research on dietary microplastics is skewed, necessitating a broader scope beyond seafood.
• Fruits, vegetables, and grains represent critical, yet potentially underestimated, sources of dietary microplastic exposure.
• Standardization of analytical methods and further research are recommended to accurately assess human exposure to microplastics through food.