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Microplastics in fresh and processed seafood – A survey of products sold in Germany
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Researchers tested 130 fresh and processed seafood products from German retail stores and found microplastics in the majority of samples, with counts ranging from 0 to 183 particles per gram. Most detected particles were smaller than 150 micrometers, and processed products like smoked and canned seafood showed higher contamination, suggesting that packaging and processing add to the problem. The study provides concrete data on how much microplastic people may be consuming through everyday seafood purchases.
Plastic contamination in aquatic environments has raised concerns about human exposure through seafood consumption. Recent studies have suggested that microplastic (MP) enters food via processing and packaging, but research on their presence in commercial seafood products is limited. This study aimed to contribute to human dietary MP exposure data by investigating the occurrence of MP in fresh and processed seafood products from the German retail market. A total of 130 products were analyzed, including fresh, frozen, smoked, canned, and marinated seafood. Plastic particles ≥5 μm were quantified using fluorescence imaging, with counts ranging from 0 to 183 MP/g wet weight (median 0.9 MP/g). 97 % of all detected MP in seafood products were smaller than 150 μm. Only 16 % of the examined products contained plastics in amounts exceeding the detection limit of pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and could therefore be identified and quantified. The identified MP consisted of polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, or polypropylene. The annual dietary MP intake via seafood consumption in Germany was estimated to be approximately 16,500 particles per capita. Canned fish showed the highest particle counts of all products (median 2.4 MP/g). No statistically significant differences in MP abundance were observed between species or origin. The study indicated that increased MP occurrence in seafood was associated with food contact materials. These findings highlight the need for further research on the occurrence and content of plastic particles in seafood throughout the entire seafood processing chain to thoroughly assess the dietary human micro- and nanoplastic exposure. • Microplastic particles (≥5 μm) were detected in 94 % of analyzed seafood products. • Plastic abundance ranged from 0 to 183 particles/g and 0–2660 μg/kg (wet weight). • 97 % of microplastic particles detected in seafood were smaller than 150 μm. • The highest plastic abundance was observed in canned products. • About 16,500 microplastic particles are ingested via seafood per capita and year.
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