Are Microplastics a Macro Issue? A Review on the Sources of Contamination, Analytical Challenges and Impact on Human Health of Microplastics in Food

Abstract

In recent years, human populations’ exposure to microplastics via foods is becoming a topic of concern. Although microplastics have been defined as “emerging contaminants”, their occurrence in the environment and food is quite dated. This systematic review aims to investigate the discrepancies which are characterizing the research in the microplastics field in foods, with particular regard to sample preparations, microplastics’ concentrations and their effect on humans. For the selection of papers, the PRISMA methodology was followed. Discrepancies in the methodological approaches emerged and in the expression of the results as well, underlying the urgency in the harmonization of the methodological approaches. Uncertainties are still present regarding the adverse effects of microplastics on the human body. The scientific evidence obtained thus far is, in fact, not sufficient to demonstrate a concrete negative effect. This review has clearly underlined the need to standardise laboratory approaches to obtain useful results for better food safety management.

Dietary Phenolic Compounds—Wellbeing and Perspective Applications

“…Microplastic waste in food and water presents a reasonable health concern for living organisms [141]. Microplastics are addressed as a macro issue, and their elimination is an object of current research [142]. Polyphenols can be successfully used for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) elimination due to their ability to interact as hydrogen donors with the carbonyl groups of PET [143].…”

Nanoplastics and Neurodegeneration in ALS

“…The main plastic-containing ingestants are drinking water, seafood, honey, beer, table salt, and milk [58], and recently identified leafy vegetables. Inhalation [59,60] and dermal contact [61] occur less frequently [58,[62][63][64], and some developed drug delivery systems also expose human beings to MNPLs via parenteral routes, including intravenous and intracranial/brain application [65]. Neonates and infants are exposed to MNPLs through breast milk and milk substitutes [66].…”

“…Neonates and infants are exposed to MNPLs through breast milk and milk substitutes [66]. Plastic bottle caps, plastic teabags and infant feeding bottles can release a considerable number of MNPLs [62,67] (see Figure 1).…”

“…Neonates and infants are exposed to MNPLs through breast milk and milk substitutes [66]. Plastic bo le caps, plastic teabags and infant feeding bo les can release a considerable number of MNPLs [62,67] (see Figure 1). MNPLs have been isolated from many human tissues, including stool [68], blood (even after a single oral exposure [69]), lung [70,71], breast milk and formula [66], and colon [72,73].…”