Microplastics in dairy products and human breast milk: Contamination status and greenness analysis of available analytical methods

Abstract

The prevalence of microplastics (MPs) in food items is of significant concern due to their potential to cause various human health issues when ingested. Milk and dairy products are widely consumed for their nutritional value and have been found to contain MPs, as evidenced by numerous research studies. This review paper examines the current contamination levels of MPs in dairy products and breast milk, as well as evaluates the environmental impact of the analytical methods used for MPs analysis. The highest contamination levels in dairy products and human breast milk have been found up to 2590 MPs/L. Hence policymakers should enforce stringent regulations to ensure food quality. Additionally, it has been noted that existing analytical methods for detecting MPs in dairy products often fail to adhere to the principles of green analytical chemistry, with many scorings below 0.58 on the AGREE scale. These findings emphasize the urgent necessity for the development of rapid and green analysis methods for detecting MPs in dairy products and breast milk.