Special Issue "Separation and Analysis of Micro(nano)plastics and Associated Chemicals in Food, Environmental and Human Samples"

Dear Colleagues,

Plastic pollution and pervasive micro(nano)plastic (MP/NP) fragments have gained recognition globally as emerging environmental problems in ecosystems. Their occurrence, accumulation, and persistence in the air, soil, water, and food can induce (eco)toxicological issues and pose serious threats to the environment and human health. In all biological systems, MP/NP may cause particle toxicity, with oxidative stress, inflammatory lesions and increased uptake or translocation. MP/NP may also be involved in the disruption of immune function and neurotoxicity. MP/NP also act as vectors to adsorb tenacious organic pollutants, trace metals, and harmful additives.

The MP/NP chemical toxic interaction in systems is a complex topic. Understanding these interactions is imperative to develop ways to identify and quantify each chemical in its realistic concentration. In MP/NP analysis, developments in simple and precise tools, validations, and implications in detection, characterization, and quantification still need to be our focus. Sampling, pre-treatment, and characterization, as the available analyte methods, still lack standardization and homogenization. In addition, it is necessary to make advances in methodologies suitable for the separation and analysis of micro(nano)plastics and associated chemicals in environmental, food, and human samples. Manuscripts dedicated to (1) MP/NP and associated chemicals sources, occurrence, distribution and properties; (2) analytical approaches in representative environmental, food, and human matrices; (3) techniques for detection and identification; (4) impacts on ecosystems and human health; and (5) strategies to manage and mitigation are welcome.

Dr. Virgínia Cruz Fernandes
Prof. Dr. Cristina Delerue-Matos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• micro(nano)plastics
• additives
• organic pollutants
• emerging pollutants
• sample preparation
• analytical methods
• chemical interactions
• human toxicity
• remediation

Title: Microplastic and Plastic-Related Chemicals: Emerging Contaminants in Food and Health Impacts
Authors: Juliana G. R. de Carvalho1,2, Cristina Delerue-Matos 1, Virgínia Cruz Fernandes 1 *
Affiliation: 1 REQUIMTE/LAQV, Polytechnic of Porto – School of Engineering, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015, Porto, Portugal; 2 School of Health Sciences - Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 400, 4249-015, Porto, Portugal; [email protected] (JGRC), [email protected] (CMM) *Correspondence: [email protected] (VCF)
Abstract: Microplastics pollution is an a problem of emerging concern and while food safety issues around the world are still relatively serious, more and more food safety issues have become the focus of people’s attention. The presence of microplastics in food is a worldwide problem and come from foods of both animal and plant origin, food additives, drinks, and plastic food packaging and from agriculture practices and can cause problems to humans and the environment.. Microplastics have been already detected in the human blood, placent and breastmilk, but we still don’t know if or how microplastics affect humans. Studies with mammals and human cells or organoids have given perspective about the potential impact of micro(nano)plastics in human health, affecting lungs, kidney, heart to DNA, and neurological system. Additionally, as plastics often contain additives or other substances, it is important that the potentially harmful effects of exposure to these are also carefully studied before any conclusion can be drawn. Studying microplastics is very complex as there are many factors to account for, such as differences in particle sizes, constituents, shapes, additives and contaminants, concentrations, and many more This paper summarized the more recent research about presence of microplastic and other chemical related pollutants in food and its potential impacts in human health.