Plastics items can break down into tiny particles, so-called microplastics (MP; < 5 mm) and nanoplastics (< 1 μm), during use or after improper disposal due to environmental weathering. Micro-and nanoplastics (MNP) are found in the human food chain and may, thus, pose a risk to human health. To assess the risk of MNP containing food for human health, data on the type, quantity and size of MNPs in fruits and vegetables (Switzerland) are required.
Building on the pilot project “Identification and quantification of type, size, and distribution of microplastics in fruits and vegetables”, the critical literature review executed therein on analytical methodologies and monitoring data on MP in fruit and vegetables and previous analytical workflows for various environmental matrices established by the team, the project has the following aims: i) to establish analytical methods for the detection and quantification of MP in fruits and vegetables by means of infrared spectroscopy (either FPA-μ-FTIR or quantum cascade laser based IR absorption imaging), and ii) to apply these methods to quantify the MP contents of selected products in a pilot monitoring study.