IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i3p1174-d729989.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Microplastics as Emerging Food Contaminants: A Challenge for Food Safety

Author

Listed:
  • Carmen Rubio-Armendáriz

    (Grupo de Investigación en Toxicología Alimentaria y Ambiental, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain)

  • Samuel Alejandro-Vega

    (Grupo de Investigación en Toxicología Alimentaria y Ambiental, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain)

  • Soraya Paz-Montelongo

    (Grupo de Investigación en Toxicología Alimentaria y Ambiental, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain)

  • Ángel J. Gutiérrez-Fernández

    (Grupo de Investigación en Toxicología Alimentaria y Ambiental, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain)

  • Conrado J. Carrascosa-Iruzubieta

    (Grupo de Investigación en Toxicología Alimentaria y Ambiental, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
    Departamento de Patología Animal, Producción Animal, Bromatología y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35001 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain)

  • Arturo Hardisson-de la Torre

    (Grupo de Investigación en Toxicología Alimentaria y Ambiental, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain)

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have been identified as emerging environmental pollutants classified as primary or secondary based on their source. Composition, shape, size, and colour, among other characteristics, are associated with their capacity to access the food chain and their risks. While the environmental impact of MPs has received much attention, the risks for humans derived from their dietary exposure have not been yet assessed. Several institutions and researchers support that the current knowledge does not supply solid data to complete a solid risk characterization of dietary MPs. The aim of this paper is to review the current knowledge about MPs in foods and to discuss the challenges and gaps for a risk analysis. The presence of MPs in food and beverages has been worldwide observed, but most authors considered the current data to be not only insufficient but of questionable quality mainly because of the outstanding lack of consensus about a standardized quantifying method and a unified nomenclature. Drinking water, crustaceans/molluscs, fish, and salt have been identified as relevant dietary sources of MPs for humans by most published studies. The hazard characterization presents several gaps concerning the knowledge of the toxicokinetic, toxicodynamic, and toxicity of MPs in humans that impede the estimation of food safety standards based on risk. This review provides a tentative exposure assessment based on the levels of MPs published for drinking water, crustaceans and molluscs, fish, and salt and using the mean European dietary consumption estimates. The intake of 2 L/day of water, 70.68 g/day of crustaceans/molluscs, 70.68 g/day of fish, and 9.4 g/day of salt would generate a maximum exposure to 33,626, 212.04, 409.94 and 6.40 particles of MPs/day, respectively. The inexistence of reference values to evaluate the MPs dietary intake prevents the dietary MPs risk characterization and therefore the management of this risk. Scientists and Food Safety Authorities face several challenges but also opportunities associated to the occurrence of MPs in foods. More research on the MPs characterization and exposure is needed bearing in mind that any future risk assessment report should involve a total diet perspective.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1174-:d:729989
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1174/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1174/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sunusi Usman & Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis & Khozirah Shaari & Mohammad Noor Azmai Amal & Mohd Zamri Saad & Nurulfiza Mat Isa & Muhammad Farhan Nazarudin & Syaizwan Zahmir Zulkifli & Jumria Sutra & Musa, 2020. "Microplastics Pollution as an Invisible Potential Threat to Food Safety and Security, Policy Challenges and the Way Forward," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-24, December.
    2. Claudia Campanale & Carmine Massarelli & Ilaria Savino & Vito Locaputo & Vito Felice Uricchio, 2020. "A Detailed Review Study on Potential Effects of Microplastics and Additives of Concern on Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-26, February.
    3. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. 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.
    2. Nawaz, Ahmad & Razzak, Shaikh Abdur, 2024. "Co-pyrolysis of biomass and different plastic waste to reduce hazardous waste and subsequent production of energy products: A review on advancement, synergies, and future prospects," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    3. Won-Kyu Kim & Hanbai Park & Kazuei Ishii & Geun-Yong Ham, 2023. "Investigation on Microplastics in Soil near Landfills in the Republic of Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-14, August.
    4. 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.
    5. Sri Widyastuti & Angga Susmana Abidin & Hikmaturrohmi Hikmaturrohmi & Bq Tri Khairina Ilhami & Nanda Sofian Hadi Kurniawan & Ahmad Jupri & Dining Aidil Candri & Andri Frediansyah & Eka Sunarwidhi Pras, 2023. "Microplastic Contamination in Different Marine Species of Bintaro Fish Market, Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-14, June.
    6. Diogo A. Ferreira-Filipe & Ana Paço & Armando C. Duarte & Teresa Rocha-Santos & Ana L. Patrício Silva, 2021. "Are Biobased Plastics Green Alternatives?—A Critical Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-16, July.
    7. 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.
    8. Gonca Alak & Mine Köktürk & Muhammed Atamanalp & Esat Mahmut Kocaman & Arzu Ucar & Nurinisa Esenbuğa & Sinan Özcan & Veysel Parlak, 2023. "Microplastic Abundance in Rainbow Trout Life Cycle: Step by Step," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-12, September.
    9. Claudia Campanale & Daniela Losacco & Mariangela Triozzi & Carmine Massarelli & Vito Felice Uricchio, 2022. "An Overall Perspective for the Study of Emerging Contaminants in Karst Aquifers," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-21, November.
    10. Chunhui Wang & Junhong Tang & Haixia Yu & Yiyi Wang & Huanxuan Li & Shaodan Xu & Gang Li & Qian Zhou, 2022. "Microplastic Pollution in the Soil Environment: Characteristics, Influencing Factors, and Risks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-14, October.
    11. Sunny Dhiman & Chhavi Sharma & Anu Kumar & Puneet Pathak & Shiv Dutt Purohit, 2023. "Microplastics in Aquatic and Food Ecosystems: Remediation Coupled with Circular Economy Solutions to Create Resource from Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-26, September.
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. Benjamin Gazeau & Roberto Minunno & Atiq Zaman & Faiz Shaikh, 2024. "Elevating Recycling Standards: Global Requirements for Plastic Traceability and Quality Testing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-16, June.
    15. Sunusi Usman & Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis & Khozirah Shaari & Mohammad Noor Amal Azmai & Mohd Zamri Saad & Nurulfiza Mat Isa & Muhammad Farhan Nazarudin, 2022. "The Burden of Microplastics Pollution and Contending Policies and Regulations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-22, June.
    16. Sulakshana Bhatt & Chunlei Fan & Ming Liu & Brittany Wolfe-Bryant, 2023. "Effect of High-Density Polyethylene Microplastics on the Survival and Development of Eastern Oyster ( Crassostrea virginica ) Larvae," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-12, June.
    17. Antonio Ragusa & Maria Matta & Loredana Cristiano & Roberto Matassa & Ezio Battaglione & Alessandro Svelato & Caterina De Luca & Sara D’Avino & Alessandra Gulotta & Mauro Ciro Antonio Rongioletti & Pi, 2022. "Deeply in Plasticenta: Presence of Microplastics in the Intracellular Compartment of Human Placentas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-22, September.
    18. Erik D. Slawsky & Joel C. Hoffman & Kristen N. Cowan & Kristen M. Rappazzo, 2022. "Beneficial Use Impairments, Degradation of Aesthetics, and Human Health: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-17, May.
    19. Stefania D'Angelo & Rosaria Meccariello, 2021. "Microplastics: A Threat for Male Fertility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, March.
    20. Adam Krajewski & Agnieszka Hejduk & Leszek Hejduk, 2022. "First Evidence of Microplastic Presence in Bed Load Sediments of a Small Urban Stream in Warsaw," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-13, November.

    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:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1174-:d:729989. 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.