Database23 items · 15 plastics · 8 explainersChecked 2026-10-01
Microplastics database
Plastic particles smaller than 5 mm are called microplastics, and those smaller than 0.001 mm (1 μm) nanoplastics. We list, with sources, study numbers for each food, drink and kitchen item, studies that found them in the human body and the criticism of those studies, uses of each type of plastic and Japan's standards, and public agencies' views and national rules.
What we know now
- WHO, EFSA, the FDA and others say health risks have not been shown at the amounts found in food and water. But the data needed for an assessment are lacking, and “this does not mean it is safe” (WHO 2022)
- Japan has no limits for microplastics in food or tap water (there is no item for them in the drinking water quality standards either)
- A 2026 study that checked 101 human studies against quality criteria found none that met all the essential criteria
When reading the numbers
- Results change 10- to 600-fold depending on the identification method (a review of 150 reports on table salt)
- Numbers by count and numbers by weight cannot be compared
- “A credit card (5 g) a week” is an upper-end estimate; another estimate is about 4 μg a week (→ How much do we eat?)
Common questions, explained
Only what public agencies' documents and papers show
Bad for health?The views of WHO, EFSA, the FDA and others, and what heart and gut studies do and do not showFound where in the body?Studies organ by organ, and the criticism that some methods count fat as plasticHow much do we eat?An estimate of 5 g a week and one about a millionth of that: why the estimates differ so muchWhy numbers differSmallest particle size counted, identification method, count vs. weight, and blanks: how to read the numbersReducing them at homeRinsing rice, rinsing tea bags, heating in non-plastic containers, and how to use baby bottlesWater and filtersHow much treatment plants remove, studies of bottled water and their critics, and filter certificationChoosing saltWhat the salts “not detected” in an international survey actually were, and how results change with the particle size countedRules and regulationThe EU ban on intentionally added microplastics, California’s drinking water testing, and Japan’s rules and container labels
Studies by food, drink and kitchen item
Click a name for the study numbers, criticism and what you can do at home
Seafood and seaweed3
Foods from the sea. Those eaten whole, guts included, bring the gut contents along too
- Bivalves (oysters, mussels, Manila clams)Eaten whole, including the gut, so considered one source of intake. But one review rates the number per individual as low
- Fish (including dried fish and small fish eaten whole)Mostly found in the digestive tract. Some studies found it in the flesh even after the viscera were removed
- Shrimp, crab and noriBreaded fried shrimp had the most in one study. Nori tends to have more the more it is processed
Seasonings and sweeteners2
Salt, honey, sugar
Water and beverages7
Tap water, plastic bottles, glass bottles, cans, tea, coffee, milk
- Tap waterWater treatment plants remove most of it. The order of magnitude changes with how particles are counted
- Bottled water (plastic bottles)The “240,000 per L” study has been criticized over how its blank was handled
- Drinks in glass bottlesGlass bottles had the most in a French survey. The source was the paint on the outside of the metal caps
- Beer, wine, soft drinks and canned drinksBeer values differ by thousands of times between studies. In cans, particles come from the inner coating
- Milk, dairy products and infant formulaOne study found more comes from the baby bottle and the preparation process than from the formula itself
- Tea bags“11.6 billion per cup” may be 2–3 orders of magnitude too high, according to Germany’s assessment. Rinsing before use reduced it in one study
- Paper cups and coffeeFrom the polyethylene coating on the inside. Increases above 80 °C and with shaking
Staples and side dishes4
Rice, meat, vegetables, fruit, canned foods
- RiceWashing cut it by 20–40%. Instant rice had about 4 times as much
- Meat, seafood and plant-protein foodsThe more processed, the more particles. But 72% of the particles counted were fibers not confirmed as synthetic polymers
- Vegetables and fruitThe “220,000 particles in 1 g of apple” study used a method that cannot identify the material
- Canned foodOne study found no particles in many brands of canned fish
Kitchen tools and containers5
Items where the amount released changes with how they are used: microwaves, baby bottles, cutting boards, kettles, packaging
- Microwave heating and takeout containersPlastic containers released the most particles when heated in a microwave
- Baby bottles and formula preparationPolypropylene bottles released more with sterilization and high temperatures. The research team proposed ways to prepare formula
- Cutting boardsPolypropylene released more than polyethylene. Wooden cutting boards also release fine particles
- Electric kettles and kettlesA study found that plastic kettles developed a film inside with use, and release dropped
- PET bottle caps and opening packagingParticles are also released when opening and closing caps and cutting packaging with scissors
Other2
Things that get into the mouth that are not food
Studies that found them in the body
All of these report that particles were found; none shows an effect on health
| Part of the body | Study | Method | Results | Caveats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood | Leslie et al. (2022) 22 people | Py-GC/MS (0.0007 mm or larger) | Average 1.6 μg per mL. PET, polyethylene, and styrenics were common | In a study using the same method with fat interference suppressed (Rauert 2025, 8 people), everything other than polyethylene was below the limit of detection |
| Placenta | Ragusa et al. (2021) 6 people | Raman | 12 particles (0.005 to 0.01 mm) from 4 people | Only 3 particles were identified as plastic (colored polypropylene). For the rest, only the pigment was identified |
| Neck artery plaque | Marfella et al. (2024, NEJM) 257 people | Py-GC/MS and electron microscopy | Polyethylene in 150 people (58.4%) (average 21.7 μg per mg of plaque). Heart attack, stroke, or death over about 3 years: 20.0% vs. 7.5% | Observational study. The authors state that it does not show causation and that laboratory contamination cannot be ruled out |
| Brain | Nihart et al. (2025) Autopsy, 20 to 28 people per time point | Py-GC/MS | Median in 2024: 4,917 μg per g (3,345 μg in 2016). 26,076 μg in the 12 people with dementia | The authors state that they do not assume causation. Germany's BfR called the values “implausibly high,” and other researchers pointed to insufficient contamination control and validation |
| Stool (Japan) | Tsuji et al. (2026) 22 Japanese people | FT-IR (larger than 0.02 mm) | Median 7.20 particles per g | The tendency to be higher in people who eat seafood often was not significant after correction for multiple comparisons |
| Liver | Horvatits et al. (2022) 6 with cirrhosis, 5 controls | Raman (0.004 to 0.03 mm) | Not found in the liver, kidney, or spleen of people without liver disease; found only in cirrhotic livers | Even for the liver, a Py-GC/MS study (Nihart) reported a median of 433 μg per g |
Py-GC/MS (which measures weight by breaking samples down with heat) has difficulty telling body fat apart from polyethylene, and one study says it is “currently not suitable for measuring polyethylene and PVC in biological samples” (Rauert et al. 2025). For all the studies, including breast milk, lungs and testes → Found where in the body?
Types of plastic
Uses, studies that found them, evaluations of raw materials and Japan's standards
| Type | Code | In brief |
|---|---|---|
| PolyethylenePE（HDPE・LDPE） | 2（高密度）・4（低密度） | Bags, wrap, caps. Most often reported in human-body studies, but the measurement method is strongly criticized |
| PolypropylenePP | 5 | Storage containers, lunch boxes, baby bottles, caps. A study found more particles released when heated |
| Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)PET | 1 | Plastic bottles, trays, egg cartons. The most abundant by weight in bottled water |
| Polystyrene (Styrofoam)PS | 6 | Instant noodle cups, trays, takeout containers. Released the most in a hot-water test |
| Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)PVC | 3 | Water pipes and more. Reported in artery plaque. Rules on how plasticizers (phthalates) may be used |
| Polyvinylidene chloridePVDC | 7（その他） | Household wrap. No study measuring it as a microplastic was found |
| Nylon (polyamide)PA | 7（その他） | Tea bags, cookware, clothing. The most abundant by particle count in bottled water |
| PolyurethanePU | 7（その他） | Sponges, cushions, paints. No main report in foods |
| Acrylic (methacrylic resin and acrylic fiber)PMMA | 7（その他） | “Acrylic” means two things: a resin (PMMA) and a fiber. PMMA reported in blood |
| PolycarbonatePC | 7（その他） | Storage container lids, water bottles. Its raw material bisphenol A was largely banned in the EU in 2024 |
| Fluoropolymer (PTFE, Teflon coating)PTFE | 7（塗膜は対象外） | Fluoropolymer coating on frying pans. Particles from scratched pans. PFOA is banned from manufacture and use in Japan |
| Polylactic acid (biodegradable plastic)PLA | 7（その他） | Plant-derived biodegradable plastic. Released the least of 4 materials in a hot-water test |
| Epoxy resin (can interior coating) | n/a | Coating on the inside of cans. Particles from the coating in canned drinks. Industry voluntary standard for bisphenol A |
| Melamine resinMF | 7（その他） | Tableware and melamine sponges. Bamboo-blend tableware banned from sale in some EU countries |
| Tire wear dust (rubber) | n/a | Comes from roads. Estimated at 5 to 10% of the plastic entering the ocean |
Resin identification codes (1–7 under the US standard ASTM D7611) show the type of resin; they do not mean the item can be recycled. In Japan, containers and packaging must carry the “プラ” (plastic) mark, and showing the material (PE, PP, etc.) is recommended.
Public agencies' views (timeline)
Details → Bad for health?
| Year | Agency | View |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) | Even one plate (225 g) of the most contaminated mussels would contain about 7 μg; the added chemicals would be minor. Data on toxicity and behavior in the body are lacking |
| 2017 | FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN) | By the same calculation, less than 0.1% of total intake of additives and similar substances — “negligible.” Few fish are eaten with their guts |
| 2019 | WHO (World Health Organization), drinking water | “No data to suggest overt health concerns” at present. Particles over 0.15 mm are unlikely to be absorbed. Routine monitoring not recommended |
| 2020 | Government of Canada | No health concerns identified, but not enough data for a full assessment |
| 2021 | UK COT (Committee on Toxicity) | A full assessment of the oral route is “not yet possible” |
| 2022 | WHO, diet and inhalation | Not enough evidence to judge health risks — but “this does not mean it is safe” |
| 2024 | US FDA, Germany's BfR | Health risks have not been shown at the amounts found in food (FDA). Health risks are considered unlikely (BfR) |
| 2025 | Food Safety Commission of Japan | Listed as a candidate for its own assessment, but deferred for lack of data on amounts in food and toxicity in humans. Japan has no limits for food |
| 2025 | EFSA | Began a health risk assessment at the European Parliament's request (due to finish at the end of 2027) |
Public bodies such as WHO, FAO and EFSA do not currently recommend that individuals cut down on foods such as seafood or salt because of microplastics. This database lists facts from research and public agencies' documents as material for those who want to judge for themselves. Methods differ between studies, so numbers often cannot be compared directly.
Main sources
- WHO, Microplastics in drinking-water (2019); Dietary and inhalation exposure to nano- and microplastic particles… (2022)
- EFSA, Presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in food, with particular focus on seafood (2016); EFSA topic page
- FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper 615 (2017); US FDA, Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Foods
- Food Safety Commission of Japan, planning expert committee (Feb. 6, 2025); Ministry of the Environment, drinking water quality standards (Japanese)
- Lane et al. Environ Int 2026;214:110429 (PMID 42503274); Rauert C et al. Environ Sci Technol 2025 (PMID 39851066); Lee HJ et al. J Hazard Mater 2021 (PMID 33254769)
- Sources for each food and type of plastic are listed on their pages
Last checked 2026-10-01. These pages are translations of our Japanese microplastics database.