A spoonful of sugar: human exposure to microplastics through consumption of processed sugarcane
Abstract
With increasing evidence of ingestion and uptake of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics by humans, combined with potential toxicological impacts from exposure and accumulation, it is important to understand their primary exposure routes. The ingestion of MPs via consumption of MP-contaminated foodstuffs appears to be an important exposure route for humans. The current study investigated MP levels in commercially available processed white and brown sugars, attempted to identify the primary sources of MP contamination and estimated human exposure to MPs from sugar consumption. The abundance of MPs varied from 18 to 34 items/100 g (270 ± 82 items/kg) in white sugar and from 4 to 20 items/100 g (103 ± 85 items/kg) in brown sugar. The most common MP type was
Fields of Study & Subjects
Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Food Additives & Contaminants Part A
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1382–1399
- Publication date
- 25 June 2026
- Language
- EN