Microplastics Pollution as an Invisible Potential Threat to Food Safety and Security, Policy Challenges and the Way Forward

Usman, Sunusi; Razis, Ahmad Faizal Abdull; Shaari, Khozirah; Amal, Mohammad Noor Azmai; Saad, Mohd Zamri; Isa, Nurulfiza Mat; Nazarudin, Muhammad Farhan; Zulkifli, Syaizwan Zahmir; Sutra, Jumria; Ibrahim, Musa Adamu

doi:10.3390/ijerph17249591

Cited by 59 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 141 publications

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“…The food chain is the major route through, which humans are exposed to microplastics [12]. In addition, the presence of microplastics in foods, such as sea salt, beer, bottled water, and honey were reported and this represents yet another route through which humans are exposed [13,14]. Microplastics mainly include plastic materials, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxicity Study and Quantitative Evaluation of Polyethylene Microplastics in ICR Mice

et al. 2022

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The production, use, and waste of plastics increased worldwide, which resulted in environmental pollution and a growing public health problem. In particular, microplastics have the potential to accumulate in humans and mammals through the food chain. However, the toxicity of microplastics is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the toxicity of 10–50 μm polyethylene microplastics following single- and 28-day repeated oral administration (three different doses of microplastics of 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day) in ICR mice. For the investigation, we administered the microplastics orally for single- and 28-day repeated. Then, the histological and clinical pathology evaluations of the rodents were performed to evaluation of the toxicity test, and Raman spectroscopy was used to directly confirm the presence of polyethylene microplastics. In the single oral dose toxicity experiments, there were no changes in body weight and necropsy of the microplastics-treated group compared with that of controls. However, a histopathological evaluation revealed that inflammation from foreign bodies was evident in the lung tissue from the 28-day repeated oral dose toxicity group. Moreover, polyethylene microplastics were detected in the lung, stomach, duodenum, ileum, and serum by Raman spectroscopy. Our results corroborated the findings of lung inflammation after repeated oral administration of polyethylene microplastics. This study provides evidence of microplastic-induced toxicity following repeated exposure to mice.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxicity Study and Quantitative Evaluation of Polyethylene Microplastics in ICR Mice

et al. 2022

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“…However, market research on microplastics in contaminated seafood is still relatively rare [21]. Therefore, contamination of food with microplastics and related chemicals is an urgent problem due to potential harmful effects on human health [22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence of Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tract and Gills of Fish from Guangdong, South China

Pan

Zhang

Wang

et al. 2021

JMSE

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Microplastic pollution has become a major global concern. Coastal areas are densely populated with human activity, commercial enterprises, and fishing, resulting in high incidences of fish microplastic pollution. It has been shown that microplastics exist in commercial fish in coastal areas of Guangdong, China. Most of the microplastics were less than 1 mm, white and blue fibers. The abundance, type, shape and color of microplastics in gills and in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of eight species of commercial fish in the coastal waters of central and western Guangdong Province were analyzed. The overall abundance of microplastic particles in fish was 6.6 items/individual, with an average of 2.2 particles in gills and 4.4 in the GIT. The GIT of carnivorous fish was less likely to ingest microplastics than that of herbivores or omnivores. Middle-water fish, on the other hand, are less likely to have their gills contaminated with microplastics. These results revealed the degree of microplastic pollution in fish tissues from the central and western coastal areas of Guangdong province. The quantity of microplastics in the GIT of fish in the Pearl River Delta was the highest compared with the surrounding areas.

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“…About 39,000 to 52,000 particles per person per year of MPs are estimated to be consumed through food [ 15 ]. Additionally, MPs were found in drinking water, which necessitated the World Health Organisation to call for an urgent exploration into microplastics pollution and its consequent effect on human health [ 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polystyrene Microplastics Exposure: An Insight into Multiple Organ Histological Alterations, Oxidative Stress and Neurotoxicity in Javanese Medaka Fish (Oryzias javanicus Bleeker, 1854)

Usman

Razis

Shaari

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Microplastics (MPs) have become pollutants of concern due to their unknown human health effect and negative impact on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. There is increasing number of experimental research on MPs globally with its effects not fully understood; recent animal studies explore its effects on the intestines, yet on other vital organs. Javanese medaka fish was exposed to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) beads for a period of 21 days. Histological alterations, intestinal oxidative stress, permeability and neurotoxicity were evaluated. Significant inflammatory changes and tissue damage were observed in the intestine, liver and kidney. Intestinal oxidative stress and permeability were found to be significantly increased. In the brain, neurotoxicity characterised by a significant induction of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase enzyme were elucidated. This study provided an insight into the multiple organ effect of microplastics exposure, necessitating further exploration and identification of biomarkers to be utilised for biomonitoring population at risk in the future.

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Microplastics Pollution as an Invisible Potential Threat to Food Safety and Security, Policy Challenges and the Way Forward

Cited by 59 publications

References 141 publications

Toxicity Study and Quantitative Evaluation of Polyethylene Microplastics in ICR Mice

Toxicity Study and Quantitative Evaluation of Polyethylene Microplastics in ICR Mice

Occurrence of Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tract and Gills of Fish from Guangdong, South China

Polystyrene Microplastics Exposure: An Insight into Multiple Organ Histological Alterations, Oxidative Stress and Neurotoxicity in Javanese Medaka Fish (Oryzias javanicus Bleeker, 1854)

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