We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics in food: scoping review on health effects, occurrence, and human exposure
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed evidence on microplastic contamination across many types of food and found that humans may ingest hundreds of thousands of microplastic particles per year through everyday foods including water and salt. The health effects remain unclear, but the widespread contamination creates a basis for ongoing, chronic exposure.
Abstract With most of the plastics ever produced now being waste, slowly degrading and fragmenting in the environment, microplastics (MPs) have become an emerging concern regarding their presence in food and influence on human health. While many studies on marine ecotoxicology and the occurrence of MPs in fish and shellfish exist, research on the occurrence of MPs in other foods and their effect on human health is still in early-stage, but the attention is increasing. This review aimed to provide relevant information on the possible health effect of ingested MPs, the occurrence, and levels of MPs contamination in various foods and estimated exposure to MPs through food. Potential toxic consequences from exposure to MPs through food can arise from MPs themselves, diffused monomers and additives but also from sorbed contaminants or microorganisms that colonise MPs. Recent publications have confirmed widespread contamination of our food with MPs including basic and life-essential constituents such as water and salt providing the basis for chronic exposure. Available exposure assessments indicate that we ingest up to several hundred thousand MPs particles yearly.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in food: scoping review on health effects, occurrence, and human exposure
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesizes evidence on microplastic occurrence in a broad range of food types beyond fish and shellfish, estimated human dietary exposure, and potential health effects including toxicity from particles themselves, leached monomers, chemical additives, and co-contaminants, identifying major research gaps in non-marine food categories.
MICROPLASTICS: Focus on Food and Health
AI summary Read the abstract
This review covers the presence of microplastics in food and discusses their potential health implications, noting that humans are exposed through seafood, salt, drinking water, and other dietary sources. It summarizes current scientific understanding while acknowledging significant gaps in knowledge about long-term health effects.
Microplastics in the human food chain: A review of prevalence, contamination pathways, and mitigation strategies in salt, seafood, and freshwater fish
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes existing research on microplastic contamination in salt, seafood, and freshwater fish, which are key parts of the human diet worldwide. Microplastics enter these foods through ocean and river pollution, food processing, packaging, and even airborne particles settling on food. Lab studies link microplastic ingestion to inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormone disruption, though direct evidence of health effects in humans is still limited.
A systematic review and quality assessment of estimated daily intake of microplastics through food
AI summary Read the abstract
This systematic review assessed how much microplastic people consume through food daily. While estimates vary widely due to differences in study methods, the evidence confirms that humans regularly ingest microplastics through seafood, water, salt, and other common foods.
Review of micro- and nanoplastic contamination in the food chain
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the contamination of the human food chain by micro- and nanoplastics, covering evidence from seafood, beverages, salt, honey, and other common foods. While environmental impacts of plastics are well-studied, the review highlights how little is known about the actual health consequences for humans consuming these particles.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.