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Applied Sciences
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Advanced Research on Microplastics, Human Exposure and Food Safety
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Advanced Research on Microplastics, Human Exposure and Food Safety

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 1744

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Kornelia Kadac-Czapska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland
Interests: microplastics; nanoplastics; food; environment and health; risk assessment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental contamination is one of the most significant issues facing modern humanity. The occurrence of microplastics in water, soil, air, and biota is particularly dangerous. The quantity of these particles in ecosystems is constantly growing, and their presence has become an unavoidable fact of human existence, endangering people's health and lives. This issue has sparked global interest, including governments, public opinion, the media, environmental groups, non-governmental organizations, and the scientific community. The negative consequences of this sort of contamination depend on the routes and sources of exposure. One of the most prevalent ways of exposure to microplastics is through the digestive system, mostly caused by contaminated food. Studies have also revealed the existence of plastic particles in human organs, tissues, and bodily fluids, raising various issues concerning their influence on health.

This Special Issue aims to fill a significant gap in the scientific literature about food microplastic contamination and its effects on human health. We encourage you to submit reviews of the scientific literature as well as original research manuscripts. We anticipate that the work presented will advance knowledge of these important topics and suggest avenues for future research and policy initiatives.

Dr. Kornelia Kadac-Czapska
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • microplastics contamination
  • food safety
  • human health
  • exposure routes
  • estimation of intake
  • risk assessment

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2283 KB  
Article
Sowing in Plastic Contaminated Soils: How (Micro)plastics Impact Seed Germination and Growth of White Mustard (Sinapis alba L.)
by Špela Železnikar, Nina Kacjan Maršić and Marina Pintar
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(12), 6801; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15126801 - 17 Jun 2025
Viewed by 612
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) particles are ubiquitous in the environment and pose a growing threat to ecosystem stability. As concern over their ecological impact increases, biotests and ecotoxicological approaches using plant species have become valuable tools for research. This study aimed to evaluate the effects [...] Read more.
Microplastic (MP) particles are ubiquitous in the environment and pose a growing threat to ecosystem stability. As concern over their ecological impact increases, biotests and ecotoxicological approaches using plant species have become valuable tools for research. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying concentrations of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) MP on seed germination, root development, and shoot growth of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) under controlled laboratory and pot experiment conditions. For the seven-day laboratory experiment, concentrations of 0.01% and 1% w/w were used, whereas concentrations of 1% and 5% w/w were applied in the ten-day pot experiment. Results indicated no statistically significant effects of LDPE MP on germination rate or germination speed index (GSI) in either setting. However, shoot length data suggest that the 5% LDPE treatment may have a slight stimulatory effect compared to the control, though this trend was marginally significant. These findings highlight the complex and context-dependent nature of MP–plant interactions. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms driving these responses and to support the development of mitigation strategies for MP contamination in terrestrial ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Microplastics, Human Exposure and Food Safety)
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Review

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28 pages, 3493 KB  
Review
Unseen Hazards—Toxicological Effects and Human Health Impacts of Nanoplastics and Microplastics
by Kornelia Kadac-Czapska, Justyna Ośko, Natalia Nowak, Katarzyna Jażdżewska, Piotr Kowalczyk and Małgorzata Grembecka
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(18), 10146; https://doi.org/10.3390/app151810146 - 17 Sep 2025
Abstract
Environmental pollution with microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) continues to increase. These pollutants have been found in the environment (water, soil, and air) as well as in human tissues and biological fluids. Oral, inhalation, and dermal pathways play key roles in human exposure [...] Read more.
Environmental pollution with microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) continues to increase. These pollutants have been found in the environment (water, soil, and air) as well as in human tissues and biological fluids. Oral, inhalation, and dermal pathways play key roles in human exposure to plastic particles. The primary sources of exposure are foods, beverages, air, and dust. Polymers can penetrate the skin primarily via endocytosis, exocytosis, passages through cell-to-cell junctions, and interaction with the extracellular matrix. However, the health effects of dermal exposure remain poorly understood. Microplastics and NPs have been detected in the gastrointestinal, respiratory, circulatory, urinary, reproductive, and nervous systems, causing detrimental effects in each. Such effects include oxidative stress, inflammation, cellular damage, and protein aggregation. Furthermore, their presence has been linked to cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. However, standardized protocols for analyzing NPs and MPs in human organs and tissues have not yet been established or legally regulated. Further research is needed to fully determine exposure thresholds, but legislative and lifestyle changes can already be implemented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Microplastics, Human Exposure and Food Safety)
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29 pages, 807 KB  
Review
Microplastics in Dairy Products: Occurrence, Characterization, Contamination Sources, Detection Methods, and Future Challenges
by Hüseyin Ender Gürmeriç and Burhan Basaran
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(17), 9411; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15179411 - 27 Aug 2025
Viewed by 848
Abstract
In this study, data from 17 studies reporting the presence of microplastics in milk and dairy products in the literature were examined with a product-based systematic approach. In addition, geographical comparisons were made between different countries. In milk and dairy products, the concentration [...] Read more.
In this study, data from 17 studies reporting the presence of microplastics in milk and dairy products in the literature were examined with a product-based systematic approach. In addition, geographical comparisons were made between different countries. In milk and dairy products, the concentration of microplastics has been reported to exhibit a broad range, extending from non-detectable levels to as high as 10,040 MPs per kilogram, contingent upon the specific product types. Milk powder (especially baby milk powder) stands out as the riskiest product group in terms of microplastic content. Although the sizes and colors of the detected microplastics vary significantly, the fiber form is generally predominant. While polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide and polyester are among the polymers frequently detected, high-temperature-resistant industrial polymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polysulfone, polyurethane were also encountered. In addition, the presence of some polymers (such polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane) that are toxicologically risky for human health was reported in the studies. In addition, the study evaluated the chemical, enzymatic and physical methods used for the separation and identification of MPs; the advantages and limitations of FT-IR, Raman and other analysis techniques were revealed. This study reveals that MP contamination in milk and dairy products is a multidimensional problem. The findings show that milk and dairy products are highly susceptible to plastic contamination at every stage of production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Microplastics, Human Exposure and Food Safety)
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