IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i18p6710-d413759.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Microplastics in Food: A Review on Analytical Methods and Challenges

Author

Listed:
  • Jung-Hwan Kwon

    (Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea)

  • Jin-Woo Kim

    (Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea)

  • Thanh Dat Pham

    (Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea)

  • Abhrajyoti Tarafdar

    (Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea)

  • Soonki Hong

    (FITI Testing & Research Institute, Cheongju 28116, Korea)

  • Sa-Ho Chun

    (FITI Testing & Research Institute, Cheongju 28116, Korea)

  • Sang-Hwa Lee

    (FITI Testing & Research Institute, Cheongju 28116, Korea)

  • Da-Young Kang

    (FITI Testing & Research Institute, Cheongju 28116, Korea)

  • Ju-Yang Kim

    (Korea Institute of Analytical Science and Technology, Seoul 04790, Korea)

  • Su-Bin Kim

    (Korea Institute of Analytical Science and Technology, Seoul 04790, Korea)

  • Jaehak Jung

    (Korea Institute of Analytical Science and Technology, Seoul 04790, Korea)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Jung-Hwan Kwon & Jin-Woo Kim & Thanh Dat Pham & Abhrajyoti Tarafdar & Soonki Hong & Sa-Ho Chun & Sang-Hwa Lee & Da-Young Kang & Ju-Yang Kim & Su-Bin Kim & Jaehak Jung, 2020. "Microplastics in Food: A Review on Analytical Methods and Challenges," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-23, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:18:p:6710-:d:413759
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/18/6710/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/18/6710/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cheryl Qian Ying Yong & Suresh Valiyaveettil & Bor Luen Tang, 2020. "Toxicity of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Mammalian Systems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-24, February.
    2. Lewis T. O. Cheung & Ching Yee Lui & Lincoln Fok, 2018. "Microplastic Contamination of Wild and Captive Flathead Grey Mullet ( Mugil cephalus )," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-11, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Carmen Rubio-Armendáriz & Samuel Alejandro-Vega & Soraya Paz-Montelongo & Ángel J. Gutiérrez-Fernández & Conrado J. Carrascosa-Iruzubieta & Arturo Hardisson-de la Torre, 2022. "Microplastics as Emerging Food Contaminants: A Challenge for Food Safety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Merve Esra Çıtar Dazıroğlu & Saniye Bilici, 2024. "The hidden threat to food safety and human health: microplastics," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(9), pages 21913-21935, September.
    3. Leonardo Alberghini & Alessandro Truant & Serena Santonicola & Giampaolo Colavita & Valerio Giaccone, 2022. "Microplastics in Fish and Fishery Products and Risks for Human Health: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Sílvia D. Martinho & Virgínia Cruz Fernandes & Sónia A. Figueiredo & Cristina Delerue-Matos, 2022. "Microplastic Pollution Focused on Sources, Distribution, Contaminant Interactions, Analytical Methods, and Wastewater Removal Strategies: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-24, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chi Chiu Cheang & Yue Ma & Lincoln Fok, 2018. "Occurrence and Composition of Microplastics in the Seabed Sediments of the Coral Communities in Proximity of a Metropolitan Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Isabella Gambino & Francesco Bagordo & Tiziana Grassi & Alessandra Panico & Antonella De Donno, 2022. "Occurrence of Microplastics in Tap and Bottled Water: Current Knowledge," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Ren-Shou Yu & Sher Singh, 2023. "Microplastic Pollution: Threats and Impacts on Global Marine Ecosystems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-21, September.
    4. Eun-Hi Choi & Hyunjin Lee & Mi-Jung Kang & Inwoo Nam & Hui-Kyeong Moon & Ji-Won Sung & Jae-Yun Eu & Hae-Bin Lee, 2022. "Factors Affecting Zero-Waste Behaviours of College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-11, August.
    5. Andreas Brachner & Despina Fragouli & Iola F. Duarte & Patricia M. A. Farias & Sofia Dembski & Manosij Ghosh & Ivan Barisic & Daniela Zdzieblo & Jeroen Vanoirbeek & Philipp Schwabl & Winfried Neuhaus, 2020. "Assessment of Human Health Risks Posed by Nano-and Microplastics Is Currently Not Feasible," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-10, November.
    6. Javier Bayo & Dolores Rojo & Pedro Martínez-Baños & Joaquín López-Castellanos & Sonia Olmos, 2021. "Commercial Gilthead Seabream ( Sparus aurata L.) from the Mar Menor Coastal Lagoon as Hotspots of Microplastic Accumulation in the Digestive System," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-14, June.
    7. Suna Ozden Celik, 2023. "The Release Potential of Microplastics from Face Masks into the Aquatic Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-15, September.
    8. Shampa Ghosh & Jitendra Kumar Sinha & Soumya Ghosh & Kshitij Vashisth & Sungsoo Han & Rakesh Bhaskar, 2023. "Microplastics as an Emerging Threat to the Global Environment and Human Health," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    9. Tao Liu & Baolian Hou & Yecui Zhang & Zhiping Wang, 2022. "Determination of Biological and Molecular Attributes Related to Polystyrene Microplastic-Induced Reproductive Toxicity and Its Reversibility in Male Mice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-22, October.
    10. Anni Li & Yijie Sheng & Haiyang Cui & Minghui Wang & Luxuan Wu & Yibo Song & Rongrong Yang & Xiujuan Li & He Huang, 2023. "Discovery and mechanism-guided engineering of BHET hydrolases for improved PET recycling and upcycling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.
    11. Stefania D'Angelo & Rosaria Meccariello, 2021. "Microplastics: A Threat for Male Fertility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, March.
    12. Jolanta Dąbrowska & Marcin Sobota & Małgorzata Świąder & Paweł Borowski & Andrzej Moryl & Radosław Stodolak & Ewa Kucharczak & Zofia Zięba & Jan K. Kazak, 2021. "Marine Waste—Sources, Fate, Risks, Challenges and Research Needs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-17, January.
    13. Adeleye Ayoade Adeniran & Winston Shakantu, 2022. "The Health and Environmental Impact of Plastic Waste Disposal in South African Townships: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-11, January.
    14. Kyle T. H. Ho & Patrick W. H. Kwok & Stephen S. Y. Chang & Amanda M. Y. Chu, 2023. "Gaps between Attitudes and Behavior in the Use of Disposable Plastic Tableware (DPT) and Factors Influencing Sustainable DPT Consumption: A Study of Hong Kong Undergraduates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, June.
    15. Leonardo Alberghini & Alessandro Truant & Serena Santonicola & Giampaolo Colavita & Valerio Giaccone, 2022. "Microplastics in Fish and Fishery Products and Risks for Human Health: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-17, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:18:p:6710-:d:413759. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.