Rice is a staple in millions of people worldwide as well as in Australian homes. However, this popular food contains potentially harmful microplastics.
According to the researchers from the University of Queensland, Australians may consume up to four milligrams of plastics in an average of 100 grams serving of uncooked rice.
Researchers added that boiling the rice to cook is unlikely to remove the microplastics as it does not have any filtration system.
Microplastics in Uncooked Rice
Dr. Jake O'Brien, the study's lead author, told the Daily Mail that their team is uncertain of how microplastics found their way to uncooked rice.
But perhaps it is during the production process that cross-contamination of plastics happened as there are lots of handling and machinery involved.
Despite the evidence of microplastics found in uncooked rice, Dr. O'Brien did not think that people should be concerned but should be aware of its presence.
"Currently there are many unknowns about how harmful consuming microplastics is to human health, but we do know exposure can cause an element of risk," Dr. O'Brien said.
Researchers utilized the same method they used in plastic quantification in their previous studies on plastics in seafood and sewage sludge.
They found that washing an average grain of rice measuring 8mm before cooking could reduce the consumption of microplastics by around 20% to 40%, Brisbane Times reported. This simple technique could save people from consuming plastics by around one gram every year.
Dr. O'Brien pointed out that even though it is challenging to measure plastic contamination of foods and exposure to microplastics, it is important to recognize that scientists are developing methods to address these concerns.
They hope that their study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials will encourage further research on how microplastics found their way into the rice.
ALSO READ : Where Microplastics in the Human Body Come From
Microplastics in Food
According to news.com.au, researchers tested the most common plastic polyethylene and plastics used in clothing and food production, technical engineering, polystyrene, acrylics, and tube piping. They found that the amount of microplastics is four times higher in an instant or pre-cooked rice with an average of 13mg per 100g.
This is the first study to identify microplastics in rice. But previous studies have shown that plastics lesser than 5mm in size have also been detected in other foods.
Earlier this year, Science Times reported that human activity has contaminated the marine ecosystem with microplastics, leading marine organisms to ingest plastics as they cannot separate their food from plastic. These organisms in turn are eaten by humans.
That means, microplastics inside the human body could come from the food that they eat, such as seafood and rice. Other foods that contain microplastics that are ingested by humans include beer, sugar, salt, honey, and alcohol.
Microplastics are also found in drinking water. According to a report by Science Times, those who drink from tap water ingest around 40,000 microplastics in one year, while those who drink only bottled water ingest about 90,000 microplastics.
RELATED TOPIC: Microplastics in Seafood, Should We Be Worried?
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