Prevalence and characteristics of microplastic contamination in soft drinks and potential consumer exposure

Anh Tuan Ta; Sandhya Babel; Li Pang Wang

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123810

Prevalence and characteristics of microplastic contamination in soft drinks and potential consumer exposure

J Environ Manage. 2024 Dec 24:373:123810. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123810. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Anh Tuan Ta¹, Sandhya Babel², Li Pang Wang³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sanitary Engineering, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; School of Biochemical Engineering and Technology, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, P.O. Box 22, Pathum Thani, 12121, Thailand.
² School of Biochemical Engineering and Technology, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, P.O. Box 22, Pathum Thani, 12121, Thailand. Electronic address: sandhya@siit.tu.ac.th.
³ Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, College of Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, 10608, Taiwan. Electronic address: kuniwang@ntut.edu.tw.

PMID: 39721381
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123810

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) contamination in human food is a growing concern due to potential health risks. Recent studies have indicated that MPs have been found in various human tissues and organs, including the placenta, lungs, liver, and blood. This highlights the importance of investigating the presence and concentration of MPs in food products, as it directly relates to human health and safety. In this study, MP contamination was detected and characterized in commercially available soft drinks in Thailand. Nine popular soft drink brands in Thailand, packaged in different materials, including plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and glass bottles, were investigated. The results revealed that regardless of packaging type, all the soft drink brands tested contained MPs, with concentrations ranging from 2 ± 3 to 39 ± 12 items per liter. MPs in the 50-100 μm size range, primarily with a fragment-like morphology, were most commonly found. Given that the average person in Thailand consumes approximately 41.13 L of soft drinks annually, it is estimated that an individual could ingest between 81 and 1609 MPs yearly. These findings raise significant concerns about the potential health impacts of MP ingestion through soft drinks and underscore the need for further research and regulation.

Keywords: Beverage contamination; Microplastics; Packaging; Soft drinks; Thailand.