The Importance of Microplastics in Food Safety
Bildiriler > Tam Metin Bildiri · 2022
Yazarlar: Ayşegül KIRMIZIGÜL PEKER, İlkin ŞENGÜN
7th International Conference on Applied Sciences, Türkiye, İzmir, Uluslararası, Sözlü Sunum, Tam Metin Bildiri, 2022-2022, cilt 1, ss 147-158
Özet
<p>Plastics are employed in almost all daily activities because they make our lives easier. The increasing use of plastic has detrimental effects on the ecosystem, particularly on the oceans, and is therefore considered one of the biggest modern polluters. Plastic waste physically breaks down into smaller pieces but persists unchanged in nature for centuries, posing an even greater threat. Microplastics, which are released when plastics break down, are defined as plastic particles less than 5 mm in size. They are readily absorbed into our bodies through respiration and other processes (e.g., skin contact and oral ingestion) and can also pose a threat to human health if they enter the food chain. The detection of microplastics in aquatic life and water resources has been the subject of numerous investigations. In addition to seafood and drinking water, recent studies showed that microplastics can be found in a variety of foods. White wine, tea bags, salt, sugar, beer, and honey are some of these foods. Raw materials, food processing procedures, plastics used in packaging, or air can all contribute to the accumulation of microplastic in food. Exposure of human to microplastics through the ingestion of contaminated foods is inevitable, raising concerns about the potential impact of microplastics on human health. To reduce the harmful effects of microplastics on the environment and human health, researchers are conducting a number of studies. The degradation of microplastics by enzymes is one of them. However, to determine the effect of microplastics on consumers, food safety and risk analyses should consider the presence of microplastics. In addition, more research on the microplastics exposure and their incidences in other food products is needed. This review evaluates the formation of microplastics and their transfer to humans through food, focusing the consequences of microplastics on food safety and human health.</p>