Abstract
The increase of plastic waste in the environment, especially in seas and oceans, and
the presence of microscopic particles of plastic products (microparticles and
nanoparticles) has generated –apart from an environmental concern, a food safety
concern, as microplastics and nanoplastics could be incorporated in the food chain
and therefore be present in food intended for human consumption.
Microplastics and nanoplastics are microscopic particles of plastic products less than
5 mm long, coming from the fragmentation of macroplastics that largely find their
way into the aquatic environment and, due to their difficult degradation, remain the
environment for decades.
Microplastics and nanoplastics encompass a broad range of sizes (from 0,001 µm to
5.000 µm) and particles (fragments, pellets, pearls, fibres, foam, films), and can be
composed of different kinds of plastic materials.
In recent years, various studies have found microplastics in a wide range of
concentrations in marine waters, wastewater, fresh water, food, the air and drinking
water, both in bottled and tap water. Microplastics have also been found in human
faeces.
The present document reviews what are the current knowledge on the presence of
microplastics and nanoplastics in the food chain and their potential effects on human
health.
Keywords
Microplastics; Nanoplastics; Food; Risk assessment
Bibliographic citation
Gómez-Catalán J, Timoner-Alonso I, Castell-Garralda V, Salas-Salvadó J, Sanchis-Almenar V, Nadal-Lomas M. Microplàstics i nanoplàstics en la cadena alimentària: situació actual. Barcelona: Agència Catalana de Seguretat Alimentària; 2019.
Audience
Professionals
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