Micro and nano plastics in food: A review on the strategies for identification, isolation, and mitigation through photocatalysis, and health risk assessment

• Published in: Environmental research 2024-01, Vol.241, p.117666-117666, Article 117666
• Main Authors: Janani, R., Bhuvana, S., Geethalakshmi, V., Jeyachitra, R., Sathishkumar, Kuppusamy, Balu, Ranjith, Ayyamperumal, Ramamoorthy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Environment toxicity; Food safety; health effects assessments; Human health; humans; juveniles; Microplastics; photocatalysis; Photodegradation; pollutants; wildlife
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117666

Over the past few years, it has become increasingly evident that microplastic pollutant heavily contaminates water sources, posing a potential threat to both human and wildlife. These plastic pollutants do not get degraded efficiently by natural processes and the existing traditional treatment methods are incapable of fully eradicating them. In this regard, degradation of microplastic contaminants through photocatalytic methods has emerged as a powerful technique. Unfortunately, only a limited number of investigations have been reported in the field of photocatalytic degradation of microplastics. This comprehensive assessment focuses on the detailed analysis of the latest cutting edge engineered technologies aimed at efficiently separating, identifying microplastic contaminants present in food samples and degrading them through photocatalysis. Moreover, detailed information on various instrumental techniques that can be adopted to analyze the isolated micro sized plastic particles has been discussed. The assessment and degradation of these micro contaminants through photocatalytic methods is still in juvenile stage and there are lot of rooms to be explored. The need for profound contemplation on methods to degrade them through photocatalytic approaches as well as their possible health risks to humans motivated us to bring out this review. •Focuses on the cutting-edge technologies for efficiently separating, identifying microplastic contaminants present in food samples.•Consolidates various instrumentation techniques adopted to analyse the isolated micro particles from food.•Overall understanding of photocatalytic route to degrade micro plastic contamination.•Reviews possible health risks to human due to microplastic contamination present in food.