Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of residual microplastics in ark shell

The characteristics and particle numbers of residual microplastics were investigated in ark shell to establish a food safety management method. The ark shell employed herein was purchased in Jeonnam province. The experimental method involved disassembly of the organic matter present in the ark shell using 10% KOH, followed by qualitative and quantitative analysis of the microplastics using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The mean value of residual microplastics was 0.8 microplastic (MP)/individual in ark shell A, and were found to consist of one polypropylene (PP), two polyethylenes (PE), and one epoxy. The mean value of residual microplastics was 1.2 MP/individual in ark shell B, and were found to consist of two PP, two PE, and two polyesters. In ark shell C, the mean value of residual microplastics was 1.6 MP/individual, consisting of two PP, two PE, two polyesters, and two acrylates. These results indicated that the residual microplastics in the ark shell are present in relatively lower quantitative levels compared to the results presented in previous reports. However, due to the ability of microplastics to contaminate marine life by absorbing harmful chemicals, thereby adversely affecting marine food product safety, regular monitoring of the residual microplastics present in marine products is necessary to ensure food safety.