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Is our food safe? Microplastic occurrence and characteristics in vegetables cultivated in the vicinity of a municipal solid waste dumping ground—insights from Kolkata, India
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This Indian study investigated microplastic contamination in vegetables grown near a municipal waste dumping ground in Kolkata, finding MPs in all eleven vegetable types sampled. Leafy vegetables near the dump site had higher MP levels, raising food safety concerns for populations relying on locally grown produce.
The propagation of plastic pollution has triggered widespread microplastics (MPs) contamination, increasingly being detected across diverse ecosystems, including agricultural landscapes. However, there is a critical knowledge gap regarding MP contamination in food crops cultivated near municipal waste dumping ground. Therefore, this study involves in investigating the occurrence and characterization of MPs in agricultural soil, vegetables (Cabbage, Chili, Brinjal, Spinach and Tomato), and their rinsed water samples. A total of 25 vegetable samples and 25 soil samples were collected from each field using a stratified design. In addition, 25 rinsed-water samples were obtained from the corresponding vegetable samples collected from the agricultural fields present in the vicinity of Dhapa dumpsite in Kolkata, India. The results of this study revealed that chili was highly contaminated with 19.00 ± 2.92 MPs g and cabbage was least contaminated with 10.20 ± 4.27 MPs g. Polymeric profiling of the identified MPs revealed the presence of a varied range of polymers including polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with varying dominance patterns. Soil, rinsed water, and all vegetable exhibited polymer hazard Index (PHI) scores > 1000, corresponding to a level V hazard classification. Estimates of per day MP consumption (based on per capita consumption rate) indicates that spinach is associated with higher levels of MP consumption, while tomato and chilies contribute to lower levels in both rural and urban populations. The results underscore potential risks to human upon exposure, highlighting the urgent need for mitigation approaches, regulatory frameworks on dumping wastes, and sustainable agricultural practices to reduce MP contamination in food chain.
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