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Quantitative and qualitative assessment of microplastics contamination in plastic-wrapped candies and estimation of dietary exposure in early childhood
Summary
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in plastic-wrapped candies from 20 countries across Asia and Africa and estimated the dietary exposure for children aged one to five. They found an average of nearly 7 particles per gram of candy, with fiber-shaped microplastics in the 200-500 micrometer range being the most common. The findings raise concerns about early childhood exposure to microplastics through widely consumed packaged foods.
Microplastic contamination in food products has become an emerging public health concern. However, limited information is available on their presence in foods commonly consumed by young children. Candies, particularly those wrapped in plastic packaging, are commonly eaten by children aged 1-5 years as part of their daily treats. This study investigated the extent of microplastic contamination in plastic-wrapped candies and estimated the daily intake levels of microplastics by children. Twenty branded candy samples were collected from 20 countries across Asia and Africa. The analysis revealed an average concentration of 6.73 ± 3.73 particles/g, with fiber-shaped microplastics dominating (70.13 %), primarily within the 200-500 μm size range (62.23 %), and mostly white or transparent in color. Polymer-specific analysis identified polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as the most prevalent polymer (38.21 %; 2.49 ± 1.22 particles/g), typically associated with plastic packaging and other pollution sources. The estimated average daily intake of microplastics for boys and girls across all age groups was 23.04 ± 0.93 and 24.61 ± 0.99 particles/kg bw/day, respectively, representing a potentially significant dietary exposure route. The study reveals widespread and varying microplastic contamination in candies. This highlights the need for safe packaging materials and processing, reducing the contamination of candies with microplastics.