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Microplastics in coastal areas and seafood: implications for food safety
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This review summarizes research on microplastic contamination in coastal waters and seafood, examining the potential risks of dietary exposure for humans. Researchers found that while microplastics have been detected in many commercially important fish and shellfish species, toxicological data remain limited and risk assessments are complicated by inconsistent analytical methods. The study concludes that more standardized exposure and toxicity data are needed before reliable food safety standards for microplastics in seafood can be established.
Microplastics have become ubiquitous in the marine environment. Microplastics have been detected in many coastal environments and species, including commercial seafood. This triggers concern about potential economic impacts and the risks of dietary exposure, especially for coastal communities. However, data regarding the levels of microplastics in coastal seafood and their toxicological effects are still limited. Accordingly, the dietary risk is still poorly explored. This review summarizes and discusses recent scientific findings on (i) the presence of microplastics in coastal waters, (ii) the occurrence of microplastics in coastal seafood and the likelihood of trophic transfer, and (iii) the effects of microplastics on coastal fish and shellfish species. Human toxicity data are also reviewed, but the risks for human health are difficult to determine due to limited data. Based on available worldwide data, the estimation of microplastics intake through seafood consumption shows a huge variation. Additionally, a lack of standardized analytical methods complicates the comparison of results between studies and therefore seriously affects the reliability of risk assessments. It is concluded that more exposure and toxicity data are needed properly to assess human health risks of microplastics in coastal seafood, and the lack of data currently impede the derivation of a risk-based food safety standard. The pros and cons of an interim solution, i.e. setting a provisional action level, are being discussed.
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Microplastics in coastal areas and seafood: implications for food safety
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This review summarizes the current state of knowledge about micro- and nanoplastic contamination in food, covering sources, occurrence, and analytical detection methods. Researchers found that while various foods, especially seafood, contain measurable levels of microplastics, the health risks to humans remain difficult to assess due to inconsistent research methods. The study calls for standardized approaches to better evaluate dietary exposure and potential health impacts.
Occurrence of Microplastics in Commercial Seafood under the Perspective of the Human Food Chain. A Review
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This review evaluated the occurrence of microplastics in commercial seafood species from the perspective of the human food chain. Researchers found that while microplastics have been detected across a wide range of seafood species, comparing data across studies and conducting appropriate risk assessments remains difficult due to methodological inconsistencies, and the study proposed linking seafood feeding strategies with microplastic contamination levels as a new analytical approach.
Microplastics in aquatic food chain : sources, measurement, occurrence and potential health risks
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This review examines the sources, measurement methods, occurrence, and potential health risks of microplastics throughout aquatic food chains, finding that while microplastics are ubiquitous in fish, shellfish, and other aquatic food sources, the data needed for a comprehensive human dietary exposure and risk assessment are not yet available. Researchers identify standardization of detection methods as a critical prerequisite for meaningful risk evaluation.
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