Microplastic contamination in commercial food and drink products and associated risk of potential human intake in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Extensive production and utilization of plastics have resulted in the subsequent accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in the environment, which has become a serious threat to human health globally. Therefore, in this study, 112 drinks and food products were purchased from local markets in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the abundance of MPs was investigated. The dominant size of MPs was 101-250 μm for tuna fish, noodles, bottled water, and disposable containers, 251-500 μm for honey, tea bags, and sugar, and 501-1000 μm for salt, juice, and soft drink samples. FTIR analysis indicated polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, and polyvinylchloride as the major polymer contents. The average total number of MPs was highest in tea bags (615.71 particles teabag), followed by sugar (281.01 particles kg), honey (197.67 particles kg), and salt (147.30 particles kg). Consumption of tea bags exhibited the highest risks of daily and annual MPs intake (15.06 particles kg day and 5496.45 particles kg year, respectively), followed by bottled water (4.77 particles kg day and 1741.32 particles kg year, respectively). Overall, this study provides vital baseline data about MPs contamination in Saudi Arabia. These findings could be used to develop strategies to minimize MPs contamination in food and beverages. Therefore, monitoring MPs in commonly consumed dietary products to avoid adverse impacts of MPs on human health is critically important.