We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Assessing microplastic contamination in milk and dairy products
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested 28 dairy samples and found microplastics in all of them, with ripened cheese containing the highest levels at about 1,857 particles per kilogram, followed by fresh cheese and milk. The most common plastics found were PET, polyethylene, and polypropylene, likely coming from packaging materials, confirming that dairy products are another route of microplastic exposure for humans.
The presence of microplastics in food has raised growing concern due to potential health risks. While many studies have investigated microplastics in water and seafood, limited data are available for dairy products. This study qualitatively and quantitatively characterizes microplastics in milk, fresh cheese, and ripened cheese, assessing concentration levels and polymer composition through the analysis of 28 dairy samples using Fourier-transformed infrared micro-spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance mode. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) was the most frequent, followed by polyethylene and polypropylene. Most microplastics were smaller than 150 μm, with 51-100 μm being the most common (33.8%). Irregular fragments (77.4%) and grey particles (68.4%) were predominant. Ripened cheese exhibited the highest microplastic concentration (1857 MP/kg), followed by fresh cheese (1280 MP/kg) and milk (350.0 MP/kg). Results confirm widespread microplastic contamination in dairy products and highlight the importance of further research into contamination pathways and strategies to reduce microplastic exposure in the dairy chain.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in Dairy Products: Occurrence, Characterization, Contamination Sources, Detection Methods, and Future Challenges
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed 17 studies on microplastic contamination in milk and dairy products and found concentrations ranging from undetectable to over 10,000 particles per kilogram, with baby milk powder showing the highest levels. The most common plastics found were polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, and polyester, including some types considered harmful to human health. The study highlights that dairy products are particularly susceptible to microplastic contamination from packaging, processing equipment, and the environment.
Occurrence, Characteristics, and Exposure Assessment of Microplastics in Commercial Dairy Products
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found tiny plastic particles (called microplastics) in every single dairy product they tested, likely coming from the packaging the food is stored in. Kids are especially exposed since they eat more relative to their body weight, and while we don't yet know the full health effects of eating these particles, this study is a first step toward understanding how much plastic is ending up in everyday foods like milk and yogurt.
Characterization of microplastics in skim-milk powders
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested 16 skim-milk powder samples from eight European countries and found microplastics in every single one, identifying 536 plastic particles across 29 different polymer types. The most common plastics found were polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and PET, suggesting widespread contamination of dairy products that could contribute to human microplastic intake.
Emerging Health Risks Associated with the Intake of Microplastics Found in Milk and Dairy Products
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed health risks from microplastics found in various milk and dairy products, including conventional, organic, and raw varieties. They found that yogurts showed consistently higher associations with certain polymer contaminations, and strong correlations existed between microplastic concentration and exposure-related risk parameters. The study suggests that routine consumption of contaminated dairy products represents an emerging dietary exposure pathway for microplastics.
Microplastic contamination in cheese from traditional and industrial production systems
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers characterized microplastics in six Slovak cheeses produced across traditional, small-scale, and industrial dairy systems, detecting 249–1,548 synthetic particles per sample dominated by polyethylene, polyamide, and polypropylene fragments, suggesting that both processing equipment and environmental pathways contribute contamination regardless of production scale.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.