We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Plastics contamination of store-bought rice.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers detected microplastics in store-bought rice, one of the worlds most widely consumed staple foods. Multiple types of plastic were found in samples from different brands and processing methods, including polyethylene and PET. The findings indicate that food processing and packaging contribute to microplastic contamination of rice and raise concerns about dietary plastic exposure.
This study investigated mass concentrations of selected plastics in store-bought rice, the staple of more than half the world's population. Polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, poly-(methyl methacrylate), polypropylene, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride were quantified using pressurized liquid extraction coupled to double-shot pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Polyethylene, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate were quantifiable in the rice samples with polyethylene the most frequently detected (95%). There was no statistical difference between total plastic concentration in paper and plastic packaged rice. Shaking the rice in its packaging had no significant difference on the concentration of plastics. Washing the rice with water significantly reduced plastic contamination. Instant (pre-cooked) rice contained fourfold higher levels of plastics, suggesting that industrial processing potentially increases contamination. A preliminary estimate of the intake of plastic through rice consumption for Australians established 3.7 mg per serve (100 g) if not washed and 2.8 mg if washed. Annual consumption was estimated around 1 g/person.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics retrieval from commercial rice brands in india: Characterization, dietary exposure, and risk assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers detected and characterized microplastics in commercial rice brands from India for the first time, finding contamination in a staple food consumed by hundreds of millions of people. Fiber and fragment morphotypes dominated, with polymer identification confirming synthetic plastic rather than processing artifacts.
Are we eating microplastics with our staple food? A pioneering study of microplastic contamination in store-bought rice and cooked rice in Bangladesh
AI summary Read the abstract
In the first study of its kind in Bangladesh, researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in 15 commonly consumed store-bought rice varieties in both raw and cooked forms. The study found microplastics present in rice samples and estimated potential human exposure through this staple food, highlighting a previously overlooked dietary source of microplastic intake.
Microplastic contamination in Indian rice: A comprehensive characterization and health risk assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastics in all samples of Indian rice tested, averaging about 30 particles per 100 grams, with polyethylene and PET being the most common types. The study estimated daily microplastic intake from rice consumption for men, women, and children, highlighting that this dietary staple is a potential pathway for plastic particles to enter the human body.
Screening method for differentiation of plastic and non-plastic microparticles contaminating store-bought rice
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested five brands of store-bought rice and found plastic microparticles in all of them regardless of packaging type, with concentrations as high as 12 particles per gram of rice. Using simple optical microscopy and infrared spectroscopy, the study shows that a low-cost screening method can quickly distinguish true microplastics from other particles like rice starch or cellulose, an important step toward routine food safety monitoring.
Microplastics retrieval from commercial rice brands in india: Characterization, dietary exposure, and risk assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers detected microplastics for the first time in commercial rice brands sold in India, using FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy to identify polymer types. The findings raise concerns about dietary microplastic exposure through one of the world's most widely consumed staple foods.
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.