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Animals
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Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Animal Intended for Human Consumption
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Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Animal Intended for Human Consumption

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 12021

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Filippo Giarratana

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Study of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
Interests: essential oil; food quality; food safety; microplastic in foods; food microbiology; antibiotic resistance of food-borne pathogens; predictive microbiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Luca Nalbone

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Study of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
Interests: microplastic in foods; essential oil; food quality; food safety; food microbiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Microplastics and nanoplastics are ubiquitous in marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and the likelihood of their bioavailability has aroused concerns regarding the interaction with organisms intended for human consumption. Due to their small size, microplastics and nanoplastics can be ingested by a wide range of organisms, build up in their digestive tract, and reach humans through the food chain.

Although the occurrence of microplastics and nanoplastics has been widely documented in animals intended for human consumption, little is known regarding their occurrence in animals sampled directly from the market and supermarket. In this regard, animals collected directly from the environment are not suitable for the evaluation of human exposure through their consumption as the contribution of microplastics and nanoplastic from manufacturing processes before and during trade is likely more relevant than environmental contamination. At the actual state of knowledge, more evidence is needed regarding the occurrence of micropalstics and nanoplastics in animals intended for human consumption as well as the effect of manufacturing processes on the levels of contamination.

Therefore, this Special Issue will accept research involving:

  • The occurrence of microplastics and nanoplastics in animals intended for human consumption;
  • Risk assessment associated with consumption of microplastics and nanoplastics;
  • Effects of the manufacturing processes on the microplastics and nanoplastics in foods;
  • New analytical techniques for the detection of microplastics and nanoplastics in complex matrices.

Dr. Filippo Giarratana
Dr. Luca Nalbone
Guest Editors

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. Animals 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
  • nanoplastics
  • animals
  • foods
  • risk assessment

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 2011 KiB  
Article
The Occurrence of Microplastics in Donax trunculus (Mollusca: Bivalvia) Collected along the Tuscany Coast (Mediterranean Sea)
by Chiara Malloggi, Luca Nalbone, Silvia Bartalena, Margherita Guidi, Carlo Corradini, Antonino Foti, Pietro G. Gucciardi, Filippo Giarratana, Francesca Susini and Andrea Armani
Animals 2024, 14(4), 618; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14040618 - 14 Feb 2024
Viewed by 900
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) (0.1 µm–5 mm particles) have been documented in oceans and seas. Bivalve molluscs (BMs) can accumulate MPs and transfer to humans through the food chain. BMs (especially mussels) are used to assess MPs’ contamination, but the genus Donax has not been [...] Read more.
Microplastics (MPs) (0.1 µm–5 mm particles) have been documented in oceans and seas. Bivalve molluscs (BMs) can accumulate MPs and transfer to humans through the food chain. BMs (especially mussels) are used to assess MPs’ contamination, but the genus Donax has not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study was to detect and characterize MPs in D. trunculus specimens collected along the Tuscan coast (Italy), and to assess the potential risk for consumers. The samples (~10 g of tissue and intervalval liquid from 35 specimens) were digested using a solution of 10% KOH, subjected to NaCl density separation, and filtered through 5 μm pore-size filters. All items were morphologically classified and measured, and their mean abundance (MA) was calculated. Furthermore, 20% of them were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy and, based on the obtained results, the MA was recalculated (corrected MA) and the annual human exposure was estimated. In the 39 samples analyzed, 85 items fibers (n = 45; 52.94%) and fragments (n = 40; 47.06%) were found. The MA was 0.23 ± 0.17 items/grww. Additionally, 83.33% of the items were confirmed as MPs (polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate). Based on the correct MA (0.18 MPs/grww), D. trunculus consumers could be exposed to 19.2 MPs/per capita/year. The health risk level of MPs was classified as level III (moderate). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Animal Intended for Human Consumption)
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20 pages, 3348 KiB  
Article
Microplastics in Commercial Fishes and By-Catch from Selected FAO Major Fishing Areas of the Southern Baltic Sea
by Paulina Piskuła and Aleksander Maria Astel
Animals 2023, 13(3), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13030458 - 28 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3579
Abstract
According to recent world wide studies, microplastics (MPs) have been found in many fish species; however, the majority of research has focused only on the gastrointestinal tract, neglecting edible organs. This study aimed to assess the presence of microplastics in the non-edible (gills, [...] Read more.
According to recent world wide studies, microplastics (MPs) have been found in many fish species; however, the majority of research has focused only on the gastrointestinal tract, neglecting edible organs. This study aimed to assess the presence of microplastics in the non-edible (gills, digestive tract) and edible organs (liver) of three commercial fish species and twoby-catch species from the southern Baltic Sea. Fish (Clupea harengus, Gadus morhua, Platichthy sflesus, Taurulus baublis, Cyclopterus lumpus) were caught in 108 and 103 FAO Fishing Zones belonging to the Polish fishing zone. The abundanceof MPs ranged from 1 to 12 items per fish, with an average of 4.09 items. MPs were observed in different organs, such as the liver, gills, and digestive tract of all five tested species. MPs recognized as fibers were the most abundant. Other shapes of polymers found in fish organs were pellets and particles of larger plastic pieces. The dominant color of the MPs was blue, but there were also red, black, transparent, yellow, green, and white items found. According to dimensions, dominant MPs were between 0.1 and 0.5 mm in size. The chemical characterization of polymers accomplished by the use of Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy demonstrated the abundance of cellophane, polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl propionate, polyacrylonitrile, and polyester. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Animal Intended for Human Consumption)
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Review

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17 pages, 663 KiB  
Review
Impact of Fibrous Microplastic Pollution on Commercial Seafood and Consumer Health: A Review
by Serena Santonicola, Michela Volgare, Mariacristina Cocca, Giulia Dorigato, Valerio Giaccone and Giampaolo Colavita
Animals 2023, 13(11), 1736; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13111736 - 24 May 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2559
Abstract
The omnipresence of microfibers in marine environments has raised concerns about their availability to aquatic biota, including commercial fish species. Due to their tiny size and wide distribution, microfibers may be ingested by wild-captured pelagic or benthic fish and farmed species. Humans are [...] Read more.
The omnipresence of microfibers in marine environments has raised concerns about their availability to aquatic biota, including commercial fish species. Due to their tiny size and wide distribution, microfibers may be ingested by wild-captured pelagic or benthic fish and farmed species. Humans are exposed via seafood consumption. Despite the fact that research on the impact of microfibers on marine biota is increasing, knowledge on their role in food security and safety is limited. The present review aims to examine the current knowledge about microfiber contamination in commercially relevant fish species, their impact on the marine food chain, and their probable threat to consumer health. The available information suggests that among the marine biota, edible species are also contaminated, but there is an urgent need to standardize data collection methods to assess the extent of microfiber occurrence in seafood. In this context, natural microfibers should also be investigated. A multidisciplinary approach to the microfiber issue that recognizes the interrelationship and connection of environmental health with that of animals and humans should be used, leading to the application of strategies to reduce microfiber pollution through the control of the sources and the development of remediation technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Animal Intended for Human Consumption)
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16 pages, 829 KiB  
Review
Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Livestock Health: An Emerging Risk for Reproductive Efficiency
by Susy Urli, Francesca Corte Pause, Martina Crociati, Anja Baufeld, Maurizio Monaci and Giuseppe Stradaioli
Animals 2023, 13(7), 1132; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13071132 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4180
Abstract
Pollution due to microplastics and nanoplastics is one of the major environmental issues of the last decade and represents a growing threat to human and animal health. In aquatic species, there is a large amount of information regarding the perturbation of marine organisms; [...] Read more.
Pollution due to microplastics and nanoplastics is one of the major environmental issues of the last decade and represents a growing threat to human and animal health. In aquatic species, there is a large amount of information regarding the perturbation of marine organisms; instead, there are only a few studies focusing on the pathophysiological consequences of an acute and chronic exposure to micro- and nanoplastics in mammalian systems, especially on the reproductive system. There are several studies that have described the damage caused by plastic particles, including oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammatory response, dysregulation of the endocrine system and accumulation in various organs. In addition to this, microplastics have recently been found to influence the evolution of microbial communities and increase the gene exchange, including antibiotic and metal resistance genes. Special attention must be paid to farm animals, because they produce food such as milk, eggs and meat, with the consequent risk of biological amplification along the food chain. The results of several studies indicate that there is an accumulation of microplastics and nanoplastics in human and animal tissues, with several negative effects, but all the effects in the body have not been ascertained, especially considering the long-term consequences. This review provides an overview of the possible adverse effects of the exposure of livestock to micro- and nanoplastics and assesses the potential risks for the disruption of reproductive physiological functions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Animal Intended for Human Consumption)
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