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Screening method for differentiation of plastic and non-plastic microparticles contaminating store-bought rice
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Researchers tested five brands of store-bought rice and found plastic microparticles in all of them regardless of packaging type, with concentrations as high as 12 particles per gram of rice. Using simple optical microscopy and infrared spectroscopy, the study shows that a low-cost screening method can quickly distinguish true microplastics from other particles like rice starch or cellulose, an important step toward routine food safety monitoring.
This article presents a simple and low-cost screening method based on optical microscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy for assessing microparticles found in rice. Five brands of rice packed in paper and foil bags from both the European Union (EU) and non-EU region were tested. Microparticles of various shapes have been found in the rice regardless of the packaging type and origin of the rice. The content of microparticles varies depending on the sample, from 2 to even 12 items per 1 g of rice. Overall, the abundance of microparticles is higher in the case of rice packed in foil bags. Not all identified microparticles are microplastics, but those that are microplastics cannot be directly linked to the composition of the rice package. For a cursory analysis aimed at distinguishing the infrared spectra of non-plastic microparticles (i.e. rice, paper or cellulose) from microplastics, it is sufficient only to analyse the absorption bands above 2800 cm.
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Researchers detected microplastics for the first time in commercial rice brands sold in India, using FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy to identify polymer types. The findings raise concerns about dietary microplastic exposure through one of the world's most widely consumed staple foods.
Plastics contamination of store-bought rice.
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Researchers detected microplastics in store-bought rice, one of the worlds most widely consumed staple foods. Multiple types of plastic were found in samples from different brands and processing methods, including polyethylene and PET. The findings indicate that food processing and packaging contribute to microplastic contamination of rice and raise concerns about dietary plastic exposure.
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Researchers detected and characterized microplastics in commercial rice brands from India for the first time, finding contamination in a staple food consumed by hundreds of millions of people. Fiber and fragment morphotypes dominated, with polymer identification confirming synthetic plastic rather than processing artifacts.
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Researchers found microplastics in all samples of Indian rice tested, averaging about 30 particles per 100 grams, with polyethylene and PET being the most common types. The study estimated daily microplastic intake from rice consumption for men, women, and children, highlighting that this dietary staple is a potential pathway for plastic particles to enter the human body.
Microplastics in Carolino rice from Portugal
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Researchers measured microplastic contamination in commercially packaged Portuguese Carolino rice and found a median of 0.12 particles per gram — predominantly fibers under 1 mm — with no significant difference between paper and plastic packaging, suggesting contamination occurs before the product is packaged.
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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.