Assessing Age-Specific Variability in Microplastic Intake Through Seafood Consumption: A Case Study in Central Java,...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Food Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive in seafood, but their contribution to human intake is not fully understood.
• Previous human MP intake studies often overlook individual exposure variations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key seafood sources contributing to long-term microplastic intake in Semarang, Indonesia.
• To determine demographic groups with the highest microplastic exposure levels.

Main Methods:

• Utilized existing data on microplastic concentrations in local seafood, confirmed via microscopy and μ-FTIR.
• Combined seafood concentration data with consumption patterns from 982 respondents via questionnaires and 24-hour recalls.
• Employed Monte Carlo simulations (10,000 iterations) to estimate microplastic intake, incorporating species-specific MP levels and consumption variability.

Main Results:

• Bivalves are a significant source of MP intake for adolescents and adults.
• Crabs are the primary MP contributor for toddlers and the elderly, while shrimp are substantial for children.
• Adolescents exhibit the highest percentile MP intake, but children and toddlers show the greatest intake relative to body weight.

Conclusions:

• Seafood consumption patterns dictate microplastic exposure levels across different age groups.
• Children and toddlers are the most vulnerable populations due to higher microplastic intake per kilogram of body weight.
• Targeted interventions may be necessary to mitigate microplastic exposure in young children and toddlers through seafood consumption.