Consumption Of Microplastics Research Articles

Microplastics and plastics-associated contaminants in food and beverages; Global trends, concentrations, and human exposure

Microplastics has become a global concern due to their ubiquitous presence which poses unavoidable human exposure risks. Geographical distribution and yearly trends of research on microplastics, food, and beverages do not exist. Thus, no overall account is available regarding the presence of microplastics and plastics-associated contaminants in food and beverages. Hence, this attempt is to review the geographical distribution of studies through a brief bibliometric analysis and the plastics-associated contaminants including plasticizers and microplastics in food and beverages. Estimated microplastic consumption has been listed for the pool of publications reviewed here. Further, this review discusses the ingestion potency of micropollutants associated with microplastics, possible health impacts, and existing challenges. Global trend in research exponentially increased after 2018 and China is leading. Studies on microplastics were limited to a few beverages and food; milk, beer, tea, refreshing drinks, salt, sugar, honey, etc., whereas seafood and drinking water have been extensively studied. Publications on plastic-additives were reported in two ways; migration of plastic-additives from packaging by leaching and the presence of plastic-additives in food and beverages. Bisphenol A and bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate were the most frequently reported both in food and beverages. Exposure of packaging material to high temperatures predominantly involves plastic-additive contamination in food and beverages. Microplastics-bound micropollutants can also be ingested through food and beverages; however, a lack of knowledge exists. The complex matrix of food or beverages and the absence of standard procedures for analysis of microplastics and micropollutants exist as challenges. More investigations on the presence of microplastics and plastic-additives in food and beverage are urgent needs to a better assessment of potential human exposure and human health risk.

Assessing microplastic exposure of the Critically Endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) on a remote oceanic island

Microplastics (<5 mm) are a ubiquitous marine pollutant which are highly bioavailable to marine organisms across all trophic levels. Marine predators are especially vulnerable to microplastic pollution through direct and indirect ingestion (e.g., trophic transfer) due to their high trophic position. In particular, oceanic islands are more susceptible to plastic accumulation, increasing the relative number of microplastics in the environment that are available for consumption. The dynamics of microplastic accumulation in marine predators inhabiting remote islands, however, is sparsely documented. Here we describe microplastic exposure in the Critically Endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) from the Madeira archipelago (Northeast Atlantic) using scat-based analysis. Microplastics were recovered from 18 scat samples collected between 2014−2021 and were characterized to the polymer level using Fourier-Transform Infrared (u-FTIR) spectroscopy. A total of 390 microplastic particles were recovered, ranging between 0.2−8.6 particles g−1 dry weight (mean 1.84 ± 2.14 particles g−1) consisting mainly of fragments (69 %) of various sizes and polymer composition (e.g., PE, PET, PS). Microplastic prevalence (100 % of samples analysed) was higher than what has been previously recorded using scat-based analysis in other pinniped species. Our results suggest that the levels of microplastic pollution in the coastal food-web in the Madeira archipelago are relatively high, placing higher-trophic level organisms at increased risk of microplastic consumption, including humans. This study provides the first insights into microplastic exposure to Madeira's monk seals that may contribute to future management decisions for the species and their long-term survival.

THE EFFECT OF PERORAL POLYVINYL CHLORIDE MICROPLASTIC ON ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE AND GAMMA-GLUTAMYL TRANSFERASE LEVELS IN RATTUS NORVEGICUS WISTAR STRAIN

Introduction: Human exposure to microplastics continues to rise. Microplastics are harmful and are suspected of contributing to various health problems in humans, including reduced liver function. Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effect of oral polyvinyl chloride microplastic consumption on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels in Rattus norvegicus Wistar strain. Method: Male Rattus norvegicus Wistar strain experiments were separated into control and experimental groups, with the experimental group receiving a 0.5 mg/day dose of polyvinyl chloride microplastic. The experimental animals' blood was taken using the cardiac puncture technique, and the ALP and GGT levels were determined using the kinetic photometric test method. Result and Discussion: The Shapiro-Wilk normality tests showed that the ALP variable from the control group (P=0.342) and the experimental group (P=0.727) was significantly different from the GGT variable from the control group (P=0.482) and experimental group (P=0.099). Thus, the data for the ALP and GGT variables are claimed to be normally distributed. The ALP variable (P = 0.237) and the GGT variable (P = 0.839) both passed the significant homogeneity test, indicating that the ALP and GGT variable data were homogeneous. The independent comparison test T-test findings indicated that the ALP variable (P=0.602) and the GGT variable (P=0.161) were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The oral administration of polyvinyl chloride microplastic had no significant influence on the ALP and GGT levels in the blood of Rattus norvegicus Wistar strain in the experimental group compared to the control group.

Daphnia magna's Favorite Snack: Biofouled Plastics.

The influence of biofouling on zooplankton ingestion rates of plastics in freshwater environments has received limited attention. We investigated how biofouling of microplastics in wastewater effluent and in fresh surface water influences Daphnia magna's microplastic consumption. The differences in ingestion of the biofouled as compared with the virgin microplastics were higher for the surface water by a factor of seven compared with a factor of two for the effluent. The intake of biofouled microplastics by D. magna was higher compared with virgin plastics, but the reason for this preference should be further investigated. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1977–1981. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Toxicity evaluation of polypropylene microplastic on marine microcrustacean Artemia salina: An analysis of implications and vulnerability

Polypropylene microplastic particles are one of the predominant pollutants in marine ecosystems and their toxic effects are unknown in aquatic biota. The study aims to prepare the spherical shaped polypropylene microplastics (size range 11.86 μm–44.62 μm) and assess their toxic effects (1, 25, 50, 75 and 100 μg/mL) in various life stages (nauplii, metanauplii and juvenile) of marine microcrustacean Artemia salina within 48 h. In addition, microplastics ingestion by Artemia nauplii was proved by FTIR analysis. The results revealed, microplastics accumulation in their tract leads to change in their homeostasis, as followed increase in the oxidative burst causes mortality in nauplii (LC50 40.947 μg/mL) and meta nauplii (LC50 51.954 μg/mL). In juvenile, swimming behaviour was changed. Moreover, microplastic consumption disturbs the antioxidant biomarkers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione –S- Transferase (GST) and reduces the neurotransmitter enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. In addition, histology of juvenile Artemia showed damage in epithelial cells. This study indicates that exposure to polypropylene microplastics is more harmful to zooplanktonic organisms of the marine ecosystem.

Differential effects of two prevalent environmental pollutants on host-pathogen dynamics

Chemical pollutants are a major factor implicated in freshwater habitat degradation and species loss. Microplastics and glyphosate-based herbicides are prevalent pollutants with known detrimental effects on animal welfare but our understanding of their impacts on infection dynamics are limited. Within freshwater vertebrates, glyphosate formulations reduce fish tolerance to infections, but the effects of microplastic consumption on disease tolerance have thus far not been assessed. Here, we investigated how microplastic (polypropylene) and the commercial glyphosate-based herbicide, Roundup®, impact fish tolerance to infectious disease and mortality utilising a model fish host-pathogen system. For uninfected fish, microplastic and Roundup had contrasting impacts on mortality as individual stressors, with microplastic increasing and Roundup decreasing mortality compared with control fish not exposed to pollutants. Concerningly, microplastic and Roundup combined had a strong interactive reversal effect by significantly increasing host mortality for uninfected fish (73% mortality). For infected fish, the individual stressors also had contrasting effects on mortality, with microplastic consumption not significantly affecting mortality and Roundup increasing mortality to 55%. When combined, these two pollutants had a moderate interactive synergistic effect on mortality levels of infected fish (53% mortality). Both microplastic and Roundup individually had significant and contrasting impacts on pathogen metrics with microplastic consumption resulting in fish maintaining infections for significantly longer and Roundup significantly reducing pathogen burdens. When combined, the two pollutants had a largely additive effect in reducing pathogen burdens. This study is the first to reveal that microplastic and Roundup individually and interactively impact host-pathogen dynamics and can prove fatal to fish.

Experimental evaluation of microplastic consumption by using a size-fractionation approach in the planktonic communities

The increasing amount of plastic particles introduced into continental aquatic environments has drawn the attention of researchers around the globe. These particles can be assimilated by a wide range of aquatic organisms, from microorganisms to fish, causing detrimental effects on trophic webs. Using an experimental approach, we investigated the effect of microplastic particles of different sizes on the planktonic trophic chain by sampling natural plankton communities from a lake located in the Upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil. Zooplankton samples were collected at the beginning of the experiment and after 36 h of incubation. Microplastic particles (MP) samples were taken every 12 h. The effect of MP particle consumption from the control and treatment groups indicates significant effects by all plankton size fractions (p < 0.05). We demonstrated that the presence of MP particles can significantly affect the trophic web, furthermore, we detected the effect of higher consumption effect of smaller size MP particles. This study suggest that the largest MP consumption effects come from the lower trophic levels of the trophic chain, such as protists. The competitive effect of large predators is a crucial factor in controlling the abundance of populations, and although they did not directly consume MP particles, they ingest them indirectly through prey capable of absorbing these compounds in the environment. Our findings warn that MP particles enter the food webs of tropical regions when exposed to these pollutants, and that the presence of these particles should not be neglected when studying freshwater ecosystems.

АНАЛІЗ ВПЛИВУ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ ЗАКЛАДІВ ІНДУСТРІЇ ГОСТИННОСТІ НА НАВКОЛИШНЄ СЕРЕДОВИЩЕ

The article presents the results of the analysis of the impact of the hospitality industry on the environment. It has been detailed specifics of large-scale global anthropogenic load arising from the economic activities of the hospitality industry, including their use of textiles, plastics, and plastic packaging, both for the environment and for consumers by unauthorized consumption of microplastics with beverages and food through the respiratory tract and skin. Plastic waste has penetrated the environment to such a degree that its particles are found in the air, soil, water and food, but the impact of plastic on human health is only in the initial stage of study. The phenomenon of "fast fashion" has led to a significant increase in clothing production and per capita sales in economically developed countries, as a consequence, the total greenhouse gas emissions from textile production amount to 1.2 billion tons per year, and during washing, some products emit plastic microfibers, about half a million tons of which pollute the ocean every year. As for plastic products, which are the main material of the modern economy, it is expected that over the next two decades its production will double and a huge amount of its waste will be released into the environment. Extracts of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane, and all "bioplasts" made of polylactic acid (PLA) have the highest toxicity. On average, a person absorbs more than 5,800 particles of synthetic waste each year, including 88% from tap water. The results of youth surveys illustrating the dominant patterns of purchasing behavior of goods and services, including the hospitality industry, are presented. It has been proven that the vast majority of buyers are not ready to prefer eco-friendly goods and services both at leisure and at home, despite being aware of the harmful effects on the environment and their own health. This trend of consumer behavior is due to the high demands of modern customers and the unwillingness to break their usual habits and rules. However, the existing passivity of buyers does not deter the initiative of the owners of the hospitality industry to gradual transformations in the direction of "green" activities and further encouragement of tourists to environmentally conscious shopping behavior.

Microplastic consumption induces inflammatory signatures in the colon and prolongs a viral arthritis

Global microplastic (MP) contamination and the effects on the environment are well described. However, the potential for MP consumption to affect human health remains controversial. Mice consuming ≈80 μg/kg/day of 1 μm polystyrene MPs via their drinking water showed no weight loss, nor were MPs detected in internal organs. The microbiome was also not significantly changed. MP consumption did lead to small transcriptional changes in the colon suggesting plasma membrane perturbations and mild inflammation. Mice were challenged with the arthritogenic chikungunya virus, with MP consumption leading to a significantly prolonged arthritic foot swelling that was associated with elevated Th1, NK cell and neutrophil signatures. Immunohistochemistry also showed a significant increase in the ratio of neutrophils to monocyte/macrophages. The picture that emerges is reminiscent of enteropathic arthritis, whereby perturbations in the colon are thought to activate innate lymphoid cells that can inter alia migrate to joint tissues to promote inflammation.

The potential effects of microplastics on human health: What is known and what is unknown.

Microplastic contamination is ubiquitous in aquatic and terrestrial environments, found in water, sediments, within organisms and in the atmosphere and the biological effects on animal and plant life have been extensively investigated in recent years. There is growing evidence that humans are exposed to microplastics via ingestion of food and drink and through inhalation. Despite the prevalence of contamination, there has been limited research on the effects of microplastics on human health and most studies, to date, analyse the effects on model organisms with the likely impacts on human health being inferred by extrapolation. This review summarises the latest findings in the field with respect to the prevalence of microplastics in the human-environment, to what extent they might enter and persist in the body, and what effect, if any, they are likely to have on human health. Whilst definitive evidence linking microplastic consumption to human health is currently lacking, results from correlative studies in people exposed to high concentrations of microplastics, model animal and cell culture experiments, suggest that effects of microplastics could include provoking immune and stress responses and inducing reproductive and developmental toxicity. Further research is required to explore the potential implications of this recent contaminant in our environment in more rigorous clinical studies.

Microplastics reduce net population growth and fecal pellet sinking rates for the marine copepod, Acartia tonsa

Microplastics (<5 mm) are ubiquitous in the global environment and are increasingly recognized as a biological hazard, particularly in the oceans. Zooplankton, at the base of the marine food web, have been known to consume microplastics. However, we know little about the impacts of microplastics across life history stages and on carbon settling. Here, we investigated the effects of ingestion of neutrally buoyant polystyrene beads (6.68 μm) by the copepod Acartia tonsa on (1) growth and survival across life history stages, (2) fecundity and egg quality, (3) and fecal characteristics. We found that microplastic exposure reduced body length and survival for nauplii and resulted in smaller eggs when copepods were exposed during oogenesis. Combining these life history impacts, our models estimate a 15% decrease in population growth leading to a projected 30-fold decrease in abundance over 1 year or 20 generations with microplastic exposure. In addition, microplastic-contaminated fecal pellets were 2.29-fold smaller and sinking rates were calculated to be 1.76-fold slower, resulting in an estimated 4.03-fold reduction in fecal volume settling to the benthos per day. Taken together, declines in population sizes and fecal sinking rates suggest that microplastic consumption by zooplankton could have cascading ecosystem impacts via reduced trophic energy transfer and slower carbon settling.

A fish tale: a century of museum specimens reveal increasing microplastic concentrations in freshwater fish.

Plastic is pervasive in modern economies and ecosystems. Freshwater fish ingest microplastics (i.e., particles <5mm), but no studies have examined historical patterns of their microplastic consumption. Measuring the patterns of microplastic pollution in the past is critical for predicting future trends and for understanding the relationship between plastics in fish and the environment. We measured microplastics in digestive tissues of specimens collected from the years 1900-2017 and preserved in museum collections. We collected new fish specimens in 2018, along with water and sediment samples. We selected four species: Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass), Notropis stramineus (sand shiner), Ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish), and Neogobius melanostomus (round goby) because each was well represented in museum collections, are locally abundant, and collected from urban habitats. For each individual, we dissected the digestive tissue from esophagus to anus, subjected tissue to peroxide oxidation, examined particles under a dissecting microscope, and used Raman spectroscopy to characterize the particles' chemical composition. No microplastics were detected in any fish prior to 1950. From mid-century to 2018, microplastic concentrations showed a significant increase when data from all fish were considered together. All detected particles were fibers, and represented plastic polymers (e.g., polyester) along with mixtures of natural and synthetic textiles. For the specimens collected in 2018, microplastics in fish and sediment showed similar patterns across study sites, while water column microplastics showed no differences among locations. Overall, plastic pollution in common freshwater fish species is increasing and pervasive across individuals and species, and is likely related to changes in environmental concentrations. Museum specimens are an overlooked source for assessing historical patterns of microplastic pollution, and for predicting future trends in freshwater fish, thereby helping to sustain the health of commercial and recreational fisheries worldwide.

Impacts of baseflow and flooding on microplastic pollution in an effluent-dependent arid land river in the USA.

Effluent discharge from wastewater treatment plants can be a substantial source of microplastics in receiving water bodies including rivers. Despite growing concern about microplastic pollution in freshwater habitats, the literature has not yet addressed effluent-dependent rivers, which derive 100% of their baseflow from effluent. The objective of this study was to document and explore trends in microplastic pollution within the effluent-dependent lower Santa Cruz River near Tucson, Arizona (USA). We examined microplastic concentrations in the water column and benthic sediment and microplastic consumption by mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) at 10 sites along a ~40 km stretch of the lower Santa Cruz River across two time periods: baseflow (effluent only) and post-flood (effluent immediately following urban runoff). In total, across both sampling periods, we detected microplastics in 95% of water column samples, 99% of sediment samples, and 6% of mosquitofish stomachs. Flow status (baseflow vs post-flood) was the only significant predictor of microplastic presence and concentrations in our models. Microplastic fragment concentrations in the water column were higher post-flood, microplastic fiber concentrations in benthic sediment were lower post-flood, and mosquitofish were more likely to have consumed microplastics post-flood than during baseflow. The additional microplastics detected after flooding was likely due to a combination of allochthonous material entering the channel via runoff and bed scour that exhumed microplastics previously buried in the riverbed. Effluent-dependent urban streams are becoming increasingly common; more work is needed to identify microplastic pollution baselines and trends in effluent rivers worldwide.

The Effects of Marine Microplastics on Marine Life and Human Health in the Bay of Bengal

Marine microplastics are an emerging pollutant that has already shown adverse effects in fish, mice, and other lower-order organisms. Based on the impact microplastics have on these organisms, human health will likely be affected, especially in areas where fish and other marine life are a significant part of the diet. A wide range of previously conducted research was used to study the effects and predict the dangers of microplastic consumption on human health. The sources covered three general topics: the effects of microplastics on commonly consumed European and Mediterranean fish, their effects on the gut microbiome of mice, and the transmission of microplastics across trophic levels. A prediction was made using the presented data, stating that there will be and there is already a likely effect on the human neuroendocrine and digestive systems. This assumption was drawn from the known health effects of microplastics on fish and mice and the processes of bioaccumulation and biomagnification. In conclusion, it was predicted that the regular consumption of contaminated fish is likely already affecting human health in the region. Furthermore, the current policies and regulations focused on plastic pollution in India and Bangladesh are either not strong enough or not enforced well enough to reduce the amount of plastic pollution in the bodies of water in the region.

Microplastic consumption and physiological response in Acartia clausi and Centropages typicus: Possible roles of feeding mechanisms

Multi-day experiments were carried out with two Marmara Sea calanoid copepod species: Acartia clausi and Centropages typicus, to assess the possible role of the type of feeding on the consumption of microplastics and its influence on the rate of energy metabolism of these species. In a mixture of microplastic beads (6μm diameter) and algae Rhodomonas salina (5–10μm size range) with equal concentrations of about 5000 cells/beads mL −1 the ambush feeder A. clausi consumed almost 5 times less microplastic 858.8 ± 294.1 beads ind −1 day −1 than the cruising feeder C. typicus and halved its consumption of microplastics alone, while C. typicus, on the contrary, increased its consumption rate of pure microplastics to 20237.4 ± 7020.41 beads ind −1 day −1. Both types of reaction to microplastics lead to a decrease in the respiratory rates of the copepods. During the 5 days of maintenance on a solely microplastic diet, the respiration rates of A. clausi and C. typicus decreased 2.2 and 3.4 times, respectively, due to a decrease in the energy spent on motor activity, whilst maintaining basal metabolic energy. It has been shown that in A. clausi, consuming microplastics, a decrease in respiration rate occurs in the same way as in individuals starving in filtered water. A more rapid respiration rate decrease in Centropages typicus consuming microplastics may be due to the greater energy expenditure on microplastic beads capture and egestion via fecal pellets. Acartia clausi seems to exhibit a better strategy in dealing with the adverse consequences of microplastics consumption in comparison to Centropages typicus.

The effect of microplastics on the speed, mortality rate, and swimming patterns of Daphnia Magna

Microplastics are a danger to the environment. They are polluting ecosystems, threatening the survival of many species and being ingested by humans. Two common microplastic polymers, polystyrene and polyethylene, contaminate fresh and saltwater ecosystems, thereby affecting life processes of marine organisms, such as Daphnia Magna. While the effects of these plastics have been investigated individually, both plastic polymers have not yet been compared in one study. We sought to compare the effect of both polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics on the speed, mortality rate, and swimming patterns of D. Magna. D. Magna were divided into three groups which were fed either polystyrene microplastics and algae, polyethylene microplastics and algae, or only algae. We recorded the number of living D. Magna and performed phototactic response tests to determine the effect of each condition on D. Magna speed and swimming patterns. Overall, we found that microplastic consumption did not affect D. Magna speed or mortality rate. However, microplastic consumption significantly increased “spinning” swimming patterns, which, based on prior research, suggests that microplastics may have a toxic effect on D. Magna.

Evaluation of Microplastics in Japanese Fish Using Visual and Chemical Dissections

Up to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic is estimated to be polluting oceans. Ranking as the fifth-highest plastic using country, Japan has an exceptionally high usage of single wrapped items. Additionally, as an island-nation, fish is vital to everyday life, making up approximately 40% of protein in Japanese diets. Based on these observations, I wondered how the overuse of plastic in Japan poses an ecological risk to marine species and their consumers local to Kanagawa Prefecture. To answer this question, I completed a plastic audit at a convenience store, took qualitative observations of plastic waste at three waterways, and dissected locally sourced fish to characterize ingested plastic. I found 83.4% of the convenience store’s items within the recorded sections had plastic wrapping or pieces. Additionally, each waterway observed had both plastic and marine species present. Using visual and chemical dissection, all fish had microplastics present in their gastrointestinal tract, including two species that are typically eaten whole in Japan. Out of the fourteen microplastics found through the chemical digestion method, six were classified as plastic microfibers, four were likely thread plastic, three were see-through pieces of plastic film, and one was a foam pellet. Overall, these results are concerning as previous studies have found that microplastics can carry persistent organic pollutants. Both bioaccumulation and biomagnification result in large levels of contaminants building up at the top of the food chain. It is presumed that the increasing consumption of microplastics will have negative implications on organ systems such as the liver, gut, and hormones.

Microplastic Consumption and Its Effect on Respiration Rate and Motility of Calanus helgolandicus From the Marmara Sea

Consumption rates of polystyrene microplastics (beads of 6, 12, and 26 μm diameter) and their effects on energy metabolism and motor activity of the copepodCalanus helgolandicusliving in the Marmara Sea were investigated. All sizes of microplastic particles were actively consumed and excreted via fecal pellets, however, copepods displayed a significant preference for beads sized 6 μm. In a mixture of algae and microplastics beads of 6 μm, microplastics consumption rates linearly (r2= 0.78,n= 154) increased 800 times from 50.8 ± 17.3 to 8,612 ± 5,972 beads ind–1day–1with an increase in bead concentration from 10 to 44,000 beads ml–1. The total and basal metabolic rates as well as time spent swimming forC. helgolandicus, decreased 1.7, 1.8 and about 3-fold, respectively after 7–8 days exposure to microplastic treatments, which was similar to the metabolism and activity of starving animals in filtered water. In copepods consuming microplastics, all vital parameters decreased on the first day of exposure, indicating either accelerated starvation, probably due to increased losses of energy and biological matter in the formation of fecal pellets and/or traumatic/toxic effects of the polystyrene beads on the copepods. Our data from laboratory experiments indicate that the presence of large concentrations of microplastics in water, even when mixed with algae, lowered energy metabolism levels ofC. helgolandicus.

Evidence of Marine Microplastics in Commercially Harvested Seafood.

Microplastic pollution is a global issue that has a detrimental impact on food safety. In marine environments, microplastics are a threat to marine organisms, as they are often the same size range as prey and are mistaken as food. Consumption of microplastics has led to the damage of digestive organs and a reduction in growth and reproductive output. In this study, microplastic pollution was assessed across three commercially available shrimp species that were obtained from the supermarkets of Singapore. A total of 93 individuals were studied from the Pacific white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, the Argentine red shrimp Pleoticus muelleri and the Indian white shrimp Fenneropenaeus indicus. Microplastic fibers, fragments, film and spheres were identified from the digestive tract of these organisms. Microplastic abundance ranged from 13.4 to 7050 items. F. indicus exhibited the highest number of microplastics. Microplastic film was the most abundant in L. vannamei individuals (93–97%) and spheres were the most abundant in P. muelleri (70%) and F. indicus (61%) individuals. This study demonstrates that microplastic contamination is evident in commonly consumed shrimp and highlights the role of shrimp in the trophic transfer and accumulation of microplastics in seafood. The consumption of microplastic-containing seafood is a route of exposure to humans and has implications on human health and food security. Capsule: Microplastics were examined in three shrimp species from the supermarkets of Singapore. Microplastics ranged from 13.4 to 7050 items of shrimp.

Microplastics in Food: A Review on Analytical Methods and Challenges

Human exposure to microplastics contained in food has become a significant concern owing to the increasing accumulation of microplastics in the environment. In this paper, we summarize the presence of microplastics in food and the analytical methods used for isolation and identification of microplastics. Although a large number of studies on seafood such as fish and shellfish exist, estimating the overall human exposure to microplastics via food consumption is difficult owing to the lack of studies on other food items. Analytical methods still need to be optimized for appropriate recovery of microplastics in various food matrices, rendering a quantitative comparison of different studies challenging. In addition, microplastics could be added or removed from ingredients during processing or cooking. Thus, research on processed food is crucial to estimate the contribution of food to overall human microplastic consumption and to mitigate this exposure in the future.