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Microplastics contamination in seaweed: impacts on human health and mitigation approaches
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This review found that microplastics contaminate many types of edible seaweed, with fibers and fragments being the most common forms. Since seaweed is consumed worldwide, these microplastics can enter the human body and potentially cause oxidative damage, cell toxicity, and neurotoxicity. More research is needed to fully understand the health risks of eating microplastic-contaminated seaweed.
Marine algae, which are often overlooked but extremely versatile, are proving to be a promising solution in the midst of environmental challenges. They are used as raw materials in various sectors and also serve as food for humans. The rapid increase in plastics poses an urgent ecological problem that requires immediate attention in the marine ecosystem. This study provides an overview of microplastics (MPs) pollution and its harmful effects on human health. The study also addresses the research gaps and future directions. The data was collected from various databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, Dimension, Pubmed and Pubmed Central. The bibliometric analysis shows that a total of 1020 articles were extracted for the study. Fibers, fragments, foam, films, and microbeads were the most abundant MPs types found in seaweed such as Fucus vesiculosus, Gracilaria lemaneiformis, and Ulva flexuosa. Most of the MP’s types were recorded in U. prolifera, Caulerpa prolifera, F. vesiculosus, G. lemaneiformis, Chondrus ocellatus, and Ulva lactuca. These MPs contaminated with MPs can cause oxidative damage, cytotoxicity, neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity in consumers. Most studies on MPs contamination of algae were conducted in 2020, 2021 and 2022. This suggests that since algae are consumed worldwide, additional field and laboratory studies are needed to determine the true situation. The results also suggest that further research is needed on the effects of MPs contaminated with MPs on human health. Further global studies are needed, as well as continuous monitoring of MPs levels in edible algae. Public awareness is crucial to minimize the impact of plastic on the oceans, which requires innovative technologies, consumer choices and environmental responsibility. Interdisciplinary collaboration is key for sustainable coexistence with the marine environment.
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Seaweed as a sink for microplastic contamination: Uptake, identifications and food safety implications
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This review examines how seaweed, a widely consumed food, absorbs and accumulates microplastics from ocean water. Research shows seaweed can account for up to 45.5% of total dietary microplastic intake in some regions, with particularly high levels in South Asia. The findings are concerning for human health because seaweed is eaten directly and is also increasingly used in health supplements and food additives.
Food safety in the seaweed food supply chain : Inventory of production, consumption and chemical and physical hazards
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This Dutch food safety report inventories the chemical and physical hazards — including microplastics — present in seaweed cultivated for human consumption. As the seaweed food market grows, understanding contamination risks including plastic particles is important for protecting consumer health.
Microplastics in Fish and Fishery Products and Risks for Human Health: A Review
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This review summarizes existing research on microplastic contamination in fish and seafood products and the associated human health risks. Microplastics found in fish can carry harmful chemicals and pathogens, and once eaten by humans, they may cause oxidative stress and move from the gut to other tissues. The review highlights seafood as a major dietary source of microplastic exposure and calls for better monitoring and risk assessment.
Microplastics in seafood: Implications for food security, safety, and human health
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This review examines how microplastics contaminate seafood -- from fish and shellfish to seaweed -- and what that means for food safety and human health. Marine organisms accumulate microplastics along with the harmful chemicals and antibiotic-resistant bacteria attached to them, creating multiple exposure risks when people eat seafood. With global seafood consumption rising sharply, the authors argue that microplastic contamination in the food supply deserves urgent attention from food safety regulators.
Micro- and nano-plastic contamination in foods and potential risk to human health
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This review summarizes the current state of knowledge about micro- and nanoplastic contamination in food, covering sources, occurrence, and analytical detection methods. Researchers found that while various foods, especially seafood, contain measurable levels of microplastics, the health risks to humans remain difficult to assess due to inconsistent research methods. The study calls for standardized approaches to better evaluate dietary exposure and potential health impacts.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.