Chemical decontamination of foods using non-thermal plasma-activated water

Samuel Herianto; Rachelle D Arcega; Chih-Yao Hou; How-Ran Chao; Ching-Chang Lee; Chia-Min Lin; Trias Mahmudiono; Hsiu-Ling Chen

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162235

Chemical decontamination of foods using non-thermal plasma-activated water

Sci Total Environ. 2023 May 20:874:162235. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162235. Epub 2023 Feb 13.

Authors

Samuel Herianto¹, Rachelle D Arcega², Chih-Yao Hou³, How-Ran Chao⁴, Ching-Chang Lee⁵, Chia-Min Lin³, Trias Mahmudiono⁶, Hsiu-Ling Chen⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Food Safety/Hygiene and Risk Management, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan; Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP), Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Department of Chemistry (Chemical Biology Division), College of Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
² Department of Food Safety/Hygiene and Risk Management, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
³ Department of Seafood Science, College of Hydrosphere, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 81157, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan; Institute of Food Safety Management, College of Agriculture, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan; Emerging Compounds Research Center, General Research Service Center, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan; Research Center of Environmental Trace Toxic Substances, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia.
⁷ Department of Food Safety/Hygiene and Risk Management, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan; Research Center of Environmental Trace Toxic Substances, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan; Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia. Electronic address: hsiulinchen@mail.ncku.edu.tw.

PMID: 36791866
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162235

Abstract

The presence of chemical contaminants in foods and agricultural products is one of the major safety issues worldwide, posing a serious concern to human health. Nonthermal plasma (NTP) containing richly reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) has been trialed as a potential decontamination method. Yet, this technology comes with multiple downsides, including adverse effects on the quality of treated foods and limited exposure to entire surfaces on samples with hard-to-reach spots, further hindering real-life applications. Therefore, plasma-activated water (PAW) has been recently developed to facilitate the interactions between RONS and contaminant molecules in the liquid phase, allowing a whole surface treatment with efficient chemical degradation. Here, we review the recent advances in PAW utilized as a chemical decontamination agent in foods. The reaction mechanisms and the main RONS contributors involved in the PAW-assisted removal of chemical contaminants are briefly outlined. Also, the comprehensive effects of these treatments on food qualities (chemical and physical characteristics) and toxicological evaluation of PAW (in vitro and in vivo) are thoroughly discussed. Ultimately, we identified some current challenges and provided relevant suggestions, which can further promote PAW research for real-life applications in the future.

Keywords: Chemical contaminants; Chemical decontamination; Food decontamination; Food safety; Plasma-activated water.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Decontamination / methods
Food
Food Microbiology
Humans
Plasma Gases* / chemistry
Reactive Oxygen Species
Water* / chemistry

Substances

Water
Reactive Oxygen Species
Plasma Gases