1
|
Hussain KA, Romanova S, Okur I, Zhang D, Kuebler J, Huang X, Wang B, Fernandez-Ballester L, Lu Y, Schubert M, Li Y. Assessing the Release of Microplastics and Nanoplastics from Plastic Containers and Reusable Food Pouches: Implications for Human Health. Environ Sci Technol 2023. [PMID: 37343248 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the release of microplastics and nanoplastics from plastic containers and reusable food pouches under different usage scenarios, using DI water and 3% acetic acid as food simulants for aqueous foods and acidic foods. The results indicated that microwave heating caused the highest release of microplastics and nanoplastics into food compared to other usage scenarios, such as refrigeration or room-temperature storage. It was found that some containers could release as many as 4.22 million microplastic and 2.11 billion nanoplastic particles from only one square centimeter of plastic area within 3 min of microwave heating. Refrigeration and room-temperature storage for over six months can also release millions to billions of microplastics and nanoplastics. Additionally, the polyethylene-based food pouch released more particles than polypropylene-based plastic containers. Exposure modeling results suggested that the highest estimated daily intake was 20.3 ng/kg·day for infants drinking microwaved water and 22.1 ng/kg·day for toddlers consuming microwaved dairy products from polypropylene containers. Furthermore, an in vitro study conducted to assess the cell viability showed that the extracted microplastics and nanoplastics released from the plastic container can cause the death of 76.70 and 77.18% of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T) at 1000 μg/mL concentration after exposure of 48 and 72 h, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kazi Albab Hussain
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-053, United States
| | - Svetlana Romanova
- Nanomaterials Characterization Core, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Ilhami Okur
- Department of Food Science & Technology, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-6205, United States
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-053, United States
| | - Jesse Kuebler
- Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0526, United States
| | - Xi Huang
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0511, United States
| | - Bing Wang
- Department of Food Science & Technology, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-6205, United States
| | - Lucia Fernandez-Ballester
- Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0526, United States
| | - Yongfeng Lu
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0511, United States
| | - Mathias Schubert
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0511, United States
| | - Yusong Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska─Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-053, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Schöpel M, Herrmann C, Scherkenbeck J, Stoll R. The Bisphenol A analogue Bisphenol S binds to K-Ras4B--implications for 'BPA-free' plastics. FEBS Lett 2016; 590:369-75. [PMID: 26867649 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Revised: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
K-Ras4B is a small GTPase that belongs to the Ras superfamily of guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. GTPases function as molecular switches in cells and are key players in intracellular signalling. Ras has been identified as an oncogene and is mutated in more than 20% of human cancers. Here, we report that Bisphenol S binds into a binding pocket of K-Ras4B previously identified for various low molecular weight compounds. Our results advocate for more comprehensive safety studies on the toxicity of Bisphenol S, as it is frequently used for Bisphenol A-free food containers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Schöpel
- Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany
| | - Christian Herrmann
- Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Raphael Stoll
- Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr University of Bochum, Germany
| |
Collapse
|