Authentication of Microplastic Accumulation in Customary Fruits and Vegetables

Abstract The environment has become a major source of plastic pollution. Microplastics have been well documented in aquatic ecosystems as an increasing pollutant of worldwide relevance, but little is known about their effects on the terrestrial environment, particularly in agroecosystems. Researches have recently proven that microplastics can affect human health and are found in human organs and tissues. In this present study, two different types of fruits like grapes ( Vitis vinifera ) and banana ( Musa paradisiaca ), vegetables like brinjal ( Solanum melongena ) and potato ( Solanum tuberosum ) were collected from local market in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India and analysed for microplastics accumulation. Further, we identified the microplastic size through stereomicroscope, in grapes and banana the microplastic size was 0.002 mm and 0.01 mm respectively as well as vegetables like potato and brinjal the microplastic size was 0.002 mm and 0.01mm. The identified microplastics had been chemically characterized by FT-IR and viewed through SEM.