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Occurrence, analysis, and toxicity of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters 2025 20 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Mohamed Alaraby, Doaa Abass, Antonia Velázquez, Alba Hernández, Ricard Marcos

Summary

This review focuses on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the most common types of plastic found as microplastic contamination in food, beverages, dust, wildlife, and human tissues. The authors found major inconsistencies in how researchers measure and detect PET microplastics, making it difficult to accurately assess health risks. Better standardized methods are needed to understand the true scope of PET contamination.

Polymers

Abstract Global microplastic contamination of almost all biological and environmental media is an emerging threat to human health that recently fostered intense research. Here, we review polyethylene terephthalate with focus on microplastics, characteristics, uses, concentration, degradation, toxicity, and remediation. Plastic remediation can be done by landfills, incineration, pyrolysis, and biodegradation. We present microplastic occurrence in food, beverages, dust, wildlife, and human tissues. We observed inconsistencies in measurement techniques, limitations in detection reliability, and gaps in risk assessment.

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