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Analysis of microplastics in commercial vegetable edible oils from Italy and Spain
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Researchers tested commercial vegetable oils from Italy and Spain for microplastic contamination and found an average of 1,140 microplastic particles per liter across olive oil, sunflower oil, and seed oil. Most particles were tiny fragments under 100 micrometers, made primarily of polyethylene and polypropylene. This study is one of the first to document microplastics in cooking oils, revealing another dietary pathway through which people regularly consume microplastics.
In this work, assessment of microplastics (MPs) in commercial vegetable edible oils from Italy and Spain, including extra-virgin olive oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, and mixed seed oil, has been conducted for the first time. The method was based on sample dilution with ethanol:n-hexane (1:3, v/v), homogenization, vacuum filtration on macroporous silicon filters with 5 μm pore diameter to collect MPs, and automatic µ-FTIR spectroscopy for MPs detection and characterization. In the analysis of oil samples, a mean MPs abundance of 1140 ± 350 MPs/L was found. Observed MPs were characterized, being most of them fragments (81.2 %), with particle sizes < 100 µm (77.5 %), and mainly composed of polyethylene (50.3 %) and polypropylene (28.7 %), among others. Statistical analysis revealed that there were not significant differences (p-value > 0.05) in the abundance of MPs between oil samples or types.
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Researchers tested seven types of cooking oil sold in Indonesia, including palm, canola, corn, soybean, and coconut oils, for microplastics. Microplastics, mostly fibers and fragments, were found in 33 samples, with bulk cooking oil containing the most particles and coconut oil the fewest.
Microplastic Debris in Palm Cooking Oil: A Call for Research
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Researchers tested 16 brands of palm cooking oil in Indonesia and found microplastic contamination in every single one. Premium cooking oils generally had lower contamination levels than bulk brands, with fibers and fragments being the most common particle types. The findings suggest that cooking oil may be an overlooked source of human dietary microplastic exposure.
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This study provides the first evidence of microplastic contamination in soybean oils sold in Bangladesh, finding an average of nearly 54,000 particles per liter across 60 branded and non-branded samples. Non-branded oils had significantly higher contamination levels than branded products, and the study identified polyurethane and nylon in edible oils for the first time. Health risk assessments estimated that children could be exposed to over 28,000 microplastic particles per year through soybean oil consumption alone.
Determination of Microplastics in Omega-3 Oil Supplements
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Researchers analyzed omega-3 oil supplements sold in the Korean market for microplastic contamination, finding plastic particles present in both capsules and raw oil products. The study examined supplements sourced from both plant and marine origins to assess whether the raw material or manufacturing process contributed to contamination. Evidence indicates that microplastics are present in commonly consumed health supplements, highlighting a previously underexplored route of human exposure.
Occurrence and Characterization of Microplastics in Commercial Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Apulia Region (Italy)
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Scientists analyzed commercially sold mussels from markets in southern Italy and found microplastics in every sample tested. On average, each mussel contained about 1.6 plastic particles, with fibers being the most common type, followed by fragments. Since mussels are eaten whole by consumers, the findings highlight a direct pathway for human exposure to microplastics through seafood.
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