Micro-plastic occurrence in bottled vinegar: Qualification, quantification and human risk exposure

Abstract

Micro-plastics (MPs) have recently been detected in the environmental medium and in a lot of products, particularly in the products consumed by humans. In the present study, the contamination of vinegar containers by MPs was investigated from nine popular brands consumed in Iran. Using a Nile Red staining and stereomicroscope analysis, MPs were detected in all sample brands. The most MPs were found in the shape of fragment (94 %), while only a few was in the fiber shape (6%). MPs were identified by using FTIR stereoscopy and PE and HDPE were founded as the most likely polymers. The annual human exposure to average concentration of MP was approximately estimated as 4.9 and 21.2 mg/kg/bw/year corresponding to optical detection for adult and children, respectively. While the annual intake was around 4.7 and 20.7 mg/kg/bw/year according to fluorescence observation. The findings of the present study showed that the MPs particles releasing can occur from food plastic container into the content like the vinegar.