Microplastics found in all soybean oils in the country, open oil more polluted: Research

The study, published in the world-renowned Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, found that each liter of soybean oil contains an average of 53,922 microplastic particles. The study was published by Elsevier, an international scientific publishing house based in the Netherlands.

The study analyzed a total of 60 samples of three brands of bottled and three types of open (non-branded) soybean oil. It found that bottled oil had an average of 48,067 microplastic particles per liter, while open oil had 59,778 particles per liter. In other words, the level of contamination in open oil is about one-quarter higher than in branded oil.

Researchers observed that the highest contamination was found in oil samples collected from the open market in the Tejgaon area. According to them, the industrial environment, storage in reused plastic containers, open-air selling, and inadequate hygiene may play a role behind this.

On the other hand, the presence of microplastics in bottled oil suggests to researchers that plastic particles may mix with the oil at various stages of production, refining, packaging, or transportation.

Types of microplastics found

The study identified six types of plastic polymers: Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyurethane (PU), and Nylon.

Among the detected particles, 82.5 percent were fibers or fibrous. In addition, microplastics of types such as fragments, films, foams, pellets, and beads were also found. According to researchers, these fibers may come from synthetic fabrics, plastic parts, the production environment, and airborne synthetic fibers.

Health risk indications

The study states that an adult can consume an average of 17.65 microplastic particles per day and about 6,441 particles per year from soybean oil alone. For children, the number is even higher. A child can consume an average of 77.21 particles per day and about 28,180 particles per year.

According to researchers, long-term accumulation of microplastics in the body can lead to various health risks including inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormonal imbalance. However, this study did not directly prove the cause of any specific disease. The issue indicates potential risks and requires further extensive research.

Researchers' recommendations

According to researchers, due to the widespread use of soybean oil in the diet of people in Bangladesh, it could be a significant source of microplastic intake. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen quality control at every stage of edible oil production, refining, storage, and packaging.

At the same time, researchers have also recommended regular monitoring of microplastic presence in food, expansion of modern laboratory facilities, and formulation of effective national policies on this matter.