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Comparative Analysis of Microplastic Release from Plastic and Biodegradable Food Containers Under Thermal and Food Simulant Conditions
Summary
Heating up food in plastic containers releases tiny plastic particles (microplastics) into your food, and this study found that "eco-friendly" containers made from cornstarch aren't necessarily a safer choice, they released about as many microplastics as regular plastic under some conditions. Polystyrene containers were the worst offenders, especially when in contact with acidic foods (like vinegar-based sauces) at high heat, so it's smart to avoid heating acidic or oily foods in plastic containers, even "biodegradable" ones.
Microplastics released from food containers have posed significant environmental and health concerns. Since traditional plastics like polystyrene and polypropylene are already known as contributors to this pollution, most research has focused only on these types of plastic. There are still limited studies about the potential of biodegradable containers like cornstarch and sugarcane bagasse to release microplastics under certain conditions, while they may also contain microplastic components. Besides, the knowledge about the influence of food properties such as acidity and oil content on microplastic release remains limited due to a lack of research focusing on their impact. Due to these concerns, this study aims to identify and compare the abundance of microplastics released between plastic food containers and biodegradable containers when exposed to different environmental conditions, including temperatures of 40°C, 70°C, and 100°C, as well as food simulants such as 3% acetic acid and vegetable oil. A total of 24 food containers derived from plastic and biodegradable materials were subjected to these treatments. The released microplastics were then collected via a vacuum filtration setup and analyzed using stereo microscopy and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. The results indicate that all container types released microplastic particles under all treatments. Polystyrene materials consistently exhibited the highest amount, with a total of 176 particles released, especially under the combination condition between 3% acetic acid and 100°C. Notably, under certain treatments, cornstarch materials showed a comparable amount of microplastic released as polypropylene, highlighting that these biodegradable materials are not entirely exempt from contributing to microplastic pollution despite their eco-friendly claims.