Microplastics: an emerging threat to food security and human health

• Published in: Journal of food science and technology Vol. 57; no. 5; pp. 1601 - 1608
• Main Author: De-la-Torre, Gabriel Enrique
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Delhi Springer India 01.05.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: aquatic organisms; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Food chains; Food contamination; Food contamination & poisoning; Food Science; Food security; Food supply; food supply chain; human health; humans; Ingestion; Marine environment; Marine organisms; Microplastics; monitoring; Nutrition; oral exposure; Plastic debris; Plastic pollution; pollution; Review; Review Article; risk; Seafood; seafoods; Supply chains; Xenobiotics; Seafood; Human health; Microplastic; Food security; Food contamination
• ISSN: 0022-1155; 0975-8402
• DOI: 10.1007/s13197-019-04138-1

Microplastic presence in seafood and foodstuff have been documented globally in recent studies. Consequently, human exposure to microplastics through the ingestion of contaminated food is inevitable and pose a risk to food security and human health. In this review, microplastics and related xenobiotics are defined, global evidence of microplastic pollution in seafood is reviewed, the impacts to commercial marine species and food security are discussed, and the current knowledge of its direct effects on human health is reviewed. In addition, limited information regarding food security and scientific gaps are identified. Although microplastics in the marine environment and its effects on marine organisms have been well documented, more research is needed to completely understand the implications of microplastics over food security and human health. Further research must focus on monitoring and eliminating microplastics along the food supply chain and determining the extent to which food security is affected by microplastic pollution.