Are there plastic particles in my sugar? A pioneering study on the characterization of microplastics in commercial sugars and risk assessment
Are there plastic particles in my sugar? A pioneering study on the characterization of microplastics in commercial sugars and risk assessment
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DOI：
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155849
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发表时间：
2022-05-16
影响因子：
9.8
通讯作者：
Malafaia, Guilherme
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Afrin, Sadia;Rahman, Md. Mosta fizur;Malafaia, Guilherme
尽管一些研究证实了微塑料(MPS)在环境中的普遍存在，但我们对它们对人类健康的影响的了解仍然非常有限。因此，虽然我们还没有收集到关于其后果的明确信息，但旨在确定MPS来源的研究构成了补贴，以更好地了解这些污染物的各种暴露途径。因此，我们调查了从达卡(孟加拉国)的不同超市获得的五个品牌的商业糖和两个未包装的、未标记的和未标记的糖(以下称为“非品牌糖”)中可能存在的MP样颗粒。令人惊讶的是，在所有分析的样品中都发现了MPS样颗粒，并将这些颗粒放在一起，我们的数据显示(品牌样品和非品牌样品)在数量、大小、形状、颜色和聚合物组成方面存在类似的差异。塑料颗粒数/千克糖平均为343.7+/-32.08(平均值+/-扫描电子显微镜)，MPS和MPS的出现频率有增加的趋势。总体来说，MPS以微纤维和球体最多，MPS的主要颜色(一般)是黑色、粉色、蓝色和棕色。FT-IR分析确认了MPS(品牌和非品牌)的化学性质，确定了9种聚合物类型(ABS、PCV、PET、EVA、CA、PTFE、HDPE、PC和尼龙)，其中ABS和PVC最常见。此外，我们估计，达卡市的糖消费每年可导致数百万吨MPS的摄取(2.4至25.6吨)(平均10.2吨)。我们的研究是最全面的报告
Although several studies are confirming the ubiquity of microplastics (MPs) in environments, our knowledge about their effects on human health is still very limited. Therefore, while we have not gathered definitive information on their consequences, studies that aim to identify the MPs sources constitute subsidies to better understand the various exposure pathways to these pollutants. Thus, we investigated the possible presence of MP-like particles in five brands of commercial sugars and two unpacked, unbranded, and unlabeled sugars (hereinafter referred to as "non-branded"), obtained from different supermarkets in Dhaka (Bangladesh). Surprisingly, MPs-like particles were identified in all analyzed samples and taken together, our data demonstrated similar variations (between branded and non-branded samples) in terms of number, size, shape, color, and polymer composition. The number of plastic particles/kg sugar was, on average, 343.7 +/- 32.08 (mean +/- SEM), having been observed a tendency for a higher frequency of MPs < 300 mu m. Overall, microfibers and spherules were the most and the predominant colors of MPs (in general) were black, pink, blue, and brown. The FT-IR analysis confirmed the chemical nature of MPs (in branded and non-branded), having identified nine polymeric types (ABS, PCV, PET, EVA, CA, PTFE, HDPE, PC, and nylon), being ABS and PVC the most frequent. Furthermore, we estimate that sugar consumption in Dhaka City can cause the ingestion of millions of tons of MPs annually (2.4 to 25.6 tons) (with an average of 10.2 tons). Our study is the most comprehensive report