We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Canned seafood as a potential source of microplastics exposure with taxon-specific partitioning and packaging-derived contamination
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in nearly half of canned seafood products tested, coming from both the fish/shellfish themselves and the can's protective coating—meaning the packaging itself is adding to the problem, not just ocean pollution. If you drink the liquid in the can along with eating the seafood, your plastic exposure more than doubles compared to eating just the solid pieces, so draining that liquid may be a simple way to reduce your intake.
Despite extensive documentation of microplastics (MPs) contamination in fresh seafood, canned marine products-a substantial fraction of global aquatic food-remain conspicuously underinvestigated. Here, we elucidated the contamination profiles of μ-FTIR-identifiable MPs (>50 μm) in solid tissues and surrounding liquid media of eight commercially popular canned seafood products in China, including three fish (Cirrhinus molitorella, Thunnus thynnus, and Trichiurus lepturus), three bivalves (Paphia undulata, Crassostrea gigas, and Argopecten irradians), and two shrimp (Procambarus clarkii and Litopenaeus vannamei). Quantitative analyses revealed a 46.3% detection frequency for MPs, yielding an overall mean abundance of 0.11 ± 0.14 items/g (10.36 ± 2.03 items/can), characterized by comparable mean loads between solid tissues (0.05 ± 0.11 items/g) and the surrounding broths (0.07 ± 0.10 items/g). MPs distribution exhibited pronounced taxon-specific heterogeneity: fish showed higher MPs loads in broths than in meat, bivalves showed the contrary, and shrimp exhibited minimal contamination. The recovered MPs predominantly comprised polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN). Notably, phenoxy and epoxy resin MPs, which were also identified in the internal can coatings, accounted for 13.3% of the total MPs detected in canned samples, and MPs abundance was positively correlated with sodium ion concentration. Dietary exposure assessments indicate that under scenarios simulating routine solid consumption (with naturally adhering broth retained), the annual per capita MPs intake among the Chinese demographic is 12.83 items (0.20 and 0.31 items/year/kg for adults and minors, respectively). However, the complete ingestion of the residual intra-can broth escalates this exposure to 27.89 items (0.43 and 0.67 items/year/kg, respectively). This study indicates that canned seafood represents a route of human MPs intake, with food processing and packaging as potential contamination sources that merit consideration in food safety evaluations.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic contamination in seafood: Comparison between fresh and canned samples
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared microplastic levels in fresh versus canned versions of four seafood species and found that canned seafood had significantly higher contamination — up to three times more microplastics per gram — suggesting the canning process itself introduces additional plastic particles. This raises new food safety concerns, as consumers eating canned seafood may be ingesting more microplastics than those eating fresh.
Abundance, composition, and potential intake of microplastics in canned fish
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined canned tuna and mackerel products for microplastic contamination and found plastic particles present in all samples tested. Fibers were the most common particle type, and polymer analysis identified materials consistent with packaging components. The study estimates potential human microplastic intake from canned fish consumption and highlights the need for further investigation into how processing and packaging contribute to seafood contamination.
Uncovering microplastics contamination in canned seafood
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested multiple types of canned seafood and found microplastic contamination in every single product examined, with an average of 3.5 particles per can. Octopus in tomato sauce and tuna in olive oil had the highest contamination levels, and polyester fibers were the most common type found. This study identifies canned seafood as yet another pathway through which people are regularly consuming microplastics, with contamination potentially introduced during the processing and canning stages.
Isolation and characterization of microplastics in marine foodstuff
AI summary Read the abstract
This study isolated and characterized microplastics from a variety of marine food products including canned fish and shellfish, finding contamination in all tested products. The results confirm that processed seafood products carry microplastics through to consumers, expanding the known routes of human dietary exposure.
Assessing Microplastic Contamination and Polymer Hazard in Preserved Clams Marketed in Italy and Spain
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in every sample of canned and jarred clams they tested from Italy and Spain, and surprisingly, the glass-jarred clams had 10 times more plastic contamination than canned ones, likely from packaging materials like paint, glue, and plastic linings used during processing. While scientists are still studying the health effects of eating microplastics, this research suggests that even "cleaner" packaging like glass jars doesn't guarantee less plastic exposure, and better manufacturing standards may be needed to reduce contamination in seafood.
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.