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The plastic footprint of sugar: Microplastic contamination in Bangladesh's commercial sugar
Original title: The plastic footprint of sugar: Microplastic contamination in Bangladesh’s commercial sugar
Summary
Scientists tested sugar sold in Bangladesh and found tiny plastic particles, called microplastics, in nearly every sample—loose, unbranded sugar had even more than packaged brands. The good news: while the plastic types found could theoretically be harmful in large amounts, the actual levels detected were well below concerning thresholds. Still, since sugar is eaten daily by most people, this adds to a growing body of evidence that plastic contamination is quietly making its way into everyday foods, and it's worth keeping an eye on.
The presence of microplastics (MPs) in food has emerged as an environmental and public health concern, yet evidence regarding their occurrence in refined dietary commodities remains limited. This study assesses microplastic contamination in commercially available sugar and estimates the daily intake of MPs. Seven branded and non-branded sugar products were analysed using stereomicroscopy for particle characterization and FTIR spectroscopy for polymer identification. Microplastics were detected in 95% of samples, with concentrations ranging from 210 to 508 particles/kg. Branded sugar contained 322±109.53 particles/kg, while non-branded sugar exhibited 403±148.5 particles/kg, indicating comparatively higher contamination in freely available market sugar, although the difference was not statistically significant (p >0.05). Particle sizes varied from ≤12 µm to 3.19 mm, dominated by fibers and fragments. FTIR analysis confirmed diverse polymers including ABS, PVC, PETE, PTFE, PC, CA, HDPE, EVA, and Nylon. Based on the Human Health Risk Assessment framework, the estimated daily intake was 0.2178 particles/kilogram of body weight, and the Hazard-to-Concentration Ratio ranged from 7.1 to 17.16, demonstrating that although several polymers possess elevated hazard classifications, their measured concentrations remained well below corresponding reference thresholds. Overall, commercial sugar represents a continuous dietary exposure pathway, underscoring the need for systematic monitoring and strengthened food-safety evaluation.