Microplastics in cutting boards
Cutting vegetables on a cutting board releases particles scraped off by the knife. In a 2023 US study, polypropylene boards released more than polyethylene boards. The wooden cutting board used as a control was reported to release even more fine particles (wood particles).
Amounts found in studies
| Study | What was tested | Size range and method | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yadav et al. (2023) | Polyethylene and polypropylene cutting boards | — (confirmed in the abstract) | Polypropylene released 5–60% more by mass and 14–71% more by number than polyethylene. Annual estimates: 7.4–50.7 g for polyethylene, 49.5 g for polypropylene (based on assumptions). No cytotoxicity from polyethylene particles |
| Same (American Chemical Society press release) | Wooden cutting board (control) | — | 4–22 times as many fine particles (wood particles) as plastic |
| Gan et al. (2025) | Mice | Animal experiment | Mice fed food cut on a polypropylene cutting board for 12 weeks showed higher markers of inflammation than the group using a willow cutting board |
Results can differ by orders of magnitude depending on the smallest particle size counted and whether particles are counted or weighed. Numbers from different studies cannot be compared directly (→ Why numbers differ).
Good to know
- The annual estimates are calculations that assume things such as how the knife is used.
- The results in mice come from an animal experiment and have not been confirmed in humans.
Data from Japan
No study measuring Japanese cutting boards was found.
Types of plastic found
Related explainers
Sources
- Yadav H et al. Environ Sci Technol 2023;57:8225 (PMID 37220346)
- American Chemical Society (ACS) press release, June 2023
- Gan et al. Environ Health Perspect 2025;133:47004 (PMID 40042913)
Last checked 2026-10-01. “Confirmed in the abstract” means we report only what the paper's abstract says. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.